Pub. 6 2011-2012 Issue 6

www.nebankers.org 10 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. T HIS 29-PAGE GUIDE, DEVELOPED with the input of bankers like you, provides detailed informa- tion on 12 key implementation items for 2012. Each issue is ex- plained in terms of why it matters to community banks and what to watch out for. Just as important, the guide examines each issue from the stand- point of how bankers can get involved and help shape the outcome. Take the issue of capital, for exam- ple. As the guide explains, the advocacy challenge is to sensibly dial back capital requirements while ensuring stable sources of capital. Sounds reasonable. The challenge, however, is a big one, since every indi- cator in the regulatory and legislative spheres, as well as public sentiment, points to requiring more bank capital. We’ve got to continue to tell, and sell, our story: That increasing capital requirements is a drag on banks’ lend- ing, which hurts communities across the country. Capital is just one of the dozen is- sues we’ve highlighted in our guide. There are also Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules, FDIC cover- age and the assessment base, housing finance and the qualifiedmortgage and qualified residential mortgage rules, the Volcker Rule, and more. Please read the guide, share it with others in your bank, and get involved in shaping these important issues. Don’t hesitate to tap into ABA’s staff expertise (1-800-BANKERS) and our tremendous online resources, such as our up-to-the-minuteABADodd-Frank Tracker at http://regreformtracker. aba.com . You also can look to us for support through peer networking, training and education, and products and services. The challenge for our industry is not to put the Dodd-Frank Act behind us, but to stay out in front of it. Working together, we can do that. Z Washington Update We’ve got another big year ahead for Dodd-Frank Act implementation. To help bankers stay out in front of this regulatory freight train, we’ve published and mailed to community banks our latest resource, “Dodd Frank & Community Banks: Your Guide to 12 Critical Issues.” Staying Ahead of Dodd-Frank Frank Keating , President & CEO, American Bankers Association visit us online! www.nebankers.org Reach Frank Keating by email at fkeating@aba.com.