Government Relations Council

CBA’s Government Relations Council assists CBA in developing a retail financial services issues agenda for the banking industry and has helped CBA’s staff create and maintain its reputation for unparalleled expertise in retail banking matters.  CBA addresses issues that are the foremost priorities of the financial services industry, as it relates to Congress, the federal regulatory agencies and the courts.

For many years, CBA has been in the vanguard of efforts to ensure uniform national rules for federally chartered institutions, and has been a strong advocate for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as it has articulated long-standing laws on preemption.  Since CBA lobbied successfully for preemption language in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, it has continued to seek uniform national standards in banking legislation, in regulations, and before the courts.

The Council has guided CBA on customer service issues so that CBA has been able to address a series of regulatory proposals arising from the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  As well, the Council’s guidance has helped CBA educate policymakers on the shortcomings of HMDA data showing pricing for nonprime loans.  CBA has also pointed to the financial literacy efforts of banks, community development programs, and services for the growing Hispanic market.

The Council has encouraged CBA’s leadership work on the regulatory implementation of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.  CBA works with the other industry trade groups to ensure that the rules will be workable and will fairly reflect the bankruptcy reform legislation.

Other recent issues of focus include the Congressional and regulatory responses to data security breaches, and USA Patriot Act and anti-money laundering rules, Internet gambling legislation, the do-not-call and do-not-fax rules, ‘clear and conspicuous’ disclosures, and guaranteed student loan programs.

Congressional and regulatory officials look to CBA for insight in the constantly evolving world of retail financial services, and the Government Relations Council helps to provide CBA with critical guidance.