A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)".

House H.R. 572, the Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act - support. H.R. 1843, the Telehealth Expansion Act - support. H.R. 824, the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 - support. H.R. 2811, the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 - support. H.R. 4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act - support. H.R. 3881, the Credit Card Competition Act - support. H.R. 3799, the CHOICE Arrangement Act - support. S.J.Res.11, CRA resolution of disapproval for the EPA final rule relating to increased emissions standards for new heavy duty trucks - support. H.R. 2868, the Association Health Plan Act - support. H.R. 2813, the Self-Insurance Protection Act - support. H.R. 4428, the Guidance Clarity Act - support. H.R. 890, the Guidance Out Of Darkness (GOOD) Act - support. H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act - support. Norcross amendment (submitted as #144) to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2024 - oppose. H.R. 3417, FAIR Act - support. H.R. 1163, the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act - support. H.R. 4035, the Protecting Small Business Information Act of 2023 - support. H.J.Res. 98, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status. - support. S.J. Res. 32, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B). - support. H.R. 6514, Holding Agencies Accountable Act - support. H.R. 906, the REPAIR Act - support. H.R. 7198, Prove It Act - support. H.R. 7035, the Death Tax Repeal Act - support. H.J.Res. 147, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration relating to "Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process - support. H.R. 358, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act (SBRFIA) - support H.R. 8639, Warehouse Worker Protection Act - oppose. H. J. RES. 129, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance and Independent, Noncoordinated Excepted Benefits Coverage rule - support. H.R. 8147, Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act - support. H.J.Res.116, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Labor relating to "Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act" - support Senate S. 1108, the Death Tax Repeal Act - support. S. 122, the Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act - support. S. 954, the Affordable Insulin NOW Act of 2023 - oppose. S. 1001, the Telehealth Expansion Act - support. H.J.Res. 27, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval for the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule - support. S.J.Res. 8, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval for the Department of Labor (DOL) final rule relating to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors for investment decisions - support. S. 1706, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act - support. S. 1838, the Credit Card Competition Act - support. Nomination of Acting Secretary Julie Sus for Secretary of DOL - oppose. S. 1339, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act - support. S. 567, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023 - oppose. S. 728, the Paycheck Fairness Act - oppose. S. 1664, the Healthy Families Act - oppose. Marshall amendment to H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 - support. S. 1869, Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement (SITE) Act - support. S. 3167, the Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Act (MEWA Act) - support. the Employer Reporting Improvement Act and the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act - support. S. 2033, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act - support. S. 3227, Paperwork Burden Reduction Act - support. S. 3673, Commonsense Reporting Act - support. S. 1411, Prove It Act of 2023 - support. S. 1108, Death Tax Repeal Act - support. H.J.Res. 98, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status. - support. Extending the $7.5 million debt cap under Subchapter V of the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy code - support. H.R. 1147, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act - support. S. 3204, the Employer Reporting Improvement Act - support. S. 3202, the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act - support. S.J. Res. 61, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval to nullify the Federal Highway Administrations (FHWA) final rule imposing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations - support. S.J. Res. 58, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Department of Energy (DOE) final rule on gas furnace efficiency standards - support. S. 4297, Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act - support. S.J. Res. 76, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services Short-Term, Limited Duration Insurance and Independent, Noncoordinated Excepted Benefits Coverage rule - support. S.J.Res.63, A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act" - support. S.4260, Warehouse Worker Protection Act - oppose. Nomination (PN1789) of Lauren McGarity McFerran, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2029 - oppose. Testimony NFIB Statement for the Record, House Committee on Small Business, hearing titled, Under the Microscope: Examining FinCENs Implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act. April 30, 2024 Other Healthcare reform Joint trade letter - request for abandonment or at least postponement of DOLs anticipated overtime regulations under the FLSA Joint trade letter - support of the pending proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require disclosure of third-party litigation funding (TPLF) investment arrangements in any civil action filed in federal court Restoration of R&D expensing (Section 174) - support. Regulatory Flexibility Act reform - support. Joint trade letter - Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the U.S. Department of Labor final rule, Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations - support. Joint trade letter - H.R. 4035, Small Business Information Act - support. Joint trade letter - Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act - oppose. Nomination of Acting Secretary Julie Su for Secretary of Labor (DOL) - oppose. Paid leave - oppose. American Privacy Rights Act. ENABLERS Act - oppose.

Client expense: $1,261,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.J. Res. 50, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) H.J. Res. 66, Disapproving of the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) S.J. Res. 32, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) SBA 7(a) Lending Program Credit union member business lending H.R. 4868, Member Business Loan Expansion Act S. 2482, Community Advantage Loan Program Act of 2023

Client expense: $1,490,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

CBAI Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. De Novo Community Bank Formation, the Dual Banking System and Charter Choice Newly chartered (de novo) community banks are vitally important to maintaining a strong, growing, evolving and vibrant profession in the face of banking industry consolidation. Many new banks must be chartered each year to help maintain the vitality of the community banking profession. The dual banking system, where chartering and supervision is divided between the federal government and the states, is important and must be maintained. Community banks should be able to choose the banking charter that best fits their unique business model. A banking system with multi-agency (state and federal) regulators and charter choice provides the necessary checks and balances as well as improved rulemaking on complex issues. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Responsible Bank Merger Activity New bank merger legislation or regulation should not apply to community banks. Rather, policymakers should seriously consider the impact on our financial system, economy, and American taxpayers by allowing the nations mega banks, which are too big and unable to fail, to become even larger and more interconnected. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Legitimate Bank Service Charges and Fees are not Exploitive and Junk Fees CBAI does not support overdraft policies and practices that abuse consumers. Policymakers must accept that it is the consumers responsibility to always know their account balance and not write checks or initiate debit transactions that would overdraw their account. The cost for processing overdrafts may include returning the item or paying the overdraft which creates the equivalent of an unauthorized, unsecured, and interest-free loan. Effectively managing risks associated with overdrafts is a safety and soundness regulatory requirement. Realistic Perspective on Financial Inclusion CBAI supports government initiatives that educate consumers and encourage financial inclusion, but it is not the proper role of government to provide banking services direct to individuals either through the Federal Reserve, state-owned public banks, or the U.S. Postal Service. Providing banking services to individuals and businesses is the proper role of the private-sector banking system. Government can assist the private sector in financial inclusion efforts especially to low- and middle-income consumers, which are those most likely to be un- or underbanked. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Postal Banking Postal banking is misguided and any entry of the USPS (Postal Service) into banking services is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Public Banking Public banking (i.e., publicly owned banks) is misguided and is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Closing the Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Regulatory Loophole ILCs represent the unacceptable mixing of banking and commerce. They pose risks to the financial system, our economy and American taxpayers. ILCs are the functional equivalent of banks and should be properly regulated. The loophole permits their holding companies from being supervised and regulated by the Federal Reserve - and must be closed. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. Appropriate Regulations of Fintechs and Innovation in Financial Services Financial innovation presents community banks with challenges and opportunities which they are rising to meet. Policymakers should reasonably assist community banks to prepare for this new and evolving era, not pose any unreasonable requirements, and not give fintechs any competitive advantages over community banks by subjecting them to lesser regulatory requirements. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate and residences in small rural communities (House and Senate) S. 3502 and H.R. 7297 - Trigger Leads Abatement Act (All Sections) a bill to prohibit credit reporting agencies from providing a credit report not initiated by a consumer if the report is being provided on the basis that the consumer has had a credit inquiry regarding a home mortgage loan. This practice, known as producing a trigger lead, provides notice to other mortgage lenders that the consumer is seeking a mortgage loan. (Senate and House) S. 3638 - Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (All Sections) to prevent large companies from gaining access to the federal safety net and escaping federal oversight and supervision by the Federal Reserve (House and Senate) S. 1838 - Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 (All Sections) to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe regulations relating to network access and competition in credit card transactions (House) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (House) S. 2860 - SAFER Banking Act (All Sections) to provide protections for federally regulated financial institutions that serve state-sanctioned marijuana businesses (House and Senate) Farm Bill - The Passage of a five-year Farm Bill with community bank priorities and without FCS expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) Letters - Comment Letter to the CFPB regarding Proposed Rule - Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions - Docket No. CFPB-2024-0002 and RIN 3170-AA42 (CFPB) Comment Letter to the OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC - Regulatory Publication and Review Under Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPRA), Docket ID OCC-2023-0016, Federal Reserve Board Docket No. OP-1828, and FDIC - EGRPRA - specifically, tiered and appropriate regulations for community banks, closing the Industrial Loan Company loophole, favorable climate for de novo community bank formation (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) Comment Letter to the Federal Reserve - Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing requirements - Docket No. R-1818, RIN 7100-AG67 (Federal Reserve) CBAI-led joint trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), which is legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Action Alerts - Action Alert - Urge Congress to Pass Farm Bill with community bank priorities and without FCS expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House) Miscellaneous - Residential mortgage Trigger Leads (CFPB) Deposit Check Fraud - The prompt and reasonable reimbursements for community banks from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks, and the largest banks opening fraudulent accounts into which fraud items are being deposited, including - joint supervisory guidance addressed to the largest banks for their apparent management and compliance lapses, enhanced supervision, regulation and enforcement against the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (House and Senate, OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) Federal Reserve balance sheet (Federal Reserve) Resignation of FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg (House) Stopping bank regulatory overreach (House, Senate and Federal Reserve) Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), transfer of beneficial ownership reporting requirements (BOI) to FinCEN, Small Business Data Collection (Dodd-Frank Section 1071), consumer access to financial records (Dodd-Frank Section 1033), credit unions, Farm Credit System, check fraud, and financial services/banking industry consolidation (Federal Reserve) Too-big-to-fail and stronger capital requirements for the largest banks (House)

Client expense: $65,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

CBAI Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate and residences in small rural communities (House and Senate) S. 1838 - Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 (All Sections) to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe regulations relating to network access and competition in credit card transactions (House) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (House) S. 2860 - SAFER Banking Act (All Sections) to provide protections for federally regulated financial institutions that serve state-sanctioned marijuana businesses (House and Senate) Farm Bill - The Passage of a five-year Farm Bill with community bank priorities and without FCS expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) Letters - Comment Letter to the Federal Reserve - Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing requirements - Docket No. R-1818, RIN 7100-AG67 (Federal Reserve) CBAI-led joint trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), which is legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Action Alerts - Action Alert - Urge Congress to Pass Farm Bill with community bank priorities and without FCS expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House) Miscellaneous - Deposit Check Fraud - The prompt and reasonable reimbursements for community banks from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks, and the largest banks opening fraudulent accounts into which fraud items are being deposited, including - joint supervisory guidance addressed to the largest banks for their apparent management and compliance lapses, enhanced supervision, regulation and enforcement against the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (House and Senate, OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), transfer of beneficial ownership reporting requirements (BOI) to FinCEN, Small Business Data Collection (Dodd-Frank Section 1071), consumer access to financial records (Dodd-Frank Section 1033), credit unions, Farm Credit System, check fraud, and financial services/banking industry consolidation (Federal Reserve)

Client expense: $65,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

CBAI Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. De Novo Community Bank Formation, the Dual Banking System and Charter Choice Newly chartered (de novo) community banks are vitally important to maintaining a strong, growing, evolving and vibrant profession in the face of banking industry consolidation. Many new banks must be chartered each year to help maintain the vitality of the community banking profession. The dual banking system, where chartering and supervision is divided between the federal government and the states, is important and must be maintained. Community banks should be able to choose the banking charter that best fits their unique business model. A banking system with multi-agency (state and federal) regulators and charter choice provides the necessary checks and balances as well as improved rulemaking on complex issues. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Responsible Bank Merger Activity New bank merger legislation or regulation should not apply to community banks. Rather, policymakers should seriously consider the impact on our financial system, economy, and American taxpayers by allowing the nations mega banks, which are too big and unable to fail, to become even larger and more interconnected. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Legitimate Bank Service Charges and Fees are not Exploitive and Junk Fees CBAI does not support overdraft policies and practices that abuse consumers. Policymakers must accept that it is the consumers responsibility to always know their account balance and not write checks or initiate debit transactions that would overdraw their account. The cost for processing overdrafts may include returning the item or paying the overdraft which creates the equivalent of an unauthorized, unsecured, and interest-free loan. Effectively managing risks associated with overdrafts is a safety and soundness regulatory requirement. Realistic Perspective on Financial Inclusion CBAI supports government initiatives that educate consumers and encourage financial inclusion, but it is not the proper role of government to provide banking services direct to individuals either through the Federal Reserve, state-owned public banks, or the U.S. Postal Service. Providing banking services to individuals and businesses is the proper role of the private-sector banking system. Government can assist the private sector in financial inclusion efforts especially to low- and middle-income consumers, which are those most likely to be un- or underbanked. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Postal Banking Postal banking is misguided and any entry of the USPS (Postal Service) into banking services is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Public Banking Public banking (i.e., publicly owned banks) is misguided and is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Closing the Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Regulatory Loophole ILCs represent the unacceptable mixing of banking and commerce. They pose risks to the financial system, our economy and American taxpayers. ILCs are the functional equivalent of banks and should be properly regulated. The loophole permits their holding companies from being supervised and regulated by the Federal Reserve - and must be closed. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. Appropriate Regulations of Fintechs and Innovation in Financial Services Financial innovation presents community banks with challenges and opportunities which they are rising to meet. Policymakers should reasonably assist community banks to prepare for this new and evolving era, not pose any unreasonable requirements, and not give fintechs any competitive advantages over community banks by subjecting them to lesser regulatory requirements. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate and residences in small rural communities (House and Senate) S. 3502 and H.R. 7297 - Trigger Leads Abatement Act (All Sections) a bill to prohibit credit reporting agencies from providing a credit report not initiated by a consumer if the report is being provided on the basis that the consumer has had a credit inquiry regarding a home mortgage loan. This practice, known as producing a trigger lead, provides notice to other mortgage lenders that the consumer is seeking a mortgage loan. (Senate and House) S. 3638 - Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (All Sections) to prevent large companies from gaining access to the federal safety net and escaping federal oversight and supervision by the Federal Reserve (House and Senate) S. 1838 - Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 (All Sections) to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe regulations relating to network access and competition in credit card transactions (House) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (House) S. 2860 - SAFER Banking Act (All Sections) to provide protections for federally regulated financial institutions that serve state-sanctioned marijuana businesses (House and Senate) Farm Bill - The Passage of a five-year Farm Bill with community bank priorities and without FCS expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) Letters - Comment Letter to the CFPB regarding Proposed Rule - Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions - Docket No. CFPB-2024-0002 and RIN 3170-AA42 (CFPB) Comment Letter to the OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC - Regulatory Publication and Review Under Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPRA), Docket ID OCC-2023-0016, Federal Reserve Board Docket No. OP-1828, and FDIC - EGRPRA - specifically, tiered and appropriate regulations for community banks, closing the Industrial Loan Company loophole, favorable climate for de novo community bank formation (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) Comment Letter to the Federal Reserve - Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing requirements - Docket No. R-1818, RIN 7100-AG67 (Federal Reserve) CBAI-led joint trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), which is legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Action Alerts - Action Alert - Urge Congress to Pass Farm Bill with community bank priorities and without FCS expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House) Miscellaneous - Residential mortgage Trigger Leads (CFPB) Deposit Check Fraud - The prompt and reasonable reimbursements for community banks from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks, and the largest banks opening fraudulent accounts into which fraud items are being deposited, including - joint supervisory guidance addressed to the largest banks for their apparent management and compliance lapses, enhanced supervision, regulation and enforcement against the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (House and Senate, OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) Federal Reserve balance sheet (Federal Reserve) Resignation of FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg (House) Stopping bank regulatory overreach (House, Senate and Federal Reserve) Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), transfer of beneficial ownership reporting requirements (BOI) to FinCEN, Small Business Data Collection (Dodd-Frank Section 1071), consumer access to financial records (Dodd-Frank Section 1033), credit unions, Farm Credit System, check fraud, and financial services/banking industry consolidation (Federal Reserve) Too-big-to-fail and stronger capital requirements for the largest banks (House)

Client expense: $65,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

CBAI Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate and residences in small rural communities (House and Senate) S. 3502 and H.R. 7297 - Trigger Leads Abatement Act (All Sections) a bill to prohibit credit reporting agencies from providing a credit report not initiated by a consumer if the report is being provided on the basis that the consumer has had a credit inquiry regarding a home mortgage loan. This practice, known as producing a trigger lead, provides notice to other mortgage lenders that the consumer is seeking a mortgage loan. (Senate and House) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (House) S. 2860 - SAFER Banking Act (All Sections) to provide protections for federally regulated financial institutions that serve state-sanctioned marijuana businesses (House and Senate) Farm Bill - The Passage of a five-year Farm Bill with community bank priorities and without FCS expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) Letters - CBAI-led joint trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), which is legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Action Alerts - Action Alert - Urge Congress to Pass Farm Bill with community bank priorities and without FCS expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House) Miscellaneous - Residential mortgage Trigger Leads (CFPB) Deposit Check Fraud - The prompt and reasonable reimbursements for community banks from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks, and the largest banks opening fraudulent accounts into which fraud items are being deposited, including - joint supervisory guidance addressed to the largest banks for their apparent management and compliance lapses, enhanced supervision, regulation and enforcement against the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (House and Senate, OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), transfer of beneficial ownership reporting requirements (BOI) to FinCEN, Small Business Data Collection (Dodd-Frank Section 1071), consumer access to financial records (Dodd-Frank Section 1033), credit unions, Farm Credit System, check fraud, and financial services/banking industry consolidation (Federal Reserve)

Client expense: $65,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (PL 111-203); S.1159/H.R. 1806 - the Small Lender Act; H.J.Res. 66 / S.J.Res 32 - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)".

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

LD 2 Q1 2024 House H.R. 1843, the Telehealth Expansion Act - support. H.R. 824, the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 - support. H.R. 4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act - support. H.R. 3881, the Credit Card Competition Act - support. H.R. 3799, the CHOICE Arrangement Act - support. S.J.Res.11, CRA resolution of disapproval for the EPA final rule relating to increased emissions standards for new heavy duty trucks - support. H.R. 2868, the Association Health Plan Act - support. H.R. 2813, the Self-Insurance Protection Act - support. H.R. 4428, the Guidance Clarity Act - support. H.R. 890, the Guidance Out Of Darkness (GOOD) Act - support. H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act - support. Norcross amendment (submitted as #144) to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2024 - oppose. H.R. 3417, FAIR Act - support. H.R. 1163, the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act - support. H.R. 4035, the Protecting Small Business Information Act of 2023 - support. H.J.Res. 98, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status. - support. S.J. Res. 32, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B). - support. H.R. 6514, Holding Agencies Accountable Act - support. H.R. 906, the REPAIR Act - support. H.R. 3493, ADA Improvement Act of 2023 - support. H.R. 7198, Prove It Act - support. H.R. 7035, the Death Tax Repeal Act - support. Corporate Transparency Act Repeal legislation Senate S. 1108, the Death Tax Repeal Act - support. S. 122, the Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act - support. S. 954, the Affordable Insulin NOW Act of 2023 - oppose. S. 1001, the Telehealth Expansion Act - support. H.J.Res. 27, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval for the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule - support. S.J.Res. 8, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval for the Department of Labor (DOL) final rule relating to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors for investment decisions - support. S. 1706, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act - support. S. 1838, the Credit Card Competition Act - support. Nomination of Acting Secretary Julie Sus for Secretary of DOL - oppose. S. 1339, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act - support. S. 567, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023 - oppose. S. 3167, the Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Act (MEWA Act) - support. the Employer Reporting Improvement Act and the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act - support. S. 2033, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act - support. S. 3227, Paperwork Burden Reduction Act - support. S. 3673, Commonsense Reporting Act - support. S. 1411, Prove It Act of 2023 - support. S. 1108, Death Tax Repeal Act - support. H.J.Res. 98, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status. - support. Extending the $7.5 million debt cap under Subchapter V of the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy code - support. H.R. 1147, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act - support. S. 3204, the Employer Reporting Improvement Act - support. S. 3202, the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act - support. S.J. Res. 61, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval to nullify the Federal Highway Administrations (FHWA) final rule imposing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations - support. Corporate Transparency Act - repeal legislation. Testimony NFIB Statement for the Record, House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, hearing titled, Health Care Spending In The United States: Unsustainable For Patients, Employers, And, Taxpayers, January 31, 2024. NFIB Statement for the Record, House Committee on Education and the Workforce, comments to the Committee on Education and the Workforce request for information on ways to build upon and strengthen ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) the foundation of employer-sponsored health care, March 15, 2024. NFIB Statement for the Record, House Committee on Financial Services, hearing titled, Oversight of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI), February 14, 2024. Other Healthcare reform Joint trade letter - request for abandonment or at least postponement of DOLs anticipated overtime regulations under the FLSA Joint trade letter - support of the pending proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require disclosure of third-party litigation funding (TPLF) investment arrangements in any civil action filed in federal court Restoration of R&D expensing (Section 174) - support. Regulatory Flexibility Act reform - support. Beneficial ownership information reporting requirements - oppose. Joint trade letter - Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the U.S. Department of Labor final rule, Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations - support. ADA lawsuit abuse Joint trade letter - H.R. 4035, Small Business Information Act - support. Joint trade letter - Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act - oppose. Nomination of Acting Secretary Julie Su for Secretary of Labor (DOL) - oppose. Paid leave - oppose.

Client expense: $1,296,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub.L. 111-203) H.R. 1806 / S. 1159 - The Small LENDER Act H.J. Res. 66 / S.J. Res 32 - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)"

Client expense: $120,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.J. Res. 50, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) H.J. Res. 66, Disapproving of the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) S.J. Res. 32, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) SBA 7(a) Lending Program Credit union member business lending H.R. 4868, Member Business Loan Expansion Act S. 2482, Community Advantage Loan Program Act of 2023

Client expense: $1,750,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

Implementation of Sect. 1071 of Dodd-Frank Act, data collection on small business lending S.J.Res.32, a bill to disapprove the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rulemaking on relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)"

Client expense: $80,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of

CBAI 2023 Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. De Novo Community Bank Formation, the Dual Banking System and Charter Choice Newly chartered (de novo) community banks are vitally important to maintaining a strong, growing, evolving and vibrant profession in the face of banking industry consolidation. Many new banks must be chartered each year to help maintain the vitality of the community banking profession. The dual banking system, where chartering and supervision is divided between the federal government and the states, is important and must be maintained. Community banks should be able to choose the banking charter that best fits their unique business model. A banking system with multi-agency (state and federal) regulators and charter choice provides the necessary checks and balances as well as improved rulemaking on complex issues. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Responsible Bank Merger Activity New bank merger legislation or regulation should not apply to community banks. Rather, policymakers should seriously consider the impact on our financial system, economy, and American taxpayers by allowing the nations mega banks, which are too big and unable to fail, to become even larger and more interconnected. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Legitimate Bank Service Charges and Fees are not Exploitive and Junk Fees CBAI does not support overdraft policies and practices that abuse consumers. Policymakers must accept that it is the consumers responsibility to always know their account balance and not write checks or initiate debit transactions that would overdraw their account. The cost for processing overdrafts may include returning the item or paying the overdraft which creates the equivalent of an unauthorized, unsecured, and interest-free loan. Effectively managing risks associated with overdrafts is a safety and soundness regulatory requirement. Realistic Perspective on Financial Inclusion CBAI supports government initiatives that educate consumers and encourage financial inclusion, but it is not the proper role of government to provide banking services direct to individuals either through the Federal Reserve, state-owned public banks, or the U.S. Postal Service. Providing banking services to individuals and businesses is the proper role of the private-sector banking system. Government can assist the private sector in financial inclusion efforts especially to low- and middle-income consumers, which are those most likely to be un- or underbanked. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Postal Banking Postal banking is misguided and any entry of the USPS (Postal Service) into banking services is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Public Banking Public banking (i.e., publicly owned banks) is misguided and is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Closing the Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Regulatory Loophole ILCs represent the unacceptable mixing of banking and commerce. They pose risks to the financial system, our economy and American taxpayers. ILCs are the functional equivalent of banks and should be properly regulated. The loophole permits their holding companies from being supervised and regulated by the Federal Reserve - and must be closed. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. Appropriate Regulations of Fintechs and Innovation in Financial Services Financial innovation presents community banks with challenges and opportunities which they are rising to meet. Policymakers should reasonably assist community banks to prepare for this new and evolving era, not pose any unreasonable requirements, and not give fintechs any competitive advantages over community banks by subjecting them to lesser regulatory requirements. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (FDIC) S. 3638 - Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (All Sections) to prevent large companies from gaining access to the federal safety net and escaping federal oversight and supervision and (Senate) S. 3502 and H.R. 3502 - Trigger Leads Abatement Act (All Sections) a bill to prohibit credit reporting agencies from providing a credit report not initiated by a consumer if the report is being provided on the basis that the consumer has had a credit inquiry regarding a home mortgage loan. This practice, known as producing a trigger lead, provides notice to other mortgage lenders that the consumer is seeking a mortgage loan. (Senate and House) Farm Bill - The Passage of a five-year Farm Bill with Community Bank Priorities and without FCS Expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) H.R. 4721 - Main Street Tax Certainty Act (All Sections) legislation to make permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.) (House) Letters - Comment Letter to the CFPB regarding Proposed Rule - Required Rulemaking on Personal Financial Data Rights - Docket ID No. CFPB-2023-0052 and RIN 3170-AA78 (FDIC) Comment Letter to the FDIC regarding guidelines for establishing standards for corporate governance and risk management - RIN 3064-AF94 (FDIC) CBAI-led joint trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), which is legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Comment Letter to the CFPB regarding Proposed Rule - Fees for Instantly Declined Transactions - Docket ID No. CFPB-2024-0003 and RIN 3170-AB16 (CFPB) Letter to the OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC regarding Check Fraud - Prompt and reasonable reimbursements from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns), and the largest banks opening fraud accounts into which fraud items are being deposited, including - joint supervisory guidance addressed to the largest banks for their apparent management and compliance lapses, enhanced supervision, regulation and enforcement against the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, House and Senate) Action Alerts - Action Alert - Support Closing the Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Loophole. Support legislation (S. 3538) Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (all sections) to prevent large companies from gaining access to the federal safety net and escaping federal oversight and supervision and (Senate) Action Alert - Urge Congress to Pass Farm Bill with Community Bank Priorities and without FCS Expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) Miscellaneous - None

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

CBAI 2023 Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. De Novo Community Bank Formation, the Dual Banking System and Charter Choice Newly chartered (de novo) community banks are vitally important to maintaining a strong, growing, evolving and vibrant profession in the face of banking industry consolidation. Many new banks must be chartered each year to help maintain the vitality of the community banking profession. The dual banking system, where chartering and supervision is divided between the federal government and the states, is important and must be maintained. Community banks should be able to choose the banking charter that best fits their unique business model. A banking system with multi-agency (state and federal) regulators and charter choice provides the necessary checks and balances as well as improved rulemaking on complex issues. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Responsible Bank Merger Activity New bank merger legislation or regulation should not apply to community banks. Rather, policymakers should seriously consider the impact on our financial system, economy, and American taxpayers by allowing the nations mega banks, which are too big and unable to fail, to become even larger and more interconnected. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Legitimate Bank Service Charges and Fees are not Exploitive and Junk Fees CBAI does not support overdraft policies and practices that abuse consumers. Policymakers must accept that it is the consumers responsibility to always know their account balance and not write checks or initiate debit transactions that would overdraw their account. The cost for processing overdrafts may include returning the item or paying the overdraft which creates the equivalent of an unauthorized, unsecured, and interest-free loan. Effectively managing risks associated with overdrafts is a safety and soundness regulatory requirement. Realistic Perspective on Financial Inclusion CBAI supports government initiatives that educate consumers and encourage financial inclusion, but it is not the proper role of government to provide banking services direct to individuals either through the Federal Reserve, state-owned public banks, or the U.S. Postal Service. Providing banking services to individuals and businesses is the proper role of the private-sector banking system. Government can assist the private sector in financial inclusion efforts especially to low- and middle-income consumers, which are those most likely to be un- or underbanked. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Postal Banking Postal banking is misguided and any entry of the USPS (Postal Service) into banking services is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Public Banking Public banking (i.e., publicly owned banks) is misguided and is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Closing the Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Regulatory Loophole ILCs represent the unacceptable mixing of banking and commerce. They pose risks to the financial system, our economy and American taxpayers. ILCs are the functional equivalent of banks and should be properly regulated. The loophole permits their holding companies from being supervised and regulated by the Federal Reserve - and must be closed. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. Appropriate Regulations of Fintechs and Innovation in Financial Services Financial innovation presents community banks with challenges and opportunities which they are rising to meet. Policymakers should reasonably assist community banks to prepare for this new and evolving era, not pose any unreasonable requirements, and not give fintechs any competitive advantages over community banks by subjecting them to lesser regulatory requirements. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (FDIC) S. 3638 - Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (All Sections) to prevent large companies from gaining access to the federal safety net and escaping federal oversight and supervision and (Senate) S. 3502 and H.R. 3502 - Trigger Leads Abatement Act (All Sections) a bill to prohibit credit reporting agencies from providing a credit report not initiated by a consumer if the report is being provided on the basis that the consumer has had a credit inquiry regarding a home mortgage loan. This practice, known as producing a trigger lead, provides notice to other mortgage lenders that the consumer is seeking a mortgage loan. (Senate and House) Farm Bill - The Passage of a five-year Farm Bill with Community Bank Priorities and without FCS Expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) H.R. 4721 - Main Street Tax Certainty Act (All Sections) legislation to make permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.) (House) Letters - Comment Letter to the CFPB regarding Proposed Rule - Required Rulemaking on Personal Financial Data Rights - Docket ID No. CFPB-2023-0052 and RIN 3170-AA78 (FDIC) Comment Letter to the FDIC regarding guidelines for establishing standards for corporate governance and risk management - RIN 3064-AF94 (FDIC) CBAI-led joint trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), which is legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Comment Letter to the CFPB regarding Proposed Rule - Fees for Instantly Declined Transactions - Docket ID No. CFPB-2024-0003 and RIN 3170-AB16 (CFPB) Letter to the OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC regarding Check Fraud - Prompt and reasonable reimbursements from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns), and the largest banks opening fraud accounts into which fraud items are being deposited, including - joint supervisory guidance addressed to the largest banks for their apparent management and compliance lapses, enhanced supervision, regulation and enforcement against the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, House and Senate) Action Alerts - Action Alert - Support Closing the Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Loophole. Support legislation (S. 3538) Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (all sections) to prevent large companies from gaining access to the federal safety net and escaping federal oversight and supervision and (Senate) Action Alert - Urge Congress to Pass Farm Bill with Community Bank Priorities and without FCS Expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) Miscellaneous - None

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

CBAI 2023 Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (FDIC) Farm Bill - The Passage of a five-year Farm Bill with Community Bank Priorities and without FCS Expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) H.R. 4721 - Main Street Tax Certainty Act (All Sections) legislation to make permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.) (House) Letters - CBAI-led joint trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), which is legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Letter to the OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC regarding Check Fraud - Prompt and reasonable reimbursements from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns), and the largest banks opening fraud accounts into which fraud items are being deposited, including - joint supervisory guidance addressed to the largest banks for their apparent management and compliance lapses, enhanced supervision, regulation and enforcement against the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, House and Senate) Action Alerts - Action Alert - Urge Congress to Pass Farm Bill with Community Bank Priorities and without FCS Expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) Miscellaneous - None

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

CBAI 2023 Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (FDIC) H.R. 4721 - Main Street Tax Certainty Act (All Sections) legislation to make permanent the tax deduction for qualified business income. (Under current law, the deduction expires after December 31, 2025.) (House) Farm Bill - The Passage of a five-year Farm Bill with Community Bank Priorities and without FCS Expansion including higher limits on USDA guaranteed farm loans, quicker turnaround time for USDA Express loan approvals, and without and expansion of the Farm Credit System or their exemption from Dodd-Frank Section 1071 (House and Senate) Letters - CBAI-led joint trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Growers, and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), which is legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Check Fraud - Prompt and reasonable reimbursements from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns), and the largest banks opening fraud accounts into which fraud items are being deposited, including - joint supervisory guidance addressed to the largest banks for their apparent management and compliance lapses, enhanced supervision, regulation and enforcement against the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, House and Senate) Action Alerts - None Miscellaneous - None

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (PL 111-203); S.1159/H.R. 1806 - the Small Lender Act; H.J.Res. 66 / S.J.Res 32 - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)".

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R.3243 - Small Business Stability Act Regulatory Capital Rule: Large Banking Organizations and Banking Organizations With Significant Trading Activity S.2190 - RECOUP Act of 2023 S.2403 - Payroll Account Guarantee Act of 2023 S.J.Res.32 - relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)" Regulatory Capital Rule: Risk-Based Capital Surcharges for Global Systemically Important Bank Holding Companies; Systemic Risk Report (FR Y-15), Federal Reserve: [Docket No. R-1814, RIN 7100-AG65] Long-Term Debt Requirements for Large Bank Holding Companies [etc.] [Docket ID OCC-2023-0011], Federal Reserve: [Docket No. R-1815, RIN 7100-AG66], FDIC: [RIN 3064-AF86]

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE

Implementation of Sect. 1071 of Dodd-Frank Act, data collection on small business lending S.J.Res.32, a bill to disapprove the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rulemaking on relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)"

Client expense: $70,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of

Protect the credit union tax exemption; Support legislation and regulation that helps credit unions grow membership, loans, and retained earnings in order to serve their nearly 140 million members; Support regulatory relief for credit unions; Provide guidance or rulemakings rather than rule through enforcement; Fair Market: This includes ensuring all lenders are following the same rules of the road and protecting consumers, including making fintechs, predatory payday lenders, and other non-regulated entities subject to proper oversight; Technology and Innovation: As new technologies emerge and disrupt finance, the NCUA needs to foster strong fintech partnerships to help credit unions and support credit unions ability to provide custodial services for digital assets and utilize blockchain technologies; Regulatory Relief: Remove the CFPBs examination and enforcement powers over credit unions, retain the NCUA Boards bipartisan three-member structure, and oppose efforts to place new restrictions on lending and credit reporting that will inhibit credit unions from helping their members; Data Protection: Encouraging federal standards for data privacy and data security that recognize existing regulatory requirements for credit unions, such as a federal standard of privacy rules that aligns with our principles outlined in our white paper; Support increase in funding for CDFI Fund, MDIs, and the CDRLF; Support extending GLBA-like data security measures to retailers and fintechs; Support recognizing GLBA compliance in any privacy legislation; Oppose private right of action in data privacy legislation; Support NCUA as credit unions sole data privacy regulator; Oppose opt-in requirement for use of non-public personal information in data privacy legislation; Support federal preemption of state data privacy laws; Oppose NCUA examination authority for 3rd party vendors; Oppose NCUA adopting a dedicated consumer compliance examination; Support extended NCUA examination cycle; Support NCUA Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) improvements; Support vendor information sharing among financial regulators; Support NCUA independence as regulator and insurer; Oppose unsustainable NCUA budget growth; Support increased NCUA assistance for MDI credit unions; Support adjusting Dodd-Frank Act thresholds for inflation; Support legislative action to limit Regulation E liability; Support fair distribution of Regulation E error resolution responsibilities; Support greater investment authorities for credit unions; Support expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; Support publication of list of entities with access to Federal Reserve Bank accounts and services; Support legislative action to clarify CFPBs UDAAP authority; Support parity in credit union and bank federal deposit insurance levels; Oppose increased NCUA authority to charge share insurance premiums; Oppose SBA direct lending authority; Oppose fintech participation in SBA lending programs; Prevent competitive disadvantages for credit unions and market distortions related to the integration of digital assets into traditional financial products; CFPB should make greater use of Section 1022 of the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt credit unions from rules where appropriate; Support increased CFPB transparency in rulemaking, supervision, and enforcement; Support CFPB coordination with NCUA in policymaking; Support CFPB basing policy on thorough research and data analysis; CFPB should engage in interagency coordination on Section 1033 consumer access to financial records rulemaking; Oppose CFPBs characterization of regulated and disclosed financial services fees as junk fees; CFPB should explore streamlining required fee disclosures; Oppose mandatory grace period for credit card late payments; CFPB should clarify UDAAP authority; CFPB should respect GLBAs data security regulatory structure; CFPB should limit impact and burden from final rule related to Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection (RIN: 3170-AA09); Support prohibiting CFPB expending funds to implement the Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection final rule (RIN: 3170-AA09); Improve examination coordination between CFPB and NCUA; Support CFPB exercise of larger participant authority to oversee fintech companies; Support clear regulatory framework for digital assets to encourage responsible innovation and permit credit union participation; Support CDFI Fund transparency on certification changes; Oppose changes to CDFI Fund certification process; Support Congressional oversight of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company final rules; Support legislation to limit impact of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company final rules; Support tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums; Support modification or removal of the credit union member business lending cap; Support increasing credit union loan maturity limits; Support allowing credit unions to add underserved areas to their FOM; Support removing service area requirement for FOM expansion; Support increasing the credit union interest rate ceiling; Oppose national all-in interest rate cap; Oppose expanding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to cover business loans; Support credit union Community Reinvestment Act exemption; Support regulator-approved credit union mergers; Support regulations adhering to intent of the Fair Credit Reporting Act; Support regulation of credit reporting agencies and credit repair organizations; Oppose legislation granting for-profit banks nominal leases on military installations; Support credit union access to nominal leases on military installations; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose exclusion of accurate information from credit reports; Support FinCEN funding; Support FinCEN oversight; Support increasing SAR and CTR thresholds; Support disbursal of ECIP funding; Oppose NCUA acting as a climate regulator; Support credit union eligibility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; Support Congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve Overnight Reverse Repo Facility; FCC should tailor robocall and robotext regulations to allow credit unions to serve their members; Support placing CFPB under regular appropriations process; FHFA should allow GSEs to purchase non-conforming loans from CDFIs and consider wealth-building home loan pilot programs; Oppose increase in FHFA guarantee fees; Support elimination of guarantee fees for credit union mortgages; Support regulation of fintechs in mortgage lending; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose development of a CBDC; Support prevention of an NFIP lapse; Support improving veterans access to capital by exempting credit unions business loans to veterans from the credit union member business lending cap; Support expanding the definition of Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) in the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLB Act) to include credit unions and Treasury-certified non-depository community development financial institutions; Support government guarantees to stabilize mortgage-backed securities market; Support pilot programs for wealth-building home loans and zero-down mortgages; Support quality- rather than quantity-based GSE loan pricing; Oppose any interchange/swipe fee legislation including related to routing or any form of market manipulation; Support parity for credit unions related to stablecoin regulation; Treasury should address the demand for coins to help consumers who rely on cash transactions; Support addressing appraisal bias and modernize the appraisal process for consistency; Support easing requirements for de novo credit unions; Support providing flexibility for credit unions to issue subordinated debt; Support improvements to ease the process for forgiveness of PPP loans to small businesses; Oppose limits on fee income for credit unions including courtesy pay; Support limiting burdens of HMDA rule on credit unions; CFPB should remove unnecessary and unused data points related to HMDA reporting; Support permanently increasing reporting thresholds for open- and closed-end loans; Support permanent adoption of CFPBs expired temporary relief of E-SIGN regulation; Oppose Federal Reserve proposal to decrease debit interchange fee cap (Docket No. R‐1818); Support for forced arbitration - studies show consumers benefit more often from arbitration than litigation; Support Credit Union Board Modernization Act (H.R. 582; S. 610); Support Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act (H.R. 758); Support Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act (H.R. 1533; S. 2252); Support Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act (H.R. 1410); Support SECURE Notarization Act (H.R. 1059; S. 1212); Support Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act (H.R. 1010; S. 453); Support CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1122; H.R. 5403); Support Data Privacy Act (H.R. 1165); Support Veterans Member Business Loan Act (S. 539; H.R. 4867); Support NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements (S. 544); Support Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (S. 657); Support CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act (S. 869); Support Small LENDER Act (H.R. 1806); Support Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act (H.R. 1313); Support Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Businesses Act (H.R. 1749); Support Resolution of Disapproval of the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule (H.J.Res. 50; H.J.Res. 66; H.J.Res. 85; S.J.Res. 32) Support CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act (H.R. 2798); Support SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891; S. 1323); Support CDFI Fund Transparency Act (H.R. 3161; S. 2674); Support Building Credit Access for Veterans Act (H.R. 1266); Support Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 3556); Support Middle Class Borrower Protection Act (H.R. 3564; S. 2296); Support Digital Dollar Pilot Prevention Act (H.R. 3712); Oppose Credit Card Competition Act (H.R. 3881; S. 1838); Support Member Business Loan Expansion Act (H.R. 4868); Oppose Senate NDAA amendments on interchange (#177; #425); Support Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act (H.R. 4766); Support Senate NDAA amendment on financial literacy (#206); Support Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act (H.R. 3170; S. 1514); Oppose Senate appropriations amendment on interchange (#1161); Oppose Senate appropriations amendments on interest rate caps (#1225; #1285); Oppose Capping Credit Card Interest Rates Act (S. 2760); Support SAFER Banking Act (S. 2860); Oppose Amendment #117 to H.R. 4664; Support Amendment #174 to H.R. 4664; Support provisions of H.R. 4664 to place CFPB under the regular appropriations process and restructure the Bureau to a bipartisan commission; Support Rectifying UDAAP Act (H.R. 6789); Support Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (S. 3538); Oppose Predatory Lending Elimination Act (S. 3549); Comments to NCUA on OMB Number: 3133-NEW supporting streamlined speaker request forms and increased transparency in speaker request process; Comments to Office of the National Cyber Director on RIN: 0301-AA00 supporting regulatory harmonization and minimizing overlapping or conflicting requirements; Comments to CFPB on Outline of FCRA Proposals supporting adherence to Congressional intent and reissuance of proposals with more detail and specificity; Comments to Department of Labor on RIN 1235-AA39 opposing automatic adjustments and encouraging accommodation of smaller credit unions; Comments to NCUA on proposed 2024-2025 budget opposing unsustainable budget increases and encouraging cost-savings and transparency; Comments to OMB on OMB-2023-0020 supporting increased transparency on agencies use of artificial intelligence technology; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0082 supporting simplification of share insurance for trust accounts; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0052 opposing the proposal and urging CFPB to reduce burden on credit unions and adopt a safe harbor for data providers; Support FHFA publishing data and analysis related to credit score model validation; Support regulatory cost-benefit analysis that includes cumulative effects of regulations; Support extension of comment deadline for Federal Reserve proposal on decreasing the debit interchange fee cap (Docket No. R‐1818); Support extension of comment deadline for CFPB proposal on personal financial data rights (Docket No. CFPB-2023-0052); Support CFPB transparency on its use of artificial intelligence technology; Support NCUA transparency on initiatives to support financial technology innovation; Support NCUA creating a regulatory sandbox to support financial technology innovation; Support a delay in the effective date for the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule for all covered entities; Support NCUA raising commercial loan threshold to $250,000 from current level of $50,000; Support CFPB convening SBREFA panels for credit card late fee rulemaking; Oppose Regulation E liability for financial institutions for consumer-authorized transactions; Support FHFA reopening seasoned bulk transactions window.

Client expense: $960,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Protect the credit union tax exemption; Support legislation and regulation that helps credit unions grow membership, loans, and retained earnings in order to serve their nearly 140 million members; Support regulatory relief for credit unions; Provide guidance or rulemakings rather than rule through enforcement; Fair Market: This includes ensuring all lenders are following the same rules of the road and protecting consumers, including making fintechs, predatory payday lenders, and other non-regulated entities subject to proper oversight; Technology and Innovation: As new technologies emerge and disrupt finance, the NCUA needs to foster strong fintech partnerships to help credit unions and support credit unions ability to provide custodial services for digital assets and utilize blockchain technologies; Regulatory Relief: Remove the CFPBs examination and enforcement powers over credit unions, retain the NCUA Boards bipartisan three-member structure, and oppose efforts to place new restrictions on lending and credit reporting that will inhibit credit unions from helping their members; Data Protection: Encouraging federal standards for data privacy and data security that recognize existing regulatory requirements for credit unions, such as a federal standard of privacy rules that aligns with our principles outlined in our white paper; Support increase in funding for CDFI Fund, MDIs, and the CDRLF; Support extending GLBA-like data security measures to retailers and fintechs; Support recognizing GLBA compliance in any privacy legislation; Oppose private right of action in data privacy legislation; Support NCUA as credit unions sole data privacy regulator; Oppose opt-in requirement for use of non-public personal information in data privacy legislation; Support federal preemption of state data privacy laws; Oppose NCUA examination authority for 3rd party vendors; Oppose NCUA adopting a dedicated consumer compliance examination; Support extended NCUA examination cycle; Support NCUA Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) improvements; Support vendor information sharing among financial regulators; Support NCUA independence as regulator and insurer; Oppose unsustainable NCUA budget growth; Support increased NCUA assistance for MDI credit unions; Support adjusting Dodd-Frank Act thresholds for inflation; Support legislative action to limit Regulation E liability; Support fair distribution of Regulation E error resolution responsibilities; Support greater investment authorities for credit unions; Support expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; Support publication of list of entities with access to Federal Reserve Bank accounts and services; Support legislative action to clarify CFPBs UDAAP authority; Support parity in credit union and bank federal deposit insurance levels; Oppose increased NCUA authority to charge share insurance premiums; Oppose SBA direct lending authority; Oppose fintech participation in SBA lending programs; Prevent competitive disadvantages for credit unions and market distortions related to the integration of digital assets into traditional financial products; CFPB should make greater use of Section 1022 of the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt credit unions from rules where appropriate; Support increased CFPB transparency in rulemaking, supervision, and enforcement; Support CFPB coordination with NCUA in policymaking; Support CFPB basing policy on thorough research and data analysis; CFPB should engage in interagency coordination on Section 1033 consumer access to financial records rulemaking; Oppose CFPBs characterization of regulated and disclosed financial services fees as junk fees; CFPB should explore streamlining required fee disclosures; Oppose mandatory grace period for credit card late payments; CFPB should clarify UDAAP authority; CFPB should respect GLBAs data security regulatory structure; CFPB should limit impact and burden from final rule related to Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection (RIN: 3170-AA09); Support prohibiting CFPB expending funds to implement the Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection final rule (RIN: 3170-AA09); Improve examination coordination between CFPB and NCUA; Support CFPB exercise of larger participant authority to oversee fintech companies; Support clear regulatory framework for digital assets to encourage responsible innovation and permit credit union participation; Support CDFI Fund transparency on certification changes; Oppose changes to CDFI Fund certification process; Support Congressional oversight of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company final rules; Support legislation to limit impact of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company final rules; Support tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums; Support modification or removal of the credit union member business lending cap; Support increasing credit union loan maturity limits; Support allowing credit unions to add underserved areas to their FOM; Support removing service area requirement for FOM expansion; Support increasing the credit union interest rate ceiling; Oppose national all-in interest rate cap; Oppose expanding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to cover business loans; Support credit union Community Reinvestment Act exemption; Support regulator-approved credit union mergers; Support regulations adhering to intent of the Fair Credit Reporting Act; Support regulation of credit reporting agencies and credit repair organizations; Oppose legislation granting for-profit banks nominal leases on military installations; Support credit union access to nominal leases on military installations; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose exclusion of accurate information from credit reports; Support FinCEN funding; Support FinCEN oversight; Support increasing SAR and CTR thresholds; Support disbursal of ECIP funding; Oppose NCUA acting as a climate regulator; Support credit union eligibility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; Support Congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve Overnight Reverse Repo Facility; FCC should tailor robocall and robotext regulations to allow credit unions to serve their members; Support placing CFPB under regular appropriations process; FHFA should allow GSEs to purchase non-conforming loans from CDFIs and consider wealth-building home loan pilot programs; Oppose increase in FHFA guarantee fees; Support elimination of guarantee fees for credit union mortgages; Support regulation of fintechs in mortgage lending; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose development of a CBDC; Support prevention of an NFIP lapse; Support improving veterans access to capital by exempting credit unions business loans to veterans from the credit union member business lending cap; Support expanding the definition of Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) in the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLB Act) to include credit unions and Treasury-certified non-depository community development financial institutions; Support government guarantees to stabilize mortgage-backed securities market; Support pilot programs for wealth-building home loans and zero-down mortgages; Support quality- rather than quantity-based GSE loan pricing; Oppose any interchange/swipe fee legislation including related to routing or any form of market manipulation; Support parity for credit unions related to stablecoin regulation; Treasury should address the demand for coins to help consumers who rely on cash transactions; Support addressing appraisal bias and modernize the appraisal process for consistency; Support easing requirements for de novo credit unions; Support providing flexibility for credit unions to issue subordinated debt; Support improvements to ease the process for forgiveness of PPP loans to small businesses; Oppose limits on fee income for credit unions including courtesy pay; Support limiting burdens of HMDA rule on credit unions; CFPB should remove unnecessary and unused data points related to HMDA reporting; Support permanently increasing reporting thresholds for open- and closed-end loans; Support permanent adoption of CFPBs expired temporary relief of E-SIGN regulation; Oppose Federal Reserve proposal to decrease debit interchange fee cap (Docket No. R‐1818); Support for forced arbitration - studies show consumers benefit more often from arbitration than litigation; Support Credit Union Board Modernization Act (H.R. 582; S. 610); Support Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act (H.R. 758); Support Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act (H.R. 1533; S. 2252); Support Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act (H.R. 1410); Support SECURE Notarization Act (H.R. 1059; S. 1212); Support Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act (H.R. 1010; S. 453); Support CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1122; H.R. 5403); Support Data Privacy Act (H.R. 1165); Support Veterans Member Business Loan Act (S. 539; H.R. 4867); Support NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements (S. 544); Support Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (S. 657); Support CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act (S. 869); Support Small LENDER Act (H.R. 1806); Support Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act (H.R. 1313); Support Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Businesses Act (H.R. 1749); Support Resolution of Disapproval of the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule (H.J.Res. 50; H.J.Res. 66; H.J.Res. 85; S.J.Res. 32) Support CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act (H.R. 2798); Support SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891; S. 1323); Support CDFI Fund Transparency Act (H.R. 3161; S. 2674); Support Building Credit Access for Veterans Act (H.R. 1266); Support Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 3556); Support Middle Class Borrower Protection Act (H.R. 3564; S. 2296); Support Digital Dollar Pilot Prevention Act (H.R. 3712); Oppose Credit Card Competition Act (H.R. 3881; S. 1838); Support Member Business Loan Expansion Act (H.R. 4868); Oppose Senate NDAA amendments on interchange (#177; #425); Support Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act (H.R. 4766); Support Senate NDAA amendment on financial literacy (#206); Support Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act (H.R. 3170; S. 1514); Oppose Senate appropriations amendment on interchange (#1161); Oppose Senate appropriations amendments on interest rate caps (#1225; #1285); Oppose Capping Credit Card Interest Rates Act (S. 2760); Support SAFER Banking Act (S. 2860); Oppose Amendment #117 to H.R. 4664; Support Amendment #174 to H.R. 4664; Support provisions of H.R. 4664 to place CFPB under the regular appropriations process and restructure the Bureau to a bipartisan commission; Support Rectifying UDAAP Act (H.R. 6789); Support Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (S. 3538); Oppose Predatory Lending Elimination Act (S. 3549); Comments to NCUA on OMB Number: 3133-NEW supporting streamlined speaker request forms and increased transparency in speaker request process; Comments to Office of the National Cyber Director on RIN: 0301-AA00 supporting regulatory harmonization and minimizing overlapping or conflicting requirements; Comments to CFPB on Outline of FCRA Proposals supporting adherence to Congressional intent and reissuance of proposals with more detail and specificity; Comments to Department of Labor on RIN 1235-AA39 opposing automatic adjustments and encouraging accommodation of smaller credit unions; Comments to NCUA on proposed 2024-2025 budget opposing unsustainable budget increases and encouraging cost-savings and transparency; Comments to OMB on OMB-2023-0020 supporting increased transparency on agencies use of artificial intelligence technology; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0082 supporting simplification of share insurance for trust accounts; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0052 opposing the proposal and urging CFPB to reduce burden on credit unions and adopt a safe harbor for data providers; Support FHFA publishing data and analysis related to credit score model validation; Support regulatory cost-benefit analysis that includes cumulative effects of regulations; Support extension of comment deadline for Federal Reserve proposal on decreasing the debit interchange fee cap (Docket No. R‐1818); Support extension of comment deadline for CFPB proposal on personal financial data rights (Docket No. CFPB-2023-0052); Support CFPB transparency on its use of artificial intelligence technology; Support NCUA transparency on initiatives to support financial technology innovation; Support NCUA creating a regulatory sandbox to support financial technology innovation; Support a delay in the effective date for the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule for all covered entities; Support NCUA raising commercial loan threshold to $250,000 from current level of $50,000; Support CFPB convening SBREFA panels for credit card late fee rulemaking; Oppose Regulation E liability for financial institutions for consumer-authorized transactions; Support FHFA reopening seasoned bulk transactions window.

Client expense: $960,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Generally support legislation that advances the interests of small business in all the categories listed in this report. In addition, JCN has lobbied in support of the following legislation that would have a tremendous impact on small business: S. 1411, Prove It Act, which would ensure small businesses have a voice in the rulemaking process by forcing federal agencies to demonstrate that any new regulation is compliant with existing laws by considering both the direct and indirect costs placed on small businesses. H.R. 2767/S. 1243, Small Business Investment Act of 2023, which would dramatically increase private sector investment in American small businesses by rewarding investors for supporting small business. S.J. Res. 32, resolution for congressional disapproval of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)."

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $30,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.J.Res.50, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) H.J.Res.66. Disapproving of the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B). S.J.Res.32. Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) SBA 7(a) Lending Program Credit union member business lending H.R. 4868, Member Business Loan Expansion Act S.2482, Community Advantage Loan Program Act of 2023

Client expense: $1,910,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

H.R. 758 Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act of 2023 H.R. 1122 Central Bank Digital Currency Anti-Surveillance State Act H.R. 1165 Financial Data Privacy Act of 2023 H.R. 1313 Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act H.R. 1749 Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Business Act H.R. 1806 Small LENDER Act H.R. 1810 Bank Loan Privacy Act H.R. 2656 Trigger Leads Abatement Act H.R. 2670, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 Digital Assets Regulation H.R. 2670, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, Amendments 425, 177 & S.1838: Durbin Amendment on Debit Card Routing; Extension to Credit Cards H.R. 2798 CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act H.R. 2891 SAFER Banking Act of 2023 H.R. 3881 Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 H.R. 4035, Protecting Small Business Information Act of 2023 H.R. 4198 To amend section 604(c) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act to address the treatment of pre-screening report requests, and for other purposes. H.R. 4673 Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act H.R. 4766 Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act of 2023 H.R. 5403, CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act H.R. 6789 - Rectifying Undefined Descriptions of Abusive Act and Practices Act H.J. Res. 50 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 H.J. Res. 66 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 S. 1045 Bank Compensation Clawback S. 1323 SAFE Banking Act of 2023 S. 1838 Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 S. 2190 RECOUP Act S. 2281 Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act S. 2669 Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2023 S. 2760, the Capping Credit Card Interest Rates Act S. 2860 SAFER Banking Act S. 3012 Deposit Security Act S. 3502 Homeowners Privacy Protection Act (Trigger Leads) S. 3538 Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act S. 3541 FAIR Exams Act S. 3549 The Predatory Lending Elimination Act Senate Amendment 1161 to H.R. 4366 - Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 - Credit Card Competition Act S.J. Res. 32 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 Anti-money laundering regulation - digital assets Beneficial Ownership Cannabis Banking Central Bank Digital Currency Check Fraud Climate Risk Disclosure Requirements Climate Related Financial Regulation Community Bank Access to Capital Community Development Financial Institutions Certification Community Reinvestment Act Credit Card Routing Mandates Credit Reporting Credit Union Acquisitions of Community Banks Credit Union Business Lending Powers Credit Union Field of Membership Rules Crypto Assets, Decentralized Finance, and Central Bank Digital Currency Cryptocurrency Regulation Data privacy De Novo Bank Formation Debit Card Interchange Fees and Routing Deposit insurance reform Digital Assets Regulation Dodd Frank Act 1071- Small Business Loan Data Collection Durbin Amendment on Debit Card Routing; Extension to Credit Cards FDIC Deposit Insurance Assessments FDIC Deposit Insurance Policy Federal Reserve Master Accounts FHFA Capital Rules Flood Insurance Implementation of Dodd Frank Act Section 1071 Implementation issues with the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 Industrial Loan Company Charter Policy Interest rate caps Legality Special Purpose Credit Programs Opposing the SBAs proposal to repeal the moratorium on the number of Small Business Lending Companies (SBLC) that are permitted to make 7(a) loans. Request for hearing on unfair Credit Union Competition Request that the CFPBs FCRA Rulemaking Process be Subject to an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) before it Publishes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) SBA Direct 7(a) Direct Lending Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs) Stablecoin, Crypto Currency Regulatory Policy Stablecoins

Client expense: $951,545 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, White House Office

HR 5403 "CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act," all provisions. S J Res 32 "CRA disapproving the CFPB rule relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act," all provisions.

Client expense: $170,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub.L. 111-203) H.R. 1806 / S. 1159 - The Small LENDER Act H.J. Res. 66 / S.J. Res 32 - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)"

Client expense: $120,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

House H.R. 572, the Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act - support. H.R. 1843, the Telehealth Expansion Act - support. H.R. 824, the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 - support. H.R. 2811, the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 - support. H.R. 4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act - support. H.R. 3881, the Credit Card Competition Act - support. H.R. 3799, the CHOICE Arrangement Act - support. S.J.Res.11, CRA resolution of disapproval for the EPA final rule relating to increased emissions standards for new heavy duty trucks - support. H.R. 2868, the Association Health Plan Act - support. H.R. 2813, the Self-Insurance Protection Act - support. H.R. 4428, the Guidance Clarity Act - support. H.R. 890, the Guidance Out Of Darkness (GOOD) Act - support. H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act - support. Norcross amendment (submitted as #144) to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2024 - oppose. H.R. 3417, FAIR Act - support. H.R. 1163, the Protecting Taxpayers and Victims of Unemployment Fraud Act - support. H.R. 4035, the Protecting Small Business Information Act of 2023 - support. H.J.Res. 98, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status. - support. S.J. Res. 32, providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B). - support. H.R. 6514, Holding Agencies Accountable Act - support. H.R. 906, the REPAIR Act - support. H.R. 3493, ADA Improvement Act of 2023 - support. Senate S. 1108, the Death Tax Repeal Act - support. S. 122, the Ensuring Workers Get PAID Act - support. S. 954, the Affordable Insulin NOW Act of 2023 - oppose. S. 1001, the Telehealth Expansion Act - support. H.J.Res. 27, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval for the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule - support. S.J.Res. 8, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval for the Department of Labor (DOL) final rule relating to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors for investment decisions - support. S. 1706, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act - support. S. 1838, the Credit Card Competition Act - support. Nomination of Acting Secretary Julie Sus for Secretary of DOL - oppose. S. 1339, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act - support. S. 567, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023 - oppose. S. 728, the Paycheck Fairness Act - oppose. S. 1664, the Healthy Families Act - oppose. Marshall amendment to H.R. 4366, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 - support. S. 1869, Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement (SITE) Act - support. S. 3167, the Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement Act (MEWA Act) - support. the Employer Reporting Improvement Act and the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act - support. S. 2033, the American Innovation and Choice Online Act - support. S. 3227, Paperwork Burden Reduction Act - support. S. 3673, Commonsense Reporting Act - support. S. 1411, Prove It Act of 2023 - support. S. 1108, Death Tax Repeal Act - support. Testimony NFIB Elizabeth Milito testified before the United States Senate Committee on Finance, Exploring Paid Leave: Policy, Practice, and Impact on the Workforce. October 25, 2023 Other Healthcare reform Joint trade letter - request for abandonment or at least postponement of DOLs anticipated overtime regulations under the FLSA Joint trade letter - support of the pending proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require disclosure of third-party litigation funding (TPLF) investment arrangements in any civil action filed in federal court Restoration of R&D expensing (Section 174) - support. Regulatory Flexibility Act reform - support. Beneficial ownership information reporting requirements - oppose. Joint trade letter - Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the U.S. Department of Labor final rule, Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations - support. ADA lawsuit abuse Joint trade letter - H.R. 4035, Small Business Information Act - support.

Client expense: $1,120,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

28 SEPT23 Met with CFPB staff regarding privacy. 2O OCT23 Met with CFPB regarding Section 1033. 1 NOV23 Met with CFPB and FTC staff regarding privacy. Signed onto a group letter to urge House financial services committee leaders to oppose the Financial Services Innovation Act of 2023. Sent a letter to House and Senate leaders (Sens. Durbin, Marshall, Welch and Vance and Reps. Lofgren, Gooden, Tiffany and Van Drew) urging support of the Credit Card Competition Act of 2023. (S 1838/H3881). Also signed onto a group letter to House and Senate leaders urging support of the Credit Card Competition Act of 2023. Drafted a letter to Congress in opposition to a Congressional Review Act resolution (S.J. Res. 32) to overturn the CFPB's small business lending rule. Signed onto a coalition letter calling on the FDIC to crack down on a a handful of rogue banks supervised by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) that are helping high-cost lenders make predatory loans that harm consumers and violate state interest rate laws. Signed onto coalition letters to the CFPB. One letter urged the agency to not delay its proposed rulemaking to amend the Fair Credit Report Act, including a ban on medical debts from appearing on credit reports. Another letter was a coalition comment in support of the proposed CFPB's Personal Financial Data Rights Rule.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), President of the U.S., SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

CBAI 2023 Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (House and President) S. 3356 - Postal Police Reform Act of 2023 (Both Sections), legislation that would modify the role and duties of the postal police and inspectors - in our opinion to better combat the theft of mail and help address the issue of bank check fraud (Senate) S. 1838. And H.R. 3881 - Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 (all Sections), legislation that will amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe regulations relating to network competition in credit card transactions (House and Senate) Letters - Joint Trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Action Alerts - None Miscellaneous - Reimbursements from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns) including - the regulators intervention, providing dedicated resources to lodge complaints, Joint Regulatory Supervisory Guidance, dedicated points of contact at the largest banks, Community Bankers Association of Illinois member guidance with directions on filing complaints to the federal regulators, and the enhanced supervision of the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve) Direct Deposit Diversion Fraud and the nexus between this type of fraud and reimbursements for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns) (Federal Reserve) Economic Roundtable where bank capital rules were discussed among other topics identified elsewhere in this LDR (House)

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), President of the U.S., SENATE

CBAI 2023 Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (House and President) S. 3356 - Postal Police Reform Act of 2023 (Both Sections), legislation that would modify the role and duties of the postal police and inspectors - in our opinion to better combat the theft of mail and help address the issue of bank check fraud (Senate) Letters - Joint Trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Action Alerts - None Miscellaneous - Reimbursements from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns) including - the regulators intervention, providing dedicated resources to lodge complaints, Joint Regulatory Supervisory Guidance, dedicated points of contact at the largest banks, Community Bankers Association of Illinois member guidance with directions on filing complaints to the federal regulators, and the enhanced supervision of the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve) Direct Deposit Diversion Fraud and the nexus between this type of fraud and reimbursements for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns) (Federal Reserve)

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), President of the U.S., SENATE

CBAI 2023 Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. De Novo Community Bank Formation, the Dual Banking System and Charter Choice Newly chartered (de novo) community banks are vitally important to maintaining a strong, growing, evolving and vibrant profession in the face of banking industry consolidation. Many new banks must be chartered each year to help maintain the vitality of the community banking profession. The dual banking system, where chartering and supervision is divided between the federal government and the states, is important and must be maintained. Community banks should be able to choose the banking charter that best fits their unique business model. A banking system with multi-agency (state and federal) regulators and charter choice provides the necessary checks and balances as well as improved rulemaking on complex issues. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Responsible Bank Merger Activity New bank merger legislation or regulation should not apply to community banks. Rather, policymakers should seriously consider the impact on our financial system, economy, and American taxpayers by allowing the nations mega banks, which are too big and unable to fail, to become even larger and more interconnected. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Legitimate Bank Service Charges and Fees are not Exploitive and Junk Fees CBAI does not support overdraft policies and practices that abuse consumers. Policymakers must accept that it is the consumers responsibility to always know their account balance and not write checks or initiate debit transactions that would overdraw their account. The cost for processing overdrafts may include returning the item or paying the overdraft which creates the equivalent of an unauthorized, unsecured, and interest-free loan. Effectively managing risks associated with overdrafts is a safety and soundness regulatory requirement. Realistic Perspective on Financial Inclusion CBAI supports government initiatives that educate consumers and encourage financial inclusion, but it is not the proper role of government to provide banking services direct to individuals either through the Federal Reserve, state-owned public banks, or the U.S. Postal Service. Providing banking services to individuals and businesses is the proper role of the private-sector banking system. Government can assist the private sector in financial inclusion efforts especially to low- and middle-income consumers, which are those most likely to be un- or underbanked. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Postal Banking Postal banking is misguided and any entry of the USPS (Postal Service) into banking services is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Public Banking Public banking (i.e., publicly owned banks) is misguided and is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Closing the Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Regulatory Loophole ILCs represent the unacceptable mixing of banking and commerce. They pose risks to the financial system, our economy and American taxpayers. ILCs are the functional equivalent of banks and should be properly regulated. The loophole permits their holding companies from being supervised and regulated by the Federal Reserve - and must be closed. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. Appropriate Regulations of Fintechs and Innovation in Financial Services Financial innovation presents community banks with challenges and opportunities which they are rising to meet. Policymakers should reasonably assist community banks to prepare for this new and evolving era, not pose any unreasonable requirements, and not give fintechs any competitive advantages over community banks by subjecting them to lesser regulatory requirements. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (House and President) S. 3356 - Postal Police Reform Act of 2023 (Both Sections), legislation that would modify the role and duties of the postal police and inspectors - in our opinion to better combat the theft of mail and help address the issue of bank check fraud (Senate) S. 1838. And H.R. 3881 - Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 (all Sections), legislation that will amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe regulations relating to network competition in credit card transactions (House and Senate) Letters - Comment Letter to the CFPB regarding Proposed Rule - Required Rulemaking on Personal Financial Data Rights - Docket ID No. CFPB-2023-0052 and RIN 3170-AA78 Joint Trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Action Alerts - None Miscellaneous - Reimbursements from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns) including - the regulators intervention, providing dedicated resources to lodge complaints, Joint Regulatory Supervisory Guidance, dedicated points of contact at the largest banks, Community Bankers Association of Illinois member guidance with directions on filing complaints to the federal regulators, and the enhanced supervision of the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve) Direct Deposit Diversion Fraud and the nexus between this type of fraud and reimbursements for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns) (Federal Reserve) Responsible review of the FDIC and deposit insurance limits and finalizing the exemption for community banks from paying a special assessment in connection with the failures of SVB (CA) and SB (NY) (House and Senate)

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), President of the U.S., SENATE

CBAI 2023 Federal Policy Priorities - The Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) supports fair competition for financial services, tiered regulations, the separation of banking and commerce, the dual banking system/charter choice, and financial innovation; and opposes discrimination favoring certain financial service providers, banking industry consolidation, and systemic risk. Based on these guiding principles, CBAI has identified the following 2023 Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy Priorities, which if implemented, will help community banks thrive and better serve their customers and communities. Traditional Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Additional Meaningful Regulatory Relief for Community Banks The importance of community banks cannot be overstated, and they serve their customers and communities honestly and with respect. CBAI joins the ICBA in supporting a more efficient system of rules and regulations, unbiased laws governing the financial sector, a safer and more secure business environment, and more efficient agricultural policies to support the nations economic growth and development in all parts of the country. Community Bank Position on Credit Unions and Their Expanded Powers Credit unions have long since strayed from their founding purpose of serving individuals of modest means and with a common bond. They blatantly abuse their competitive advantages and are virtually indistinguishable from tax-paying community banks. Credit union acquisitions of community banks is a recent and disturbing trend that negatively impacts all taxpayers. An exit fee should be imposed on these acquisitions. This escalation of credit unions abusing of their tax-exemption should prompt Congress to act now. This abuse is an existential threat to community banks and the communities they serve. Community Bank Position on the Farm Credit System and its Expanded Powers The Farm Credit System (FCS) has long since strayed from its founding purposes, blatantly abusing its competitive advantages against community banks. The FCS is the only GSE that competes directly with community banks. This blatant and continuing discrimination against community banks must end and FCS competitive advantages must be reined-in, and the playing field leveled for community banks. Enhanced Data, Cyber and Payment Card Security (Data Security) Enhanced security standards should be enforced through a tiered system where the more restrictive rules and are imposed on the largest and most critical members of the financial system and economy where their lapses pose the greatest threat to the largest number of consumers. Core data security principals in standards enacted by legislation and regulations must include the complete cost of data breaches being borne by that party that caused the breach; all participants should be subject to verifiable Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act-like data security standards; and any new data security standard proposals should ensure that community banks are not overburdened with redundant standards. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Reform and Meaningful Exemptions for Community Banks Regulations promulgated by the CFPB must provide community banks with the flexibility to meet the needs of its customers and they must not be burdened with additional and unnecessary regulatory requirements that would prevent them from serving their customers and communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to CFPB regulations harms the successful community bank business model. In reforming the CFPB, the single Director governance should be replaced by a five-member board or commission; a broader definition of firms that grant credit should be subject to the CFPB rules, these firm should be robustly supervised and examined; and the focus of any enhanced regulation of financial products should be on the mega banks and financial firms, the unregulated shadow financial industry and emerging Fintech companies. The CFPB has the statutory authority under the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt any class of providers [community banks] or any products or services from the rules it writes, but to-date the Bureau has been far too reticent to do so. The effective use of this authority will ensure community banks continue to be a healthy alternative to large banks and non-banks for consumers seeking to use responsible financial service providers. De Novo Community Bank Formation, the Dual Banking System and Charter Choice Newly chartered (de novo) community banks are vitally important to maintaining a strong, growing, evolving and vibrant profession in the face of banking industry consolidation. Many new banks must be chartered each year to help maintain the vitality of the community banking profession. The dual banking system, where chartering and supervision is divided between the federal government and the states, is important and must be maintained. Community banks should be able to choose the banking charter that best fits their unique business model. A banking system with multi-agency (state and federal) regulators and charter choice provides the necessary checks and balances as well as improved rulemaking on complex issues. Sound Principles for Housing Government Sponsored Entity (GSE) Reform The seemingly endless and ongoing period of government ownership and control of Fannie and Freddie must come to an end. GSE reform remains critically important to the future of the housing market and the U.S. economy. Community banks depend on the GSE for direct access to the secondary market. The GSEs must provide a steady and reliable source of funding for home mortgage lending for lenders of all sizes and through all economic cycles. This is particularly critical to maintaining liquidity when the markets are experiencing financial stress. Financial Transaction Tax Tax laws should encourage and promote robust economic activity and a thriving community banking sector, not impose new bank-specific fees, punitive new levies, transaction taxes, limitations on the deductibility of expenses, revenue offsets or pay-fors that target the banking industry. Rather, there should be parity among all financial service providers; there should be tax incentives for community banks serving low- and moderate-income individuals, small businesses, and small farms; and there should be a tax credit equivalent to the cost of community bank compliance with BSA compliance. Responsible Bank Merger Activity New bank merger legislation or regulation should not apply to community banks. Rather, policymakers should seriously consider the impact on our financial system, economy, and American taxpayers by allowing the nations mega banks, which are too big and unable to fail, to become even larger and more interconnected. Current Issues, Opportunities and Concerns Bank Regulators Involvement in Resolving Reimbursement for Fraudulently Altered Returned Checks CBAIs member community banks have been experiencing a pernicious and growing problem with reimbursements for fraudulently altered checks drawn on their customers accounts. The problem can be accurately summarized as being caused by the nations largest banks and credit union, where these checks were deposited in fraudulent accounts, which is harming community banks and their customers, in addition to undermining the publics confidence in the nations banking and financial system. CBAI has urged the regulators to get involved and address this problem. Finally Address the Risks of Too-Big-To-Fail (and now Too-Big-To-Not-Completely-Insure) Banks and Financial Firms to Protect Our Financial System, the Economy, and American Taxpayers from Future Bailouts TBTF The financial crisis, taxpayer bailouts, and subsequent recession was caused by the misconduct of the nations largest banks and financial firms. These megabanks have proven, at great cost to American taxpayers, that they cannot be effectively managed, supervised or disciplined. They are clearly too-big-to-change, too-big-to-fail and must be downsized. TBTNCI The recent failures of two large banks in early 2023, and the FDIC insuring 100% of their uninsured deposits, have raised new concerns about deposit insurance and have prompted calls for broader FDIC reforms. If systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) cause losses to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) then SIFIs should be responsible for reimbursing the DIF for those losses. Legitimate Bank Service Charges and Fees are not Exploitive and Junk Fees CBAI does not support overdraft policies and practices that abuse consumers. Policymakers must accept that it is the consumers responsibility to always know their account balance and not write checks or initiate debit transactions that would overdraw their account. The cost for processing overdrafts may include returning the item or paying the overdraft which creates the equivalent of an unauthorized, unsecured, and interest-free loan. Effectively managing risks associated with overdrafts is a safety and soundness regulatory requirement. Realistic Perspective on Financial Inclusion CBAI supports government initiatives that educate consumers and encourage financial inclusion, but it is not the proper role of government to provide banking services direct to individuals either through the Federal Reserve, state-owned public banks, or the U.S. Postal Service. Providing banking services to individuals and businesses is the proper role of the private-sector banking system. Government can assist the private sector in financial inclusion efforts especially to low- and middle-income consumers, which are those most likely to be un- or underbanked. Governments Unnecessary Intrusion into Banking and Lending Which Displaces Community Banks. SBA Direct Lending Community banks and the SBA have a long, beneficial, and cooperative private sector/public sector relationship, where SBA does not compete with banks in lending to small businesses. Direct SBA lending would violate this tradition. Community banks are far superior in establishing and prudently underwriting commercial lending relationships. The SBA originating and disbursing 7(a) loans will put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk of loss. Postal Banking Postal banking is misguided and any entry of the USPS (Postal Service) into banking services is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Public Banking Public banking (i.e., publicly owned banks) is misguided and is a significant government-sponsored, competitive threat to the viability of tax-paying community banks. Responsible Regulation of Digital Assets - Cryptocurrency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), and Stablecoins The risks posed by digital assets are enormous, as well as the consequences for monetary policy, our financial system, and the banking industry (i.e., disintermediation.). They also pose threats to the privacy and security of consumers and small businesses. Of great concern is that there is no single regulator responsible for this rapidly growing sector which combines elements of currency, payments, and investments, and there is insufficient transparency and lack of accountability in this ecosystem. Policymakers must cooperate and collaborate in the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to ensure a consistent Federal regulatory framework that does not permit digital assets to threaten the essential and highly successful business model of regulated and responsible community banks. Federal Home Loan Banks in their Comprehensive Review Most community banks are members and shareholders of their regional Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB). The FHLBs provide short-term liquidity, long-term funding, mortgage-related products, and other financial services in order to help their members provide affordable credit to the local communities they serve. The regional structure, special functions, and unique purpose of the FHLBs must be recognized and maintained by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). As the Administration and Congress consider reforming the housing finance system, care must be taken not to harm the FHLBs. They must remain healthy, stable, and reliable sources of funding for their members. The results of the Comprehensive Review by the FHFA should not disrupt the cooperative structure, regional nature, special functions, and the unique purposes of the FHLBanks. Reasonable Rules and Implementation Small Business Data Collection (CFPB) Small business lending data clearly suggests fair lending is not a problem at community banks as they treat their customers honestly and fairly. The regulatory burden of these collection and reporting requirements falls disproportionately hard on community banks, and community banks should be provided with meaningful exemptions in this rulemaking. Customer Data Sharing (CFPB) Community banks are financially sound and take great care in protecting consumer privacy. Non-bank entities must be held responsible for ensuring the safety of the customer information they are accessing and to be able to satisfy the liability for any financial harm which they cause community banks and their consumers. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) (OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC) The modernization of the CRA must enhance the ability of community banks to serve their communities and must not impose any additional regulatory burden. All financial service providers must be subject to the CRA to provide a complete picture of every financial institutions performance in serving their communities. A modernization of the CRA that does not encompass credit unions, Farm Credit System lenders and Fintechs (including the OCCs Special Purpose National Banks) will be a sham. Reporting Beneficial Ownership Information (FinCEN) Provisions in the NDAA in the 116th Congress shifted the burden of collecting and reporting beneficial ownership to FinCEN. This transfer must be accomplished completely and expeditiously. Safe Harbor for Banking Cannabis-Related Businesses Without taking a position on the legalization of cannabis, a safe harbor from federal sanctions for financial institutions that choose to serve legally compliant cannabis-related business in states where cannabis is legal is a matter of public safety and should be permitted. Closing the Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Regulatory Loophole ILCs represent the unacceptable mixing of banking and commerce. They pose risks to the financial system, our economy and American taxpayers. ILCs are the functional equivalent of banks and should be properly regulated. The loophole permits their holding companies from being supervised and regulated by the Federal Reserve - and must be closed. Agriculture and Rural America A vibrant rural economy is vital to Americas prosperity. The multi-year Farm Bill provided a strong safety net for farmers and ranchers including adequate price-protection programs and enhanced USDA-guaranteed farm and business loan programs. These programs must be protected from cuts or any adverse changes that would discourage farmer and rancher participation or undermine private-sector delivery. Federal Reserves Role in Payments System Improvement (FedNow Service) A fast and secure payments system is the very foundation of financial services and the economy and must be modernized. The payments system must not be monopolized by The Clearing House and its 25 large bank owners that endangered our financial system and the entire economy during the financial crisis. Community banks, small businesses and consumers must rely on the Federal Reserve to provide access to a safe and secure payments system. The Federal Reserve must be supported in its development of the FedNow Service to ensure that all participants have access to a real-time system on a fair and impartial basis. Appropriate Regulations of Fintechs and Innovation in Financial Services Financial innovation presents community banks with challenges and opportunities which they are rising to meet. Policymakers should reasonably assist community banks to prepare for this new and evolving era, not pose any unreasonable requirements, and not give fintechs any competitive advantages over community banks by subjecting them to lesser regulatory requirements. IRS Reporting Plan The various proposed IRS reporting requirements are unprecedented, misguided, raise serious concerns about government overreach, and is an invasion of their financial privacy. If implemented, they will damage the trusted and beneficial relationship between community banks and their customers. If the IRS wants to ensure greater compliance with tax laws, it can be accomplished by more appropriately using the existing tools and the wealth of information it currently possesses. Harmful Climate Risk Regulations CBAI opposes any climate change regulations that will adversely impact community banks and their ability to support their customers and communities including setting hard lending concentration limits on lending to fossil fuel or other carbon-intensive industries, stress testing or scenario analysis based on adverse climate change assumptions, and capital requirements based on climate risks. Community bankers high-contact and relationship-based lending model together with the soon-to-be-implemented Current Expected Credit Loss model, will incorporate material risk assumptions in estimating loan losses - including climate risks. Additional separate climate risk stress testing, concentration limits, and capital requirements for community banks are duplicative and unnecessary. (House and Senate) Legislation and Regulation - H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- ACRE Act of 2023 (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) S.J.Res 32 - Joint Resolution nullifying the CFPBs Section 1071 - Small Business Data Collection Rule (House and President) S. 3356 - Postal Police Reform Act of 2023 (Both Sections), legislation that would modify the role and duties of the postal police and inspectors - in our opinion to better combat the theft of mail and help address the issue of bank check fraud (Senate) S. 1838. And H.R. 3881 - Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 (all Sections), legislation that will amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to require the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe regulations relating to network competition in credit card transactions (House and Senate) Letters - Comment Letter to the CFPB regarding Proposed Rule - Required Rulemaking on Personal Financial Data Rights - Docket ID No. CFPB-2023-0052 and RIN 3170-AA78 Joint Trades letter with the Illinois Farm Bureau regarding H.R. 3139 and S. 2371- The ACRE Act (Access to Credit for our Rural Economy Act) (All Sections), legislation that will exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate (House and Senate) Action Alerts - None Miscellaneous - Reimbursements from the largest banks for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns) including - the regulators intervention, providing dedicated resources to lodge complaints, Joint Regulatory Supervisory Guidance, dedicated points of contact at the largest banks, Community Bankers Association of Illinois member guidance with directions on filing complaints to the federal regulators, and the enhanced supervision of the largest banks for CDD and CIP compliance (OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve) Direct Deposit Diversion Fraud and the nexus between this type of fraud and reimbursements for fraudulently altered return checks (Fraud Returns) (Federal Reserve) Responsible review of the FDIC and deposit insurance limits and finalizing the exemption for community banks from paying a special assessment in connection with the failures of SVB (CA) and SB (NY) (House and Senate)

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), President of the U.S., SENATE

Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (PL 111-203); S.1159/H.R. 1806 - the Small Lender Act. H.J.Res. 66/S.J.Res. 32 - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)".

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $50,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

Language access in mortgage servicing "HJRES 66 AND SJRES 32 CRA RESOLUTIONS TO OVERTURN CFPB IMPLEMENTATION OF SEC. 1071 IN DODD FRANK ACT " CFPB Defense Campaign H.R. 1165, the Data Privacy Act of 2023 Support for Rule 1071 & Opposition to HR 7768 Call for Ban of Forced Arbitration Clauses in Consumer Contracts with Telecommunications Providers

Client expense: $150,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 1414, the Keep Innovation in America Act. Language access in mortgage servicing "HJRES 66 AND SJRES 32 CRA RESOLUTIONS TO OVERTURN CFPB IMPLEMENTATION OF SEC. 1071 IN DODD FRANK ACT " CFPB Defense Campaign H.R. 1165, the Data Privacy Act of 2023 Support for Rule 1071 & Opposition to HR 7768 Call for Ban of Forced Arbitration Clauses in Consumer Contracts with Telecommunications Providers

Client expense: $150,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 758 Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act of 2023 H.R. 1059 SECURE Notarization Act of 2023 H.R. 1122 Central Bank Digital Currency Anti-Surveillance State Act H.R. 1165 Financial Data Privacy Act of 2023 H.R. 1313 Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act H.R. 1749 Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Business Act H.R. 1806 Small LENDER Act H.R. 1810 Bank Loan Privacy Act H.R. 1817 The Preventing Racial Profiling in Lending Act H.R. 2402 Power of the Mint Act H.R. 2656 Trigger Leads Abatement Act H.R. 2798 CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act H.R. 2891 SAFE Banking Act of 2023 H.R. 3881 Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 H.R. 4035, Protecting Small Business Information Act of 2023 H.R. 4198 To amend section 604(c) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act to address the treatment of pre-screening report requests, and for other purposes. H.R. 4346 Small Bank Holding Company Relief Act H.R. 4673 Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act H.R. 4766 Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act of 2023 H.R. 5119, the Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act H.R. 5403, CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act H.J. Res. 50 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 H.J. Res. 66 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 S. 1045 Bank Compensation Clawback S. 1212 SECURE Notarization Act of 2023 S. 1323 SAFE Banking Act of 2023 S. 1838 Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 S. 2190 RECOUP Act S. 2252 Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act S. 2669 Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2023 S. 2760, the Capping Credit Card Interest Rates Act S. 2860 SAFER Banking Act S. 3012 Deposit Security Act Senate Amendment 1161 to H.R. 4366 - Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 - Credit Card Competition Act Senate Amendment 1285, Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act S.J. Res. 32 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 A bill to provide for the regulation of payment stablecoins, and for other purposes. Anti-money laundering regulation - digital assets Bank mergers Beneficial Ownership Cannabis Banking/Reintroduction of SAFE Banking Act Central Bank Digital Currency Check Fraud Climate Risk Disclosure Requirements Climate Related Financial Regulation Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval for CFPBs Final Rule relating to Small Business Lending Under ECOA Community Bank Access to Capital Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund Appropriations Community Development Financial Institutions Certification Community Reinvestment Act Credit Card Routing Mandates Credit Reporting Credit Union Acquisitions of Community Banks Credit Union Business Lending Powers Credit Union Field of Membership Rules Crypto Assets, Decentralized Finance, and Central Bank Digital Currency Cryptocurrency Regulation Data privacy De Novo Bank Formation Deposit insurance reform Digital Assets Regulation Dodd Frank Act 1071- Small Business Loan Data Collection Durbin Amendment on Credit Card Routing; Extension to Credit Cards FDIC Deposit Insurance Assessments FDIC Deposit Insurance Policy Federal Reserve Master Accounts FHFA Capital Rules Financial Data Privacy Flood Insurance Implementation of Dodd Frank Act Section 1071 Implementation issues with the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 Industrial Loan Company Charter Policy Interest rate caps Legality Special Purpose Credit Programs Military Base Rent Parity Minority depository institutions Opposing the SBAs proposal to repeal the moratorium on the number of Small Business Lending Companies (SBLC) that are permitted to make 7(a) loans. Request for hearing on unfair Credit Union Competition SBA Direct 7(a) Direct Lending Stablecoin, Crypto Currency Regulatory Policy Stablecoins

Client expense: $905,580 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of

Implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Pub.L. 111-203) H.R. 1806 / S. 1159 - The Small LENDER Act H.J. Res. 66 / S.J. Res 32 - Disapproving the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)"

Client expense: $120,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R.3243 - Small Business Stability Act Regulatory Capital Rule: Large Banking Organizations and Banking Organizations With Significant Trading Activity S.2190 - RECOUP Act of 2023 S.2403 - Payroll Account Guarantee Act of 2023 S.J.Res.32 - relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)"

Client expense: $60,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

H.R. 6037, To prohibit the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from directly making loans under the 7(a) loan program. H.J.Res.50, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) H.J.Res.66. Disapproving of the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B). S.J.Res.32. Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) SBA 7(a) Lending Program Credit union member business lending H.R. 4868, Member Business Loan Expansion Act S.2482, Community Advantage Loan Program Act of 2023

Client expense: $2,160,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

Protect the credit union tax exemption; Support legislation and regulation that helps credit unions grow membership, loans, and retained earnings in order to serve their 138 million members; Support regulatory relief for credit unions; Provide guidance or rulemakings rather than rule through enforcement; Support increase in funding for CDFI Fund, MDIs, and the CDRLF; Fair Market: This includes ensuring all lenders are following the same rules of the road and protecting consumers, including making fintechs, predatory payday lenders, and other non-regulated entities subject to proper oversight; Technology and Innovation: As new technologies emerge and disrupt finance, the NCUA needs to foster strong fintech partnerships to help credit unions and support credit unions ability to provide custodial services for digital assets and utilize blockchain technologies; Regulatory Relief: Remove the CFPBs examination and enforcement powers over credit unions, retain the NCUA Boards bipartisan three-member structure, and oppose efforts to place new restrictions on lending and credit reporting that will inhibit credit unions from helping their members; Data Protection: Encouraging federal standards for data privacy and data security that recognize existing regulatory requirements for credit unions, such as a federal standard of privacy rules that aligns with our principles outlined in our white paper; Support extending GLBA like data security measures to retailers and fintechs; Support recognizing GLBA compliance in any privacy legislation; Oppose private right of action in data privacy legislation; Support NCUA as credit unions sole data privacy regulator; Oppose opt-in requirement for use of non-public personal information in data privacy legislation; Support federal preemption of state data privacy laws; Oppose NCUA examination authority for 3rd party vendors; Support vendor information sharing among financial regulators; Support adjusting Dodd-Frank Act thresholds for inflation; Support legislative action to limit Regulation E liability; Support fair distribution of Regulation E error resolution responsibilities; Support greater investment authorities for credit unions; Support expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; Support publication of list of entities with access to Federal Reserve Bank accounts and services; Support legislative action to clarify CFPBs UDAAP authority; Support parity in credit union and bank federal deposit insurance levels; Oppose SBA direct lending authority; Oppose fintech participation in SBA lending programs; Prevent competitive disadvantages for credit unions and market distortions related to the integration of digital assets into traditional financial products; CFPB should make greater use of Section 1022 of the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt credit unions from rules where appropriate; CFPB should engage in interagency coordination on Section 1033 consumer access to financial records rulemaking; Oppose CFPBs characterization of regulated and disclosed financial services fees as junk fees; CFPB should explore streamlining required fee disclosures; Oppose mandatory grace period for credit card late payments; CFPB should clarify UDAAP authority; CFPB should respect GLBAs data security regulatory structure; CFPB should limit impact and burden from proposed rule related to Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection (RIN: 3170-AA09); Improve examination coordination between CFPB and NCUA; Support CFPB exercise of larger participant authority to oversee fintech companies; Support clear regulatory framework for digital assets to encourage responsible innovation and permit credit union participation; Support CDFI Fund transparency on certification changes; Oppose changes to CDFI Fund certification process; Support Congressional oversight of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company final rules; Support legislation to limit impact of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company final rules; Support tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums; Support modification or removal of the credit union member business lending cap; Support increasing credit union loan maturity limits; Support allowing credit unions to add underserved areas to their FOM; Support increasing the credit union interest rate ceiling; Support credit union Community Reinvestment Act exemption; Support regulator-approved credit union mergers; Support regulation of credit reporting agencies and credit repair organizations; Oppose legislation granting for-profit banks nominal leases on military installations; Support credit union access to nominal leases on military installations; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose exclusion of accurate information from credit reports; Support FinCEN funding; Support FinCEN oversight; Support increasing SAR and CTR thresholds; Support disbursal of ECIP funding; Oppose NCUA acting as a climate regulator; Support credit union eligibility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; Support Congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve Overnight Reverse Repo Facility; FCC should tailor robocall and robotexts regulations to allow credit unions to serve their members; Support placing CFPB under regular appropriations process; FHFA should allow GSEs to purchase non-conforming loans from CDFIs and consider wealth-building home loan pilot programs; Oppose increase in FHFA guarantee fees; Support regulation of fintechs in mortgage lending; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose development of a CBDC; Support prevention of an NFIP lapse; Support improving veterans access to capital by exempting credit unions business loans to veterans from the credit union member business lending cap; Support expanding the definition of Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) in the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLB Act) to include credit unions and Treasury-certified non-depository community development financial institutions; Support government guarantees to stabilize mortgage-backed securities market; Support pilot programs for wealth-building home loans and zero-down mortgages; Support quality- rather than quantity-based GSE loan pricing; Oppose any interchange/swipe fee legislation including related to routing or any form of market manipulation; Support parity for credit unions related to stablecoin regulation; Treasury should address the demand for coins to help consumers who rely on cash transactions; Support addressing appraisal bias and modernize the appraisal process for consistency; Support easing requirements for de novo credit unions; Support providing flexibility for credit unions to issue subordinated debt; Support improvements to ease the process for forgiveness of PPP loans to small businesses; Oppose limits on fee income for credit unions including courtesy pay; Support limiting burdens of HMDA rule on credit unions; CFPB should remove unnecessary and unused data points related to HMDA reporting; Support permanently increasing reporting thresholds for open- and closed-end loans; Support permanent adoption of CFPBs expired temporary relief of E-SIGN regulation; Support for forced arbitration - studies show consumers benefit more often from arbitration than litigation; Support Credit Union Board Modernization Act (H.R. 582; S. 610); Support Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act (H.R. 758); Support Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act (H.R. 1533; S. 2252); Support Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act (H.R. 1410); Support SECURE Notarization Act (H.R. 1059; S. 1212); Support Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act (H.R. 1010; S. 453); Support CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1122; H.R. 5403); Support Data Privacy Act (H.R. 1165); Support Veterans Member Business Loan Act (S. 539; H.R. 4867); Support NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements (S. 544); Support Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (S. 657); Support CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act (S. 869); Support Small LENDER Act (H.R. 1806); Support Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act (H.R. 1313); Support Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Businesses Act (H.R. 1749); Support Resolution of Disapproval of the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule (H.J.Res. 50; H.J.Res. 66; H.J.Res. 85; S.J.Res. 32) Support CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act (H.R. 2798); Support SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891; S. 1323); Support CDFI Fund Transparency Act (H.R. 3161; S. 2674); Support Building Credit Access for Veterans Act (H.R. 1266); Support Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 3556); Support Middle Class Borrower Protection Act (H.R. 3564; S. 2296); Support Digital Dollar Pilot Prevention Act (H.R. 3712); Oppose Credit Card Competition Act (H.R. 3881; S. 1838); Support Member Business Loan Expansion Act (H.R. 4868); Oppose Senate NDAA amendments on interchange (#177; #425); Support Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act (H.R. 4766); Support Senate NDAA amendment on financial literacy (#206); Support Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act (H.R. 3170; S. 1514); Oppose Senate appropriations amendment on interchange (#1161); Oppose Senate appropriations amendments on interest rate caps (#1225; #1285); Oppose Capping Credit Card Interest Rates Act (S. 2760); Support SAFER Banking Act (S. 2860); Comments to NCUA, OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, and CFPB on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0061 urging the use of guidance rather than regulations to address reconsiderations of value for residential real estate valuations; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0072 recommending a $5 million asset exemption threshold for NCUA operating fees, offsetting lost revenue through budget reductions, and additional detail and transparency on alternative operating fee schedule methodologies; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0070 supporting the MDI Preservation Program; Comments to NCUA, OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, CFPB, and FHFA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0019 supporting a principles-based approach to regulations on automated valuation models and flexibility for financial institutions, opposing a redundant non-discrimination control factor, and encouraging the establishment of an independent standards setting organization for AVMs; Comments to FHFA on the single family mortgage pricing framework RFI advocating for lower guarantee fees, decreased base risk-weight for high quality credit union mortgages, elimination of fees for disadvantaged borrowers; and the reinstatement of purchases of seasoned transactions; Comments to FCC on CG Docket No. 17-59 and WC Docket No. 17-97 urging the Commission to protect lawful communications credit unions make in its efforts to combat illegal robocalls and robotexts; Comments to FCC on CG Docket No. 02-278 urging the Commission to provide flexibility in processing consumers revocation of consent to receive robocalls and robotexts; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0043 in support of adding 501(c)(19) veterans organizations to the NCUA qualified charity and urging clarification of war veteran terminology; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0029 supporting ability-to-repay requirements for PACE financing; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0020 supporting action to address regulatory gaps in the supervision of data brokers without impairing credit unions ability to access data necessary for competition or increasing regulatory burden on GLBA-covered institutions; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0018 urging clear rules on the prohibition of abusive acts or practices; Support NCUA transparency on initiatives to support financial technology innovation; Support NCUA creating a regulatory sandbox to support financial technology innovation; Support a delay in the effective date for the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule for all covered entities; Support NCUA raising commercial loan threshold to $250,000 from current level of $50,000; Support CFPB convening SBREFA panels for credit card late fee rulemaking; Oppose Regulation E liability for financial institutions for consumer-authorized transactions; Support FHFA reopening seasoned bulk transactions window.

Client expense: $960,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Protect the credit union tax exemption; Support legislation and regulation that helps credit unions grow membership, loans, and retained earnings in order to serve their 138 million members; Support regulatory relief for credit unions; Provide guidance or rulemakings rather than rule through enforcement; Support increase in funding for CDFI Fund, MDIs, and the CDRLF; Fair Market: This includes ensuring all lenders are following the same rules of the road and protecting consumers, including making fintechs, predatory payday lenders, and other non-regulated entities subject to proper oversight; Technology and Innovation: As new technologies emerge and disrupt finance, the NCUA needs to foster strong fintech partnerships to help credit unions and support credit unions ability to provide custodial services for digital assets and utilize blockchain technologies; Regulatory Relief: Remove the CFPBs examination and enforcement powers over credit unions, retain the NCUA Boards bipartisan three-member structure, and oppose efforts to place new restrictions on lending and credit reporting that will inhibit credit unions from helping their members; Data Protection: Encouraging federal standards for data privacy and data security that recognize existing regulatory requirements for credit unions, such as a federal standard of privacy rules that aligns with our principles outlined in our white paper; Support extending GLBA like data security measures to retailers and fintechs; Support recognizing GLBA compliance in any privacy legislation; Oppose private right of action in data privacy legislation; Support NCUA as credit unions sole data privacy regulator; Oppose opt-in requirement for use of non-public personal information in data privacy legislation; Support federal preemption of state data privacy laws; Oppose NCUA examination authority for 3rd party vendors; Support vendor information sharing among financial regulators; Support adjusting Dodd-Frank Act thresholds for inflation; Support legislative action to limit Regulation E liability; Support fair distribution of Regulation E error resolution responsibilities; Support greater investment authorities for credit unions; Support expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; Support publication of list of entities with access to Federal Reserve Bank accounts and services; Support legislative action to clarify CFPBs UDAAP authority; Support parity in credit union and bank federal deposit insurance levels; Oppose SBA direct lending authority; Oppose fintech participation in SBA lending programs; Prevent competitive disadvantages for credit unions and market distortions related to the integration of digital assets into traditional financial products; CFPB should make greater use of Section 1022 of the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt credit unions from rules where appropriate; CFPB should engage in interagency coordination on Section 1033 consumer access to financial records rulemaking; Oppose CFPBs characterization of regulated and disclosed financial services fees as junk fees; CFPB should explore streamlining required fee disclosures; Oppose mandatory grace period for credit card late payments; CFPB should clarify UDAAP authority; CFPB should respect GLBAs data security regulatory structure; CFPB should limit impact and burden from proposed rule related to Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection (RIN: 3170-AA09); Improve examination coordination between CFPB and NCUA; Support CFPB exercise of larger participant authority to oversee fintech companies; Support clear regulatory framework for digital assets to encourage responsible innovation and permit credit union participation; Support CDFI Fund transparency on certification changes; Oppose changes to CDFI Fund certification process; Support Congressional oversight of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company final rules; Support legislation to limit impact of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company final rules; Support tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums; Support modification or removal of the credit union member business lending cap; Support increasing credit union loan maturity limits; Support allowing credit unions to add underserved areas to their FOM; Support increasing the credit union interest rate ceiling; Support credit union Community Reinvestment Act exemption; Support regulator-approved credit union mergers; Support regulation of credit reporting agencies and credit repair organizations; Oppose legislation granting for-profit banks nominal leases on military installations; Support credit union access to nominal leases on military installations; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose exclusion of accurate information from credit reports; Support FinCEN funding; Support FinCEN oversight; Support increasing SAR and CTR thresholds; Support disbursal of ECIP funding; Oppose NCUA acting as a climate regulator; Support credit union eligibility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; Support Congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve Overnight Reverse Repo Facility; FCC should tailor robocall and robotexts regulations to allow credit unions to serve their members; Support placing CFPB under regular appropriations process; FHFA should allow GSEs to purchase non-conforming loans from CDFIs and consider wealth-building home loan pilot programs; Oppose increase in FHFA guarantee fees; Support regulation of fintechs in mortgage lending; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose development of a CBDC; Support prevention of an NFIP lapse; Support improving veterans access to capital by exempting credit unions business loans to veterans from the credit union member business lending cap; Support expanding the definition of Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) in the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLB Act) to include credit unions and Treasury-certified non-depository community development financial institutions; Support government guarantees to stabilize mortgage-backed securities market; Support pilot programs for wealth-building home loans and zero-down mortgages; Support quality- rather than quantity-based GSE loan pricing; Oppose any interchange/swipe fee legislation including related to routing or any form of market manipulation; Support parity for credit unions related to stablecoin regulation; Treasury should address the demand for coins to help consumers who rely on cash transactions; Support addressing appraisal bias and modernize the appraisal process for consistency; Support easing requirements for de novo credit unions; Support providing flexibility for credit unions to issue subordinated debt; Support improvements to ease the process for forgiveness of PPP loans to small businesses; Oppose limits on fee income for credit unions including courtesy pay; Support limiting burdens of HMDA rule on credit unions; CFPB should remove unnecessary and unused data points related to HMDA reporting; Support permanently increasing reporting thresholds for open- and closed-end loans; Support permanent adoption of CFPBs expired temporary relief of E-SIGN regulation; Support for forced arbitration - studies show consumers benefit more often from arbitration than litigation; Support Credit Union Board Modernization Act (H.R. 582; S. 610); Support Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act (H.R. 758); Support Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act (H.R. 1533; S. 2252); Support Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act (H.R. 1410); Support SECURE Notarization Act (H.R. 1059; S. 1212); Support Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act (H.R. 1010; S. 453); Support CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1122; H.R. 5403); Support Data Privacy Act (H.R. 1165); Support Veterans Member Business Loan Act (S. 539; H.R. 4867); Support NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements (S. 544); Support Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (S. 657); Support CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act (S. 869); Support Small LENDER Act (H.R. 1806); Support Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act (H.R. 1313); Support Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Businesses Act (H.R. 1749); Support Resolution of Disapproval of the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule (H.J.Res. 50; H.J.Res. 66; H.J.Res. 85; S.J.Res. 32) Support CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act (H.R. 2798); Support SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891; S. 1323); Support CDFI Fund Transparency Act (H.R. 3161; S. 2674); Support Building Credit Access for Veterans Act (H.R. 1266); Support Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 3556); Support Middle Class Borrower Protection Act (H.R. 3564; S. 2296); Support Digital Dollar Pilot Prevention Act (H.R. 3712); Oppose Credit Card Competition Act (H.R. 3881; S. 1838); Support Member Business Loan Expansion Act (H.R. 4868); Oppose Senate NDAA amendments on interchange (#177; #425); Support Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act (H.R. 4766); Support Senate NDAA amendment on financial literacy (#206); Support Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act (H.R. 3170; S. 1514); Oppose Senate appropriations amendment on interchange (#1161); Oppose Senate appropriations amendments on interest rate caps (#1225; #1285); Oppose Capping Credit Card Interest Rates Act (S. 2760); Support SAFER Banking Act (S. 2860); Comments to NCUA, OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, and CFPB on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0061 urging the use of guidance rather than regulations to address reconsiderations of value for residential real estate valuations; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0072 recommending a $5 million asset exemption threshold for NCUA operating fees, offsetting lost revenue through budget reductions, and additional detail and transparency on alternative operating fee schedule methodologies; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0070 supporting the MDI Preservation Program; Comments to NCUA, OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, CFPB, and FHFA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0019 supporting a principles-based approach to regulations on automated valuation models and flexibility for financial institutions, opposing a redundant non-discrimination control factor, and encouraging the establishment of an independent standards setting organization for AVMs; Comments to FHFA on the single family mortgage pricing framework RFI advocating for lower guarantee fees, decreased base risk-weight for high quality credit union mortgages, elimination of fees for disadvantaged borrowers; and the reinstatement of purchases of seasoned transactions; Comments to FCC on CG Docket No. 17-59 and WC Docket No. 17-97 urging the Commission to protect lawful communications credit unions make in its efforts to combat illegal robocalls and robotexts; Comments to FCC on CG Docket No. 02-278 urging the Commission to provide flexibility in processing consumers revocation of consent to receive robocalls and robotexts; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0043 in support of adding 501(c)(19) veterans organizations to the NCUA qualified charity and urging clarification of war veteran terminology; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0029 supporting ability-to-repay requirements for PACE financing; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0020 supporting action to address regulatory gaps in the supervision of data brokers without impairing credit unions ability to access data necessary for competition or increasing regulatory burden on GLBA-covered institutions; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0018 urging clear rules on the prohibition of abusive acts or practices; Support NCUA transparency on initiatives to support financial technology innovation; Support NCUA creating a regulatory sandbox to support financial technology innovation; Support a delay in the effective date for the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule for all covered entities; Support NCUA raising commercial loan threshold to $250,000 from current level of $50,000; Support CFPB convening SBREFA panels for credit card late fee rulemaking; Oppose Regulation E liability for financial institutions for consumer-authorized transactions; Support FHFA reopening seasoned bulk transactions window.

Client expense: $960,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Implementation of Sect. 1071 of Dodd-Frank Act, data collection on small business lending S.J.Res.32 / H.J.Res 50 / H.J.Res 66 / H.J.Res 85, a bill to disapprove the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's rulemaking on relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)"

Client expense: $70,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of

H.R. 6037, To prohibit the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from directly making loans under the 7(a) loan program. H.J.Res.50, Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to "Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) H.J.Res.66. Disapproving of the rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B). S.J.Res.32. Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B) SBA 7(a) Lending Program Credit union member business lending

Client expense: $2,440,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of

Protect the credit union tax exemption; Support legislation and regulation that helps credit unions grow membership, loans, and retained earnings in order to serve their nearly 137 million members; Support regulatory relief for credit unions; Provide guidance or rulemakings rather than rule through enforcement; Support increase in funding for CDFI Fund, MDIs, and the CDRLF; Fair Market: This includes ensuring all lenders are following the same rules of the road and protecting consumers, including making fintechs, predatory payday lenders, and other non-regulated entities subject to proper oversight; Technology and Innovation: As new technologies emerge and disrupt finance, the NCUA needs to foster strong fintech partnerships to help credit unions and support credit unions ability to provide custodial services for digital assets and utilize blockchain technologies; Regulatory Relief: Remove the CFPBs examination and enforcement powers over credit unions, retain the NCUA Boards bipartisan three-member structure, and oppose efforts to place new restrictions on lending and credit reporting that will inhibit credit unions from helping their members; Data Protection: Encouraging federal standards for data privacy and data security that recognize existing regulatory requirements for credit unions, such as a federal standard of privacy rules that aligns with our principles outlined in our white paper; Support extending GLBA like data security measures to retailers and fintechs; Support recognizing GLBA compliance in any privacy legislation; Oppose private right of action in data privacy legislation; Support NCUA as credit unions sole data privacy regulator; Oppose opt-in requirement for use of non-public personal information in data privacy legislation; Support federal preemption of state data privacy laws; Oppose NCUA examination authority for 3rd party vendors; Support vendor information sharing among financial regulators; Support adjusting Dodd-Frank Act thresholds for inflation; Support legislative action to limit Regulation E liability; Support fair distribution of Regulation E error resolution responsibilities; Support greater investment authorities for credit unions; Support expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; Support publication of list of entities with access to Federal Reserve Bank accounts and services; Support legislative action to clarify CFPBs UDAAP authority; Support parity in credit union and bank federal deposit insurance levels; Oppose SBA direct lending authority; Oppose fintech participation in SBA lending programs; Prevent competitive disadvantages for credit unions and market distortions related to the integration of digital assets into traditional financial products; CFPB should make greater use of Section 1022 of the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt credit unions from rules where appropriate; CFPB should engage in interagency coordination on Section 1033 consumer access to financial records rulemaking; Oppose CFPBs characterization of regulated and disclosed financial services fees as junk fees; CFPB should explore streamlining required fee disclosures; Oppose mandatory grace period for credit card late payments; CFPB should clarify UDAAP authority; CFPB should respect GLBAs data security regulatory structure; CFPB should limit impact and burden from proposed rule related to Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection (RIN: 3170-AA09); Improve examination coordination between CFPB and NCUA; Support CFPB exercise of larger participant authority to oversee fintech companies; Support clear regulatory framework for digital assets to encourage responsible innovation and permit credit union participation; Support CDFI Fund transparency on certification changes; Oppose changes to CDFI Fund certification process; Support Congressional oversight of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company proposed rules; Support tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums; Support modification or removal of the credit union member business lending cap; Support increasing credit union loan maturity limits; Support allowing credit unions to add underserved areas to their FOM; Support increasing the credit union interest rate ceiling; Support credit union Community Reinvestment Act exemption; Support regulator-approved credit union mergers; Support regulation of credit reporting agencies and credit repair organizations; Oppose legislation granting for-profit banks nominal leases on military installations; Support credit union access to nominal leases on military installations; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose exclusion of accurate information from credit reports; Support FinCEN oversight; Support increasing SAR and CTR thresholds; Support disbursal of ECIP funding; Oppose NCUA acting as a climate regulator; Support credit union eligibility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; Support Congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve Overnight Reverse Repo Facility; FCC should tailor robocall and robotexts regulations to allow credit unions to serve their members; Support placing CFPB under regular appropriations process; FHFA should allow GSEs to purchase non-conforming loans from CDFIs and consider wealth-building home loan pilot programs; Oppose increase in FHFA guarantee fees; Support regulation of fintechs in mortgage lending; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose development of a CBDC; Support prevention of an NFIP lapse; Support improving veterans access to capital by exempting credit unions business loans to veterans from the credit union member business lending cap; Support expanding the definition of Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) in the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLB Act) to include credit unions and Treasury-certified non-depository community development financial institutions; Support government guarantees to stabilize mortgage-backed securities market; Support pilot programs for wealth-building home loans and zero-down mortgages; Support quality- rather than quantity-based GSE loan pricing; Oppose any interchange/swipe fee legislation including related to routing or any form of market manipulation; Support parity for credit unions related to stablecoin regulation; Treasury should address the demand for coins to help consumers who rely on cash transactions; Support addressing appraisal bias and modernize the appraisal process for consistency; Support easing requirements for de novo credit unions; Support providing flexibility for credit unions to issue subordinated debt; Support improvements to ease the process for forgiveness of PPP loans to small businesses; Oppose limits on fee income for credit unions including courtesy pay; Support limiting burdens of HMDA rule on credit unions; CFPB should remove unnecessary and unused data points related to HMDA reporting; Support permanently increasing reporting thresholds for open- and closed-end loans; Support permanent adoption of CFPBs expired temporary relief of E-SIGN regulation; Support for forced arbitration - studies show consumers benefit more often from arbitration than litigation; Support Credit Union Board Modernization Act (H.R. 582; S. 610); Support Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act (H.R. 758); Support Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act (H.R. 1533); Support Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act (H.R. 1410); Support SECURE Notarization Act (H.R. 1059; S. 1212); Support Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act (H.R. 1010; S. 453); Support CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1122); Support Data Privacy Act (H.R. 1165); Support Veterans Member Business Loan Act (S. 539); Support NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements (S. 544); Support Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (S. 657); Support CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act (S. 869); Support Small LENDER Act (H.R. 1806); Support Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act (H.R. 1313); Support Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Businesses Act (H.R. 1749); Support Resolution of Disapproval of the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule (H.J.Res. 50; H.J.Res. 66; S.J.Res. 32) Support CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act (H.R. 2798); Support SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891; S. 1323); Support CDFI Fund Transparency Act (H.R. 3161); Support Building Credit Access for Veterans Act (H.R. 1266); Support Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 3556); Support Middle Class Borrower Protection Act (H.R. 3564); Support Digital Dollar Pilot Prevention Act (H.R. 3712); Oppose Credit Card Competition Act (H.R. 3881; S. 1838) Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0002 opposing inclusion of credit union service organizations in a form contract registry, urging the CFPB to reduce impact on small entities, and supporting arbitration; Comments to Treasury on Docket No. FISCAL-2021-0001 suggesting concentrating check verification within the Federal Reserve Banks; Request deadline extension for the CFPBs credit card terms collection and credit card penalty fees proposed rule; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0009 requesting greater flexibility in required disclosures; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0017 supporting the Mortgage Loan Originator rules; Request the CFPB to share specific concerns that require reanalysis of 2020-22 HMDA filings; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0010 opposing reduction of the credit card late fee safe harbor amounts; Comments to Treasury on ECIP Supplemental Reports (OMB Control Number 1505-0275) opposing a requirement to collect detailed demographic information; Comments to FHFA on RIN: 2590-AB27 supporting changes to GSE capital framework; Request the EPA to support credit union eligibility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; Support creation of FHFA single-family social bonds; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0026 opposing the CFPBs PRA request for a Junk Fees Timing Study; Support adding 501(c)(19) veterans organizations to the NCUAs qualified charity definition; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2022-0179 supporting proposed changes to the Chartering and Field of Membership Manual; Request flexible implementation timeline for new FHFA credit score requirements; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0045 urging the NCUA to refrain from engaging in rulemaking related to climate risk and to defer to FSOC on issuing guidance; Comments to NCUA on the agencys annual regulatory review; Support NCUA raising commercial loan threshold to $250,000 from current level of $50,000; Support CFPB convening SBREFA panels for credit card late fee rulemaking; Oppose Regulation E liability for financial institutions for consumer-authorized transactions; Support FHFA reopening seasoned bulk transactions window.

Client expense: $1,000,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Protect the credit union tax exemption; Support legislation and regulation that helps credit unions grow membership, loans, and retained earnings in order to serve their nearly 137 million members; Support regulatory relief for credit unions; Provide guidance or rulemakings rather than rule through enforcement; Support increase in funding for CDFI Fund, MDIs, and the CDRLF; Fair Market: This includes ensuring all lenders are following the same rules of the road and protecting consumers, including making fintechs, predatory payday lenders, and other non-regulated entities subject to proper oversight; Technology and Innovation: As new technologies emerge and disrupt finance, the NCUA needs to foster strong fintech partnerships to help credit unions and support credit unions ability to provide custodial services for digital assets and utilize blockchain technologies; Regulatory Relief: Remove the CFPBs examination and enforcement powers over credit unions, retain the NCUA Boards bipartisan three-member structure, and oppose efforts to place new restrictions on lending and credit reporting that will inhibit credit unions from helping their members; Data Protection: Encouraging federal standards for data privacy and data security that recognize existing regulatory requirements for credit unions, such as a federal standard of privacy rules that aligns with our principles outlined in our white paper; Support extending GLBA like data security measures to retailers and fintechs; Support recognizing GLBA compliance in any privacy legislation; Oppose private right of action in data privacy legislation; Support NCUA as credit unions sole data privacy regulator; Oppose opt-in requirement for use of non-public personal information in data privacy legislation; Support federal preemption of state data privacy laws; Oppose NCUA examination authority for 3rd party vendors; Support vendor information sharing among financial regulators; Support adjusting Dodd-Frank Act thresholds for inflation; Support legislative action to limit Regulation E liability; Support fair distribution of Regulation E error resolution responsibilities; Support greater investment authorities for credit unions; Support expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; Support publication of list of entities with access to Federal Reserve Bank accounts and services; Support legislative action to clarify CFPBs UDAAP authority; Support parity in credit union and bank federal deposit insurance levels; Oppose SBA direct lending authority; Oppose fintech participation in SBA lending programs; Prevent competitive disadvantages for credit unions and market distortions related to the integration of digital assets into traditional financial products; CFPB should make greater use of Section 1022 of the Dodd-Frank Act to exempt credit unions from rules where appropriate; CFPB should engage in interagency coordination on Section 1033 consumer access to financial records rulemaking; Oppose CFPBs characterization of regulated and disclosed financial services fees as junk fees; CFPB should explore streamlining required fee disclosures; Oppose mandatory grace period for credit card late payments; CFPB should clarify UDAAP authority; CFPB should respect GLBAs data security regulatory structure; CFPB should limit impact and burden from proposed rule related to Section 1071 Small Business Lending Data Collection (RIN: 3170-AA09); Improve examination coordination between CFPB and NCUA; Support CFPB exercise of larger participant authority to oversee fintech companies; Support clear regulatory framework for digital assets to encourage responsible innovation and permit credit union participation; Support CDFI Fund transparency on certification changes; Oppose changes to CDFI Fund certification process; Support Congressional oversight of SBAs Affiliation and Small Business Lending Company proposed rules; Support tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums; Support modification or removal of the credit union member business lending cap; Support increasing credit union loan maturity limits; Support allowing credit unions to add underserved areas to their FOM; Support increasing the credit union interest rate ceiling; Support credit union Community Reinvestment Act exemption; Support regulator-approved credit union mergers; Support regulation of credit reporting agencies and credit repair organizations; Oppose legislation granting for-profit banks nominal leases on military installations; Support credit union access to nominal leases on military installations; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose exclusion of accurate information from credit reports; Support FinCEN oversight; Support increasing SAR and CTR thresholds; Support disbursal of ECIP funding; Oppose NCUA acting as a climate regulator; Support credit union eligibility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; Support Congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve Overnight Reverse Repo Facility; FCC should tailor robocall and robotexts regulations to allow credit unions to serve their members; Support placing CFPB under regular appropriations process; FHFA should allow GSEs to purchase non-conforming loans from CDFIs and consider wealth-building home loan pilot programs; Oppose increase in FHFA guarantee fees; Support regulation of fintechs in mortgage lending; Support alternative credit scoring models; Oppose development of a CBDC; Support prevention of an NFIP lapse; Support improving veterans access to capital by exempting credit unions business loans to veterans from the credit union member business lending cap; Support expanding the definition of Community Financial Institutions (CFIs) in the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (FHLB Act) to include credit unions and Treasury-certified non-depository community development financial institutions; Support government guarantees to stabilize mortgage-backed securities market; Support pilot programs for wealth-building home loans and zero-down mortgages; Support quality- rather than quantity-based GSE loan pricing; Oppose any interchange/swipe fee legislation including related to routing or any form of market manipulation; Support parity for credit unions related to stablecoin regulation; Treasury should address the demand for coins to help consumers who rely on cash transactions; Support addressing appraisal bias and modernize the appraisal process for consistency; Support easing requirements for de novo credit unions; Support providing flexibility for credit unions to issue subordinated debt; Support improvements to ease the process for forgiveness of PPP loans to small businesses; Oppose limits on fee income for credit unions including courtesy pay; Support limiting burdens of HMDA rule on credit unions; CFPB should remove unnecessary and unused data points related to HMDA reporting; Support permanently increasing reporting thresholds for open- and closed-end loans; Support permanent adoption of CFPBs expired temporary relief of E-SIGN regulation; Support for forced arbitration - studies show consumers benefit more often from arbitration than litigation; Support Credit Union Board Modernization Act (H.R. 582; S. 610); Support Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act (H.R. 758); Support Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act (H.R. 1533); Support Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act (H.R. 1410); Support SECURE Notarization Act (H.R. 1059; S. 1212); Support Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act (H.R. 1010; S. 453); Support CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (H.R. 1122); Support Data Privacy Act (H.R. 1165); Support Veterans Member Business Loan Act (S. 539); Support NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements (S. 544); Support Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (S. 657); Support CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act (S. 869); Support Small LENDER Act (H.R. 1806); Support Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act (H.R. 1313); Support Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Businesses Act (H.R. 1749); Support Resolution of Disapproval of the CFPBs Section 1071 final rule (H.J.Res. 50; H.J.Res. 66; S.J.Res. 32) Support CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act (H.R. 2798); Support SAFE Banking Act (H.R. 2891; S. 1323); Support CDFI Fund Transparency Act (H.R. 3161); Support Building Credit Access for Veterans Act (H.R. 1266); Support Increasing Financial Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 3556); Support Middle Class Borrower Protection Act (H.R. 3564); Support Digital Dollar Pilot Prevention Act (H.R. 3712); Oppose Credit Card Competition Act (H.R. 3881; S. 1838) Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0002 opposing inclusion of credit union service organizations in a form contract registry, urging the CFPB to reduce impact on small entities, and supporting arbitration; Comments to Treasury on Docket No. FISCAL-2021-0001 suggesting concentrating check verification within the Federal Reserve Banks; Request deadline extension for the CFPBs credit card terms collection and credit card penalty fees proposed rule; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0009 requesting greater flexibility in required disclosures; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0017 supporting the Mortgage Loan Originator rules; Request the CFPB to share specific concerns that require reanalysis of 2020-22 HMDA filings; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0010 opposing reduction of the credit card late fee safe harbor amounts; Comments to Treasury on ECIP Supplemental Reports (OMB Control Number 1505-0275) opposing a requirement to collect detailed demographic information; Comments to FHFA on RIN: 2590-AB27 supporting changes to GSE capital framework; Request the EPA to support credit union eligibility for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; Support creation of FHFA single-family social bonds; Comments to CFPB on Docket No. CFPB-2023-0026 opposing the CFPBs PRA request for a Junk Fees Timing Study; Support adding 501(c)(19) veterans organizations to the NCUAs qualified charity definition; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2022-0179 supporting proposed changes to the Chartering and Field of Membership Manual; Request flexible implementation timeline for new FHFA credit score requirements; Comments to NCUA on Docket No. NCUA-2023-0045 urging the NCUA to refrain from engaging in rulemaking related to climate risk and to defer to FSOC on issuing guidance; Comments to NCUA on the agencys annual regulatory review; Support NCUA raising commercial loan threshold to $250,000 from current level of $50,000; Support CFPB convening SBREFA panels for credit card late fee rulemaking; Oppose Regulation E liability for financial institutions for consumer-authorized transactions; Support FHFA reopening seasoned bulk transactions window.

Client expense: $1,000,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Credit Union Administration (NCUA), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

H.R. 758 Promoting Access to Capital in Underbanked Communities Act of 2023 H.R. 1059 SECURE Notarization Act of 2023 H.R. 1122 Central Bank Digital Currency Anti-Surveillance State Act H.R. 1165 Financial Data Privacy Act of 2023 H.R. 1313 Transparency in CFPB Cost-Benefit Analysis Act H.R. 1749 Making the CFPB Accountable to Small Business Act H.R. 1806 Small LENDER Act H.R. 1810 Bank Loan Privacy Act H.R. 1817 The Preventing Racial Profiling in Lending Act H.R. 2656 Trigger Leads Abatement Act H.R. 2798 CFPB Transparency and Accountability Reform Act H.R. 2891 SAFE Banking Act of 2023 H.R. 3881 Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 H.R. 4198 To amend section 604(c) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act to address the treatment of pre-screening report requests, and for other purposes. H.R. 4204 Shielding Community Banks from Systemic Risk Assessments Act H.R. 4207 Stopping Bonuses for Unsafe and Unsound Banking Act H.R. 4346 Small Bank Holding Company Relief Act H.J. Res. 50 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 H.J. Res. 66 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 S. 1045 Bank Compensation Clawback S. 1212 SECURE Notarization Act of 2023 S. 1323 SAFE Banking Act of 2023 S. 1838 Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 S. 2190 RECOUP Act S.J. Res. 32 A Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act Re: Dodd-Frank Section 1071 A bill to provide for the regulation of payment stablecoins, and for other purposes. Anti-money laundering regulation - digital assets Bank Failures Bank mergers Cannabis Banking/Reintroduction of SAFE Banking Act Central Bank Digital Currency Check Fraud Climate Risk Disclosure Requirements Climate Related Financial Regulation Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval for CFPBs Final Rule relating to Small Business Lending Under ECOA Community Bank Access to Capital Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund Appropriations Community Reinvestment Act Credit Card Routing Mandates Credit Reporting Credit Union Acquisitions of Community Banks Credit Union Business Lending Powers Credit Union Field of Membership Rules Crypto Assets, Decentralized Finance, and Central Bank Digital Currency Cryptocurrency Regulation Data privacy De Novo Bank Formation Deposit insurance reform Digital Asset Market Structure Discussion Draft. Digital Assets Regulation Dodd Frank Act 1071- Small Business Loan Data Collection Durbin Amendment on Credit Card Routing; Extension to Credit Cards FDIC Deposit Insurance Assessments FDIC Deposit Insurance Policy FDIC Premium Increases Federal Reserve Master Accounts FHFA Capital Rules Financial Data Privacy Flood Insurance Implementation of Dodd Frank Act Section 1033 Implementation of Dodd Frank Act Section 1071 Implementation issues with the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 Industrial Loan Company Charter Policy Military Base Rent Parity Minority depository institutions Opposing the SBAs proposal to repeal the moratorium on the number of Small Business Lending Companies (SBLC) that are permitted to make 7(a) loans. Request for hearing on unfair Credit Union Competition SBA Direct 7(a) Direct Lending Stablecoin, Crypto Currency Regulatory Policy Stablecoins SVB/Signature Bank Failures (no special assessment)

Client expense: $2,340,800 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Federal Reserve System, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), Treasury, Dept of