The CBAI Department of Governmental Relations is continually working to enhance and defend the community banking profession.  Working in concert with the CBAI Committee on Legislation & Regulation as well as CBAI’s Committee on Agriculture, the department seeks to develop and build coalitions, political alliances and relationships with farming organizations, independent business associations, and other interest groups to achieve various legislative and regulatory objectives. 

 

Kraig Lounsberry, Senior Vice President of Governmental Relations leads a highly experienced and well qualified team of Association staff professionals who work daily to provide effective and exclusive representation for the community banks and thrifts of Illinois.  Megan Stieren, Vice President of Governmental Relations and Jerry Cavanaugh, CBAI General Counsel join Mr. Lounsberry to represent community banks and thrifts before both the state and federal legislatures, as well as monitoring and responding to the actions of numerous regulatory bodies.  Rounding out the CBAI governmental relations team are Levette Shade, Paralegal and Jessie Schmidt, Administrative Assistant. 

 

Working successfully in these executive arenas would be impossible if not for an ongoing commitment to maintain day to day contact with public officials, to research and provide practical interpretation of any legislative or regulatory proposal, as well as court cases which may have an impact on community banking in Illinois, and to provide testimony when and wherever necessary.  See CBAI’s List of Legislative Accomplishments for further details. 

 

Another important aspect of CBAI’s advocacy effort is the direct support to selected candidates and incumbent officeholders who support key community banking issues in the Illinois General Assembly via Community BancPac and those who are supportive of our philosophy in the U.S. Congress via CBAI Fed Pac. 

 

Please take a moment to visit the Legislative Issues, Lobbying, Political Action, and Publications sections of our web page and we look forward to hearing from you whenever we may be of assistance.