ICBA Joins House Financial Services Committee in Support of Legislation to Transform Community Bank Regulation

Washington, D.C. (Jan. 8, 2026) — Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey today joined a House Financial Services Committee fireside chat at the U.S. Capitol in support of the committee’s new Main Street Capital Access Act (H.R. 6955).

Following Romero Rainey’s testimony last year at the committee’s first hearing of the 119th Congress, today she joined committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.) and Financial Institutions Subcommittee Chairman Andy Barr (R-Ky.) to discuss how the ICBA-supported legislative package will help community banks promote prosperity in local communities in every corner of the nation.

“As the only national association that exclusively represents the nation’s community banks, ICBA has worked closely with Congress and the administration to advance policies that will transform the regulatory environment to support community banking and economic growth in rural, suburban, and urban markets,” Romero Rainey said today. “Following the Financial Services Committee’s efforts throughout 2025 to advance numerous pro-community bank bills, we look forward to continuing to work together to move the comprehensive Main Street Capital Access Act through Congress to amplify the value that our nation’s community banks bring to local economies nationwide.”

The Main Street Capital Access Act includes ICBA-supported provisions to tailor regulations to the lower risk profile of community banks, ease excessive capital requirements, support the formation of new community banks, ensure fair reviews of agency examinations, raise thresholds for holding custodial and reciprocal deposits, require the appointment of an FDIC board member with experience in small depository institutions, modernize Federal Reserve's discount window lending programs, offer relief at the holding company level, promote bank-fintech partnerships, and more.

Today’s legislative package contains many items advanced in ICBA’s open letter to the 119th Congress to ensure comprehensive reforms that address key policy challenges. ICBA looks forward to continuing to work with Congress and the administration to pass these important measures.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.