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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Senate Banking Committee – is urging President Obama to fill at least one of the vacant seats on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors with an individual with community bank experience or community bank supervisory experience. Following the resignation notice last week from Federal Reserve Governor Jeremy Stein, Sen. Moran and several of his Banking Committee colleagues sent a letter to the president reiterating the importance of diversity of experience on the seven-member board, which helps set interest rates and banking regulations.

“The responsibilities of the Federal Reserve have grown immensely with the passage of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, including revising and issuing dozens of regulations that affect nearly every aspect of large and small entities in the banking industry,” the Senators wrote. “It is critical that the Federal Reserve fully appreciate the rich and variegated nature of our financial system as it engages in transparent and timely rulemaking to promote a thriving, robust, and resilient financial system unencumbered by undue regulatory burdens.

Nominating an individual with community banking or supervisory experience would ensure that future Federal Reserve actions and regulations are tailored and reflect a nuanced understanding of the regulatory and economic environment faced by community banks, and that the role that these institutions play in their communities and in our financial system is not diminished,” the Senators urged.

Community banks play a critical role in our nation’s economic recovery, serving rural, small town and suburban customers alike. Unfortunately, the regulatory, tax and paperwork requirements stemming from the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act and other legislation impose a disproportionate burden on these banks because they do not have the resources of larger financial institutions and the ability to effectively manage their legal and compliance costs. The expense of over-regulation diminishes the ability of community banks to attract capital and support the credit needs of their customers and local businesses. 

Sen. Moran is a member of the Senate Banking Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection. He is committed to highlighting and solving the challenges facing community banks in the current regulatory environment, and providing these financial institutions with relief. 

Below, please find the full text of Sen. Moran’s letter to the president:

April 9, 2014

President Obama:

We write to respectfully request that the concerns of community bankers are taken into account when naming a replacement for Federal Reserve Governor Jeremy Stein, and that the nominee possess a background with community bank experience or community bank supervisory experience.

Community banks play a crucial role in underserved communities throughout the country: they are almost three times more likely than non-community banks to operate a banking office outside a metro area, and hold the majority of banking deposits in U.S. rural and micropolitan counties. Small financial institutions, such as community banks, are often the only way rural families and small businesses can access the saving and lending markets. Strong community banks were resilient during the financial crisis because they maintained conservative underwriting standards before the crisis and were more diversified in their loan portfolio – and consequently, were able to extend loans at a time of sharply lower lending due to their in-depth knowledge of their markets and their commitment to tailoring unique credit products for individual borrowers.

The responsibilities of the Federal Reserve have grown immensely with the passage of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, including revising and issuing dozens of regulations that affect nearly every aspect of large and small entities in the banking industry.  It is critical that the Federal Reserve fully appreciate the rich and variegated nature of our financial system as it engages in transparent and timely rulemaking to promote a thriving, robust, and resilient financial system unencumbered by undue regulatory burdens.

Nominating an individual with community banking or supervisory experience would ensure that future Federal Reserve actions and regulations are tailored and reflect a nuanced understanding of the regulatory and economic environment faced by community banks, and that the role that these institutions play in their communities and in our financial system is not diminished.  The Federal Reserve has a duty to protect and promote growth within the American economy, and a diverse range of perspectives on the Board of Governors will help the Federal Reserve incorporate all viewpoints and ensure that community banks remain an important component of our financial services delivery system.  All communities – from the largest metropolitan areas, to exurban cities, to rural villages – deserve safe, unburdened, and fair access to a sound financial system.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward to hearing from you.

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