As a society, we have again successfully chosen elected leaders. As individuals, we will have differing views regarding the election outcomes. Our ability to frequently choose new leaders is cause for celebration. Every election represents a political reset. With that reset, the banking industry will have new opportunities and face new challenges.
It is too early to define specific opportunities and challenges. In 2025, the state will have a new governor, treasurer, auditor, secretary of state, senate president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative. New legislators will be joining both the state house and senate. Each of these leaders will bring new priorities and perspectives.
Elections create political renewal. That renewal creates opportunities to forge new relationships and reaffirm existing alliances. Against the political backdrop driven by election results, we seek to build our relationships with political leaders based upon understanding their values, educating them on the banking industry’s value to the state and society, and finding common cause on the intersection between their values and preserving a healthy banking industry.
The West Virginia Bankers Association is proud and honored to advocate for an industry that serves as the engine driving economic stability and prosperity in our state. However, banking industry advocacy is most effective when supported by broad-based political engagement at the community level. Political leaders do not come to their positions knowing everything about everything. They rely on trusted advisors to inform their approaches to legislative and policy issues. Individual bankers are uniquely positioned to become trusted advisors to political leaders.
In 2025, the West Virginia Bankers Association will be working to support meaningful and rewarding political engagement by individual bankers. Kicking off that effort is our annual legislative day scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Embassy Suites in Charleston, West Virginia. We are planning an agenda that should provide interesting and informative experiences for both bankers familiar with political engagement and those who are new to the process.
Legislative day will include education sessions devoted to current political issues and the political process. Bankers will have guided opportunities to interact with political leaders and hopefully their local representatives, support industry recognition by attending house or senate sessions, and engage in informal conversations with political leaders at an evening reception.
Elections bring exciting changes. We hope you will join with the West Virginia Bankers Association staff and volunteer leadership in embracing those changes. You have a role to play in preserving our industry’s ability to serve our customers, communities and the state of West Virginia. We look forward to supporting you.
