Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do.” On Jan. 14, 2026, legislators will gather under the Capitol’s gold dome and gavel in for the 60-day Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature. 2026 can either be a year where the Legislature, writ large, focuses on issues of economic development and pro-business reform, or it may be a year where populist, national issues are at the forefront. This is not within our control. However, echoing Epictetus, our response to it is.

Each day of the Session, regardless of its tone or tenor, the West Virginia Bankers Association team will be within the marbled walls of the Capitol advocating for our industry. Our focus will be on advancing legislation that allows banks to prosper, protect their customers, and support job creation and economic development. No matter the externalities (and there will be many), our message will be steadfast and consistent. We will communicate with legislators of every persuasion to advance our message and highlight banking’s centrality to West Virginia’s economic future.

Our path in 2026 will be bolstered by our success in 2025. Our team worked tirelessly, in an often-difficult environment, to achieve significant policy wins for you. These eliminated red tape, allowed banks to quickly and ably respond to market conditions, and empowered banks to most effectively serve West Virginia’s citizens, businesses and governments. In part, we achieved such success because we worked daily at the Capitol to advocate both for our agenda and against legislation that exposed banks and businesses to excessive government interference or litigation. This is often intense work, with tight deadlines and a quick pace. Our ability to succeed in this environment, however, would not be possible without you.

When a bill comes before the Legislature, lobbyists from every side will share their views and resources with legislators. That is the nature of the process. However, legislators often wish to understand policy from a localized perspective to understand impacts on their community, its economy, businesses and residents. And with a statewide membership of bankers who are trusted business leaders in West Virginia’s communities, we stand equipped to connect legislators with input from their own backyards. It gives our advocacy efforts a personal touch and enhances credibility when legislation is supported by bankers from legislators’ own districts. 

Member engagement in 2025 was a decisive difference-maker in our ability to navigate close votes. We thank those who took the time to engage, speak to legislators and magnify the banking industry’s voice from every corner of the state. Our unified voice is our most effective response when the legislative climate is unpredictable.

In the coming months, we will share resources and information with you. This will range from inviting you to the WVBankers Legislative Day on Jan. 27, where you can learn from and talk to legislators and statewide officials, to sharing information about the session’s progress and our priorities. There will be calls to action, and your participation in these efforts will empower us in our daily work to advocate for a stronger banking and business climate in West Virginia. Our best defense against an uncertain legislative climate is to empower all of our members to be an extension of our advocacy team. We look forward to working with you.