Dime Officers Meet with Legislators, Regulators in Washington

Jim Cronin, president and Nick Caplanson, chief financial officer of Dime Bank were two of nearly 1,000 bankers who visited the nation’s capital recently to voice their concerns about how current banking proposals could impact the local economy. The visit was part of the American Bankers Association’s annual Government Relations Summit.

Cronin and Caplanson met with, among others, Congressman Courtney and Ed Silverman, Chief of Staff of the Senate Banking Committee, to discuss the proposed regulatory restructuring legislation and ways to enhance small business lending. While there, they also heard from Shelia Bair, Chairman, FDIC and John Dugan, Comptroller of the Currency on the state of the banking industry and various regulatory concerns. In turn, they heard from Senator Richard Shelby, Ranking Republican, Senate Banking Committee and three Governors from the Federal Reserve who gave their viewpoints on the current banking crisis and possible solutions to solve it.

“Traditional banking remains the foundation for our economic recovery,” Cronin said. “Community banking is essential to helping small businesses regain their footing and the key to economic growth. The industry’s efforts will be successful so long as new laws and new rules don’t hobble bankers’ ability to serve our communities. It is vitally important that our elected representatives get our direct views on legislation they are contemplating.”