Oklahoma Bankers Association We make bankers better!
Led by OBA Chair Alicia Wade, this year’s OBA Annual Washington, D.C., Visit was another resounding success. The Oklahoma contingent was – AGAIN – the largest group from any state to descend upon our nation’s capital.
By Megan McGuire
Vice President/Member & Government Relations
Book a flight … secure a hotel room … adjust family schedule … prepare to be out of the office.
All of these steps add up to one thing … a commitment. And in late September, Oklahomans committed to travel to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the banking industry.
More than any other state.
Again.
Yes, this championship title belt is nice to wear but far from the reason why OBA Chair Alicia Wade prioritized and pulled off big numbers.
“The insights gained and relationships built during our time in Washington will have a lasting impact on our advocacy efforts and the growth of our industry,” Wade said.
Wade, the COO of Sovereign Bank, attended her first OBA Washington Visit in 2016, and she’s watched discussions deepen and conversations progress with our growing numbers over the years.
We have momentum.
Wade’s journey illustrates this momentum as she advanced from a first-timer in 2016 to the OBA chair in 2024, emceeing this year’s Visit and navigating our agency briefings, a fireside chat and Congressional meetings.
“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s D.C. trip. It provided an invaluable opportunity for our bankers to engage directly with policymakers and discuss key issues affecting Oklahoma’s banking community,” Wade said.
Wade and OBA President and CEO Adrian Beverage know the value of taking a strong contingent to Washington. They linked arms and started recruiting efforts early, and the same can be expected as soon as the 2025 dates are locked down.
“Having so many Oklahoma bankers going to Washington sends a strong message to our regulators and our delegation,” Beverage said.
The needle moves slowly in Washington. But it doesn’t move at all unless we show up, continually.
The Visit to D.C. is far from a boondoggle. The days are long and the meetings aren’t necessarily fun. But … you’re “doing the work” for the industry, your customers and your communities side-by-side with your banking peers near the backdrop of our nation’s Capitol.
It’s worth the commitment.
See you in 2025.