Pub. 15 2018 Issue 3

12 O V E R A C E N T U R Y : B U I L D I N G B E T T E R B A N K S - H E L P I N G N E W M E X I C O R E A L I Z E D R E A M S Just as banks are central to the economic vitality of the communities they serve, new bank charters signify the economic vitality of both the industry as well as our economy as a whole. New banks signal optimism, opportunity and growth potential. WASHINGTON UPDATE NAOMI CAMPER, ABA CHIEF POLICY OFFICER American Bankers Association New Banks as Bellwethers W h en I joined ABA as chief policy off icer in June, a task force of bankers with experience launching and running new banks were mid-way through their analysis of why “de novo” act iv it y had stal led in recent years.