ABA Blueprint for Growth

2026 ABA Blueprint for Growth

In 2026, as the nation observes its 250th anniversary, America’s banks remain focused on driving and sustaining economic growth in their local communities and across the country. ABA’s 2026 Blueprint for Growth identifies the policy priorities that will allow banks of all sizes to help deliver that growth.

The American Bankers Association is the united voice of banks of all sizes and their two million employees, championing policies that strengthen communities and expand economic opportunity. Together with all 52 state bankers associations, we call on Congress and the Administration to embrace the following policy priorities in 2026.

Bolster the Economy to Empower Households and Small Businesses

Banks drive economic growth by supporting households and small businesses in every community. We call on Congress to take the following actions:

Protect Local Lending. Stop payment stablecoins from becoming deposit substitutes that slash community bank lending by prohibiting paying interest, yield or rewards regardless of the platform.
Fraud: Pursue an “all of government” approach to combat financial fraud, working alongside other industry sectors to protect consumers and reduce the number of Americans who fall victim to scams.
Indexing: Modernize outdated regulatory thresholds by linking them to economic growth, reducing unnecessary burdens, and allowing regulators to focus on actual risk.
Rate Caps: Prevent arbitrary limits on interest rates that restrict access to credit and harm consumers by reducing choice and increasing costs.
Mission-Driven Banks: Support the efforts of Minority Depository Institutions and Community Development Financial Institutions to revitalize communities and encourage entrepreneurship.

Show MoreLess

Refocus Regulation to Expand Access to Credit and Capital

Banks provide access to credit and capital, but excessive regulation can restrict availability, limiting consumer choice, slowing economic growth, and threatening financial stability. We urge Congress and regulators to right-size regulations:

Small Business Lending Data Collection (Section 1071): Support small business lending by backing the CFPB’s revised proposal, while still urging congressional repeal of Section 1071.
Open Banking (Section 1033): Develop a revised rule that protects consumers, promotes innovation, and ensures a level playing field across the financial ecosystem.
Interchange (Durbin Amendment): Oppose credit card routing mandates like S.3623 and H.R.7035, the so-called Credit Card Competition Act, and urge the Federal Reserve to withdraw its debit card price control proposal that would increase costs for consumers.
SAFER Banking: Enact legislation that enables state-sanctioned cannabis businesses to access regulated financial services, improving public safety and enhancing transparency for regulators, tax authorities and law enforcement.
Supervision: Streamline supervisory processes to focus on risk-based oversight, reduce unnecessary documentation, and promote clarity for banks and regulators.

Show MoreLess

Enhance Competition Across Financial Services

Banks adhere to safety and soundness standards and are subject to government oversight but applying like-kind regulation to like-kind activity and avoiding distortions such as price controls or subsidies is essential to enhance competition across financial services. Policymakers should:

Non-Bank Access to Banking Infrastructure: Apply consistent standards and incorporate strong safeguards — such as restricting nonbank access to Fed accounts and closing nonfinancial loopholes — to preserve financial stability and consumer protection.
Deposit Insurance: Ensure the deposit insurance and resolutions framework provides clear emergency authority, data-driven coverage and assessment standards that maintain fund stability, and resolution processes that balance “least cost” principles with systemic stability.
De Novos: Remove barriers to new bank formation by facilitating a timely, transparent and tailored approval process that promotes competition.
Credit Unions: Conduct oversight to determine whether credit unions fulfill their mandate to serve those of modest means in a way that justifies their tax advantages and exemptions from certain disclosure and regulatory requirements.
National Bank Preemption: Defend the dual banking system from states’ efforts to assert authority over basic operations of national banks, including decisions about deposit taking, lending and risk management.

Show MoreLess

Download the Blueprint

2026 ABA Blueprint for Growth

Bolster the Economy to Empower Households and Small Businesses

Refocus Regulation to Expand Access to Credit and Capital

Enhance Competition Across Financial Services

America’s banks drive the economy

America's $25.1 trillion banking industry employs over 2 million people, safeguards $19.7 trillion in deposits, and extends $13.2 trillion in loans.

Banks of all sizes invested nearly $415 billion in their communities in 2024.

Nearly 4,400 banks serve customers nationwide through more than 76,000 branches and universal mobile platforms.

America’s banks held $2.6 trillion in mortgage loans, and $734 billion in small business and farm loans, in 2024.

Low-fee Bank On-certified accounts are offered in more than half of all bank branches and are accessible to 97.4% of low- and moderate-income households.

Explore ABA's top issues, in depth.