VBA Update
Legislative Update: July 2025
At the recent MBA|VBA Joint Convention, 2024-2025 VBA Chairman Victor Branch reflected back on the previous year and the momentum carrying forward at the VBA as his chairmanship concluded. I had the opportunity to share some of the following as we look ahead to where we see that momentum taking the VBA.
Unified Voice, Essential Partner
We appreciate the insights many bankers shared as we developed our three-year strategic plan last fall. In many respects, this plan feels familiar. It is member-focused, grounded in our core mission, and challenges the VBA to stretch forward. But it is also different: for the first time, it is a joint two-state effort to strategically align services and structure, leverage best practices, and enhance our membership experience both as individual associations and together.
At the keystone of this plan is a slightly refined purpose statement, drawing from the best of what both associations brought forward: To be the unified voice of banking and an essential partner for our member banks.
That’s not just a tagline – it is a commitment. To fully fulfill it, this plan is built around two strategic pillars that undergird that charge: Elevate and Evolve.
Elevate
How we deliver value to member banks and individual bankers is deeply connected to the three strategic priorities under this pillar: amplifying advocacy, equipping members for change and building deeper connections. All are fundamental to what the VBA currently does but outlines a path where we are elevating the processes, opportunities, and outcomes associated within those core areas. While we seek to elevate our engagement with and for our members, we benefit from a strong starting platform for that growth.
We recognize that advocacy is more critical than ever and that’s why it is the lead item in this plan. The need to amplify our influence – to ensure our unified voice is heard in Richmond, Washington and beyond – is central to our ability to thrive in an ever-changing policy environment. We will look at how to expand engagement, prepare advocates, and communicate the impact those interactions have on policymakers. We cannot just react to decision-makers, we need to proactively shape policy.
We are focused on equipping bankers at every level for the future. Whether it is navigating regulatory shifts, embracing technology transformation, or developing the next generation of banking leaders, we are committed to providing the necessary tools, training, and solutions. We will look at how best to tailor our offerings to your needs, be responsive to a dynamic workforce, and bring forward services, benefits and providers that help best position you for success.
Elevating our ability to convene bankers together for the good of the industry, we seek to build deeper, more meaningful relationships – not just with our members, but among bankers as peers. We will elevate how we communicate, gather feedback and insight into your specific needs, and provide channels available to connect with your peers. When you connect with and through the VBA, the fabric of banking across Virginia is strengthened and enriched.
Evolve
As we strive to elevate our member experience and value proposition, the VBA organizationally needs to evolve to best reflect the changes within our membership and be best positioned to deliver results.
Internally, we will evolve by enhancing our organizational strength and agility, ensuring we’re as proactive and innovative as the banks we serve. We will look to provide new and creative solutions and partnerships, better assess the value delivered through our offerings, and leverage our shared services across both associations.
We will continue to maintain a posture of embracing collaboration as opportunities arise. By working together where it makes sense for our members, we will position the VBA and the two-state enterprise for future sustainable success.
We’re investing in continuity to ensure that transitions are smooth, institutional knowledge is preserved and transferred, and development opportunities are made available. We will look to create opportunities for cross-training and knowledge sharing and continue to focus on developing staff to lead key strategic initiatives.
Meaningful Progress
This strategic plan is not just a document to sit on a shelf. It is a declaration – that while we are proud of our collective accomplishments, we are not content with the status quo. It is a framework and roadmap for progress where we will move forward together.
As we look to the next three years, we invite you to stay engaged, stay connected, and help shape these pillars of elevate and evolve. Your input, leadership and partnership are what make this plan not just possible, but meaningful.