Thank you for registering for the annual VBA Banker Day on January 11, 2024. We look forward to your participation in this important grassroots advocacy event, bringing hundreds of bankers from across Virginia to interact with their state legislators at the start of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly. 

View the 2024 Banker Day Brochure Here!

Below you will find links to the handouts that will be available for bankers to pick up at the registration table. 

• Handout - "The Truth About Credit Unions" - CU Market Share Stats One Pager
• Handout - CU Public Deposits One Pager
• Handout - Elder Financial Abuse Trusted Contact One Pager

Pre-Banker Day Briefing Recording

You can view the recording of the Pre-Banker Day briefing here.

Banker Day Agenda

January 11, 2024
7:30 a.m. – Registration and Continental Breakfast	Greater Richmond Convention Center, 2nd Floor Ballroom Atrium
8:00 a.m. – VBA Issues & Logistics Briefing Matt Bruning, VBA EVP, Government & Member Relations	Greater Richmond Convention Center, Grand Ballroom A on the 2nd floor
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. - Keynote Speaker Governor Glenn Youngkin	Greater Richmond Convention Center, Grand Ballroom A on the 2nd floor
9:00 – 11:30 a.m. – Legislative Visits	General Assembly Building

About Our Keynote Speaker – Governor Glenn Youngkin

Born in Richmond and raised in Virginia Beach, Governor Glenn Youngkin is a homegrown Virginian from humble beginnings. From washing dishes to supporting his family to being named co-CEO of one of the world’s top investment firms, Governor Youngkin knows what it’s like to work hard. Governor Youngkin’s determination to succeed earned him various awards on the basketball court and a full athletic scholarship to college.

After earning an engineering degree at Rice University and his MBA at Harvard Business School, Governor Youngkin and his wife Suzanne moved to Northern Virginia. For 25 years Governor Youngkin was instrumental in growing the Carlyle Group’s stature globally while helping fund the retirements of teachers, police officers, firefighters and other frontline public servants.

And today, Governor Youngkin continues to deliver for all Virginians. As a newcomer to politics, he ran, won, and now shapes policy on commonsense solutions to kitchen table concerns. So far, he’s passed the largest education budget in Virginia’s history, facilitated waves of economic investments and business expansions to reinvigorate job growth and opportunity and has totally transformed the way government works for its citizens. He signed a comprehensive package of laws delivering for veterans in his first six months as well as enacting historic tax cuts and funding for public safety.

Governor Youngkin has been married for over 29 years to Suzanne S. Youngkin, a devoted leader in non-profits and charitable causes. Together, they are dedicated to their four wonderful children. Their family journey has been and continues to be guided by their faith, walking hand in hand as humble followers of Christ.

Information for Scheduling Meetings with Legislators

View the scheduled meetings with legislators here!

Now that you have registered, you or a representative from your bank is responsible for setting meetings with the local legislators you would like to meet with during Banker Day.

• We recommend reaching out to your legislators at their district offices or via email as soon as possible to request a meeting (see below for a template email). 
• Meetings should ideally be set between 9:00 and 11:30 a.m.
• The VBA has contacted legislators to make them aware you will be reaching out to schedule visits.

Please follow the steps below for setting up a meeting with your legislator:

1. You can find the names of your state legislators to help determine who to schedule your visits with here (please note that this link will continue to be updated in the coming weeks to reflect newly elected officials).
2. Once you figure out which legislators you want to meet with, you can find their contact information for House members here and Senate members here. The VBA staff is also able to assist in connecting you with other local bankers attending Banker Day, to consolidate meetings for the legislators who have multiple groups of bankers attending the event.
3. Download a Customizable Email Template for Scheduling Legislator Appointments here!
4. Keep the VBA informed of your Banker Day plans! Once you have finalized your meeting times, please complete this form to share that information with the VBA.

Tips for Visits

• It is a ½ mile walk to the General Assembly Building from the Greater Richmond Convention Center and you must go through security at the public entrance on 9th street. Please allow enough time before your first legislative meeting. 
  • It is always best to limit your belongings as you will need to go through security.
• If you have made an advance appointment, you should be able to see your Delegate or Senator at the scheduled meeting time. (See the section above for more information about scheduling your Banker Day visits.)
  • Be on time (or early) for your appointments – arriving late to an appointment could mean losing your slot. Similarly, don’t exceed the scheduled time.
• If you have not made an appointment, go to the legislator’s office and tell them you are a constituent from the district and would like to see the Delegate or the Senator.
  • If you are told he or she is not in, ask if there is a time you can come back prior to your departure time. Otherwise, ask if you can go to the Committee meeting that your legislator may be in and give you an opportunity to speak to him or her briefly.
  • You can also ask to meet with the legislative aide to discuss your bank and our key issues.
• Between your meetings, there is a cafeteria and coffee shop with seating on the first floor of the General Assembly Building. There are also open areas with seating outside committee rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors if you have time between meetings and want to check email or connect with other bankers.
• Keep it simple. You don’t need to be a lobbyist – that’s why the VBA is here. Review the talking points provided and be ready to speak about them, but also talk about what is going on in your local community and your role at the bank.
• When meeting as a group, make sure to designate a spokesperson for your group and clarify who the legislator should follow up with on any questions. 
• Ask questions. The members of the General Assembly will have no problem answering any questions you have, and many times a good question is a great conversation starter.
• Connect by remembering to bring your business cards to give to legislators and offer to serve as a banking industry resource.
• Don’t bring gifts. Most legislators will not accept them.

If you have any questions on how you should prepare for your meeting with your legislator, you can access some more tips and tricks here. For further questions, please contact Henry Watkins.

Roster & Event Attire

The attire is business professional.

The Banker Day roster is available here.

Hotel & Parking Information

Richmond Marriott Downtown
500 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 643-3400

The cutoff date for the VBA room block has passed. Please call the hotel directly to check availability for the night of Wednesday, January 10th. The Marriott is adjacent to the Greater Richmond Convention Center and a 0.2 mile walk to the General Assembly Building where legislative meetings will be taking place. 

Parking information

The GRCC Parking Deck is located at the corner of 3rd & Marshall Streets and is conveniently connected to the GRCC via the 3rd level of the deck. Parking is $8 per vehicle per entry.

You can view additional GRCC parking details here.

For GPS directions to the GRCC Parking Deck, use the following address:
351 N. Third St.
Richmond, VA 23219

EBL Pre-Banker Day Reception & Dinner – January 10

Please join members of the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders (EBL) for a Pre-Banker Day Reception on January 10 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Salon 1,2,3 rooms downstairs at the Richmond Marriott Downtown. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend the reception.

After the reception, make plans to join members of the EBL for a Dutch treat dinner at Penny Lane Pub at 6:30 p.m. Space is limited – register here for the dinner!

Dietary Restrictions, Special Needs & Americans with Disabilities Notice

Please send any dietary restrictions or special needs that may affect your participation in this event to Megan Darmanin to discuss accommodations.

Share Your Banker Day Pictures with the VBA!

Please remember to take photos of your group with your legislator(s). Submit them to Monica McDearmon via email (mmcdearmon@vabankers.org) or text 804-363-9347 so we can highlight our advocacy efforts in future VBA publications and on social media. Please also tag the VBA on Instagram – @vabankers.