[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12872]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO THE KENTUCKY BANKERS ASSOCIATION

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to extend my thanks and 
congratulations to a venerable Kentucky business trade association that 
is celebrating a milestone anniversary of service to its members and 
its customers. The Kentucky Bankers Association, a nonprofit trade 
association serving Kentucky's community financial services industry, 
celebrates its 125th anniversary this October.
  Founded in October of 1891, the Kentucky Bankers Association, KBA, 
represents State and federally chartered banks and thrifts. It has 185 
member banks, 167 of which are headquartered in Kentucky. Not only do 
KBA's member banks provide high-quality service to the people of the 
Commonwealth, but they also employ more than 23,000 Kentuckians.
  The purpose of the Kentucky Bankers Association is to provide 
advocacy for the financial services industry both in Kentucky and on 
the national level. The organization also serves as a fount of 
information to its members on the banking industry and acts as a 
catalyst for internal debate and action within the industry and among 
its members. It also publishes an industry magazine to provide news and 
information to its members. And by providing loans to Kentucky 
businesses, they enable future business growth and spur the creation of 
new jobs.
  KBA has served its members for 125 years, and many of KBA's member 
banks have also been serving their customers for a long time. The 
oldest bank chartered in Kentucky was established in 1835, making it 
181 years old. And the average age of Kentucky chartered banks is 84 
years old. Kentuckians who bank with KBA's members have counted on and 
appreciated their high level of service for generations.
  I also want to congratulate my friend Ballard Cassady, the president 
and CEO of KBA, as he has served in that position for 30 years. His 
dedication to the KBA is equaled only by KBA member banks' dedication 
to their customers.
  Kentucky community banks are integral parts of the local 
neighborhoods they serve. And the KBA plays a vital role in 
representing these community financial institutions. I want to extend 
my gratitude to the KBA, Mr. Cassady, and KBA leadership for 125 years 
of service to Kentucky's community financial institutions and their 
consumers. And I wish to thank KBA's member banks across the 
Commonwealth for their long-standing commitment to the people of 
Kentucky.

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