In 2016, ABA spokespeople handled 2,043 media calls and the association appeared in more than 5,000 stories, according to the ABA Public Relations Year in Review report. The top issues included regulation — specifically, a proposed Glass-Steagall revival and the impact of the election on banking policies — as well as agriculture topics such as the Farm Credit System and the farm loan program. The report’s infographic highlights ABA’s efforts to promote these topics across various media channels.
ABA’s analysis of the 2016 election results and letter to President-Elect Trump generated coverage in several top media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Politico, Reuters and Morning Consult. Three national radio tours on consumer protection and financial education reached a total of 52.1 million listeners nationwide. In addition, ABA successfully placed 16 op-eds and letters to the editor in top publications including American Banker, Politico and the Tennessean on topics ranging from fintech to regulatory burden to community development.
The report also highlighted several free, members-only resources ABA developed throughout the year to meet the needs of its members, including a fintech playbook, a Safe Banking for Seniors social media guide, an infographic on how banks support rural America, a media training workbook and teacher’s guide and a calendar of financial consumer observances.
