Community bankers know we can’t rest on our laurels. We have to strike while the iron is hot—whether it is a loan to a local small business or grassroots outreach on important legislation.

That is why ICBA is giving community bankers a unique opportunity this month to build on our industry’s recent successes by participating in both Community Banking Month and the ICBA Washington Policy Summit.

ICBA is offering community bankers a Marketing and Communications Toolkit throughout April to help our industry build awareness and support nationwide. We are encouraging community bankers to use the turnkey custom resources all month long while also tweeting with the #BankLocally hashtag and sharing their photos with ICBA on Facebook.

Also in recognition of Community Banking Month and in preparation for the upcoming ICBA Washington Policy Summit, ICBA launched a promotional blitz in the nation’s capital. Ads running on Washington-areas buses, trains and a key Capitol Hill Metro station will spread the community bank message in Washington through the policy summit, slated for April 29-May 2.

The ad campaign is designed to raise our industry’s profile ahead of the summit, which will feature face-to-face meetings with policymakers and remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg and Senate Banking Committee members Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.).

Now is the time for community bankers to build on recent advocacy successes on the Volcker Rule, flood insurance and debit card interchange by making their voices heard both in Washington and back home in their communities.

We cannot rest on these recent victories. We have to keep pushing if we want to ensure a sound future for community banking.