Brad Bolton, president and CEO of Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, was looking forward to his annual visit to Washington, D.C., as part of the Independent Community Bankers of America Capital Summit. As someone who is passionate about community banking, Bolton is active in the ICBA, serving as a member of the Federal Delegate Board and the Bank Education Committee vice chairman.

But as he prepared for the upcoming trip, he received an exclusive invitation that surprised and excited him – to be part of a 100-person group to convene at the White House and hear directly from President Donald Trump. After submitting required documentation, Bolton received confirmation that he would indeed be headed to the White House.

Bolton said he was “greatly excited” at the opportunity. He first shared the news with his father. “Just to say you’re going to the White House to meet the president – it was awe-inspiring,” Bolton said.

Bolton and his fellow attendees boarded charter buses that took them through the front gates onto the White House grounds. He took note of all the details of the historic site.

“There were Secret Service agents everywhere,” Bolton said. “They were in full combat vests, the whole works.” His group was led through several levels of security to the Kennedy Rose Garden, off the east wing. Opening the doors to the east wing revealed a scene of grandeur. “There you are in the portico … and the first thing you see is all these military young men and women in full dress. The pictures are the pictures of the Trump family, to welcome you to the White House. The next picture, which I’m told the president picks out himself, was a full portrait of Nancy and Ronald Reagan. Three steps up, you’re on the patio level, and you walk out, and there’s a full Marine violinist band serenading the guests.”

Bolton and his colleagues enjoyed posing for photos in front of the official presidential podium and sipped from cups of water or sweet tea – the cups bore the presidential seal, and Bolton kept his as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

In the meeting with Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, National Economic Council director Gary Cohn and Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon, Trump said the administration is focused on addressing regulatory burdens to help community banks lend to small businesses – which is what Bolton and the ICBA wanted to hear.

“From the downturn in 2008, as there usually is, there was an overreaction from Congress. The party in power at that time used that to greatly overreach and pass Dodd-Frank, which has been responsible for a litany of additional regulatory burden we’ve been having to undergo – and not only us, but our customers,” Bolton said. “The process for obtaining a home loan has slowed tremendously because of regulation. It’s not fair to our customers.” Bolton decried the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for its part in passing down and enforcing laws with “no idea how they affect rural America.” “Community banks continue to dwindle. Last quarter alone we lost 400-something community banks, not from failing but from mergers. It’s almost like you have to merge to survive,” Bolton said. “That’s the message we were taking to Washington.”

During the meeting community bankers presented Trump with a red “Make Community Banking Great Again” cap – a cap also worn by every banker in attendance, as a nod to Trump’s own red cap and “Make America Great Again” slogan. “He got a kick out of that,” Bolton said.

Bolton said he was thankful for the opportunity to hear from Trump, Pence, McMahon and Cohn.

“I was greatly honored for the opportunity to represent not only this bank but our state as a part of the national association,” Bolton said.

The ICBA, the nation’s voice for more than 5,800 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at www.icba.org.