January 23, 2026

The Top Line

Greetings! Here’s this week’s Top Line:

The Washington Legislature continues its 2026 session in Olympia, with budget discussions and major policy proposals moving quickly as lawmakers work through competing priorities. As always, WBA is closely monitoring developments and engaging where issues intersect with the banking industry and the communities we serve. Our latest bill tracker is available here, and our Bankers Day on the Hill is just a couple of weeks away on Feb 4!

This week, we attended a legislative hearing on a proposed payroll tax aimed at large employers, framed as a way to offset potential reductions in federal Medicaid funding. WBA is opposed to this approach, as proposals that significantly increase the cost of employing people risk slowing hiring, discouraging investment, and ultimately undermining the economic growth that supports jobs, wages, and the tax base itself. Thousands of people signed in as "con" for the hearing, and live testimony ran for hours. We'll keep you posted as the bill moves through the legislature.

At the federal level, WBA is continuing to push back alongside the American Bankers Association against a proposed credit card interest rate cap. Research and analysis make clear that artificial rate caps would likely reduce access to credit, eliminate popular rewards programs, and disproportionately affect consumers who rely on flexible credit options, particularly those with lower or moderate incomes.

As these legislative and policy conversations continue, member engagement remains critical. We will keep you informed as issues develop and will continue to call on bankers to share their perspectives with policymakers when it matters most, because real-world experience is one of the most effective tools in advocacy.

On a happier note, we are pleased to share some exciting news; a new partnership with IntraFi, a longtime WBA member and trusted provider of deposit and liquidity solutions! This partnership strengthens the resources available to our member banks and reflects our ongoing focus on working with organizations that understand, support, and advance the banking industry. 

We'll be back again next week with a new Top Line - wishing you all the best until then. Huzzah!