WATCH: Chairman @RepFrenchHill questions @SecScottBessent on the importance of community banks, to which the Secretary responded: “It’s Main Street’s turn, and essential for Main Street’s having its turn are the small and community banks. And I would note that, thanks to onerous regulation, and as you and I both say, community and small banks became too small to succeed. Tragically, more than 50% of community banks have disappeared since the great financial crisis. Not during, since, there have been virtually no de novo banks created, whereas before the GFC there were more than 50 per year. And small and community banks not only are the anchor for community-based lending, but they provide the bulk of the lending for agriculture, for small real estate loans, and for small business loans. So, a thriving community bank infrastructure and ecosystem is essential.” 📺⬇️