ARTICLE
(As recently appeared in The Erie Times, YDR, Lebanon Daily News, Bucks Courier Times, and the Pocono Record, as well as other Gannett outlets throughout Pennsylvania). Once upon a time, there was a national drive to get Americans to be safe. Many people didn’t like it. They wanted to be left alone. They said it was a violation of their civil rights. They argued that they weren’t hurting anyone. And anyway, do we really know the thing works? It was the campaign to wear seat belts. Sure, statistics were cited that showed seat belts weren’t 100% effective. Not everyone would be protected from injury or death in an accident. But they saved lives — inarguably. In the end, the law was changed in Pennsylvania and most states. And people’s behavior changed along with it. Today, we face a new deadly threat. A pandemic has taken hold of America and the world. And it hasn’t gone away. Instead, COVID-19 has evaded our best attempts to stop it. But miraculously, we produced vaccines in record time. For most, they are abundant, available and free. They have kept millions from catching the disease and lessened symptoms among those who fell ill. It is time for everyone to join the fight. We call on our fellow Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated, wear facemasks when appropriate, and use common sense to adapt to this new reality. Yes, folks are tired and frustrated. We all wanted this to be over by now. But it won’t be over until we change our behavior. We need to raise the commonwealth’s fully vaccinated rate far above 54%, where it recently stood. As bankers, we work closely with our customers and neighbors. We listen to their plans and dreams. Their success keeps our downtowns and townships prosperous. But a healthy economy relies on healthy citizens. That is why we asked banks to change their behavior at the quarantine’s outset. They followed the guidance of medical professionals. They disinfected lobbies and revamped health protocols. They expanded remote and online banking options. And they reached out to those who depend on personalized service, including elderly customers. Banks took extraordinary steps to alleviate the economic pain as well. They waived fees and modified repayment plans, extended loan due dates, and lengthened lines of credit. Most importantly, banks delivered more than $9.9 billion in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to Pennsylvania’s small businesses, and thousands of jobs were saved. A year later, we are still working together. Harrisburg continues to closely coordinate with banks and credit unions. Our top priority now is to ensure that bank and credit union employees and customers get vaccinated. We want our employees and customers to be healthy and to feel safe. It’s not just about protection; it’s about peace of mind. There is a reason why more and more institutions, from the Pentagon to your local hospital, are requiring vaccinations. They’ve read the data. They know vaccinations help prevent death and improve quality of life. Vaccinations slow down transmission even as the coronavirus mutates into new variants. Meanwhile, we have reached the point where COVID-19 vaccines are beginning to expire before they can reach every adult Pennsylvanian. This is not good. The time for waiting and hesitating is over. As bankers and financial leaders, we are data-driven people. But we know that sometimes the experts are wrong. In the past year, who hasn’t been? We’re learning as we go. The last pandemic was 100 years ago. We face a constantly shifting adversary. But it’s no time to throw up our hands and give up. Banks and credit unions are working to set an example for everyone. So is government. We know that vaccinations save lives — inarguably. We urge all Pennsylvanians to take advantage of them to slow the spread of the virus. Let’s change our behavior once again. [Richard Vague is Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Department of Banking and Securities. Kevin L. Shivers is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers].
(As recently appeared in The Erie Times, YDR, Lebanon Daily News, Bucks Courier Times, and the Pocono Record, as well as other Gannett outlets throughout Pennsylvania).
Once upon a time, there was a national drive to get Americans to be safe. Many people didn’t like it. They wanted to be left alone. They said it was a violation of their civil rights. They argued that they weren’t hurting anyone. And anyway, do we really know the thing works?
It was the campaign to wear seat belts.
Sure, statistics were cited that showed seat belts weren’t 100% effective. Not everyone would be protected from injury or death in an accident. But they saved lives — inarguably.
In the end, the law was changed in Pennsylvania and most states. And people’s behavior changed along with it.
Today, we face a new deadly threat. A pandemic has taken hold of America and the world. And it hasn’t gone away. Instead, COVID-19 has evaded our best attempts to stop it.
But miraculously, we produced vaccines in record time. For most, they are abundant, available and free. They have kept millions from catching the disease and lessened symptoms among those who fell ill.
It is time for everyone to join the fight.
We call on our fellow Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated, wear facemasks when appropriate, and use common sense to adapt to this new reality.
Yes, folks are tired and frustrated. We all wanted this to be over by now. But it won’t be over until we change our behavior. We need to raise the commonwealth’s fully vaccinated rate far above 54%, where it recently stood.
As bankers, we work closely with our customers and neighbors. We listen to their plans and dreams. Their success keeps our downtowns and townships prosperous.
But a healthy economy relies on healthy citizens. That is why we asked banks to change their behavior at the quarantine’s outset. They followed the guidance of medical professionals. They disinfected lobbies and revamped health protocols. They expanded remote and online banking options. And they reached out to those who depend on personalized service, including elderly customers. Banks took extraordinary steps to alleviate the economic pain as well. They waived fees and modified repayment plans, extended loan due dates, and lengthened lines of credit.
Most importantly, banks delivered more than $9.9 billion in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to Pennsylvania’s small businesses, and thousands of jobs were saved.
A year later, we are still working together. Harrisburg continues to closely coordinate with banks and credit unions. Our top priority now is to ensure that bank and credit union employees and customers get vaccinated. We want our employees and customers to be healthy and to feel safe. It’s not just about protection; it’s about peace of mind.
There is a reason why more and more institutions, from the Pentagon to your local hospital, are requiring vaccinations. They’ve read the data. They know vaccinations help prevent death and improve quality of life. Vaccinations slow down transmission even as the coronavirus mutates into new variants.
Meanwhile, we have reached the point where COVID-19 vaccines are beginning to expire before they can reach every adult Pennsylvanian. This is not good. The time for waiting and hesitating is over.
As bankers and financial leaders, we are data-driven people. But we know that sometimes the experts are wrong. In the past year, who hasn’t been? We’re learning as we go. The last pandemic was 100 years ago. We face a constantly shifting adversary. But it’s no time to throw up our hands and give up.
Banks and credit unions are working to set an example for everyone. So is government. We know that vaccinations save lives — inarguably.
We urge all Pennsylvanians to take advantage of them to slow the spread of the virus.
Let’s change our behavior once again.
[Richard Vague is Pennsylvania’s Secretary of the Department of Banking and Securities. Kevin L. Shivers is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers].