Rob Nichols

Nichols was born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1969. He was raised in Seattle and moved to Washington, D.C., to attend George Washington University.{{cite news|last1=Sparks|first1=Evan|title=Swimming Upstream|url=http://bankingjournal.aba.com/2015/08/swimming-upstream/|accessdate=24 September 2015|work=ABA Banking Journal}} He is a Sigma Alpha Epsilon Alumni Association member.{{cite web |url=http://finance.senate.gov/library/hearings/download/?id=82292953-055b-42b1-a482-4b44211d854c |title = The United States Senate Committee on Finance}}

After graduation in 1991, he worked in the White House in the George H. W. Bush administration and served as an aide to then-Transportation Secretary Andy Card.{{cite web|title=Rob Nichols|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/government/nichols-bio.html|website=White House Archive Site|accessdate=24 September 2015}} After the Bush administration ended, Nichols held positions with the Washington state Republican Party; as a senior aide for the late Rep. Jennifer Dunn and former Sen. Slade Gorton. In 1995, he married his wife, Rebecca, whom he met at GWU. They have two children.

In early 2001, Nichols was named deputy assistant Treasury secretary for public affairs in the George W. Bush administration, serving as the Treasury Department's spokesman. In April 2003, Bush nominated Nichols as assistant secretary for public affairs. He was confirmed in August 2003 and sworn in by Treasury Secretary John Snow. As assistant secretary, Nichols oversaw all public affairs for the department and led efforts to educate the American people about tax and currency policy, debt management, Social Security and Medicare financing, and international issues that impact the U.S. economy. Nichols is a recipient of the Alexander Hamilton Award, the highest honor of the Department of the Treasury.

File:Nichols with panel 2 again.jpgIn 2005, Nichols was hand-picked to lead the non-partisan Financial Services Forum, which was at the time located in New York City. The forum represents 18 CEOs of America's largest financial firms, including banks, insurers, and asset managers. Nichols relocated the organization to Washington, D.C., and worked to raise its profile, educating the public about the importance of robust capital markets, encouraging a competitive global marketplace, and shaping the national and international regulatory dialogue.

Time referred to the forum as "perhaps the country's most powerful trade association,"{{cite web| url = https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-money/2010/01/forum-names-bny-mellons-bob-kelly-as-chairman-populist-angst-is-affecting-senate-negotiations-apple-tablet-ships-in-march-jennifer-zuccarelli-engaged-to-bofas-jon-lesko-004845| title = Forum names BNY Mellon's Bob Kelly as chairman -- Populist angst is affecting Senate negotiations – Apple tablet ships in March -- Jennifer Zuccarelli engaged to BofA's Jon Lesko - POLITICO| website = Politico| date = 5 January 2010}} Nichols is frequently cited by the news media on capital markets and financial services issues. He was regularly quoted in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, and frequently appears on CNBC, Fox Business Network and Bloomberg. He has testified on several occasions before the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, two key congressional committees that oversee the financial services industry.

From 2009 to 2014, Nichols was recognized by The Hill newspaper as one of the most effective trade association leaders in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|title=Top Lobbyists: Associations|url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/175483-top-lobbyists-associations/|newspaper=The Hill|date=October 12, 2011}}{{cite news|title=Top Lobbyists 2013|url=https://thehill.com/business-lobbying/business-lobbying/188607-top-lobbyists-2013/|access-date=28 September 2015|work=The Hill}} The New York Times called Nichols "among the most powerful lobbyists in Washington," in 2011.{{cite news|title=A Mobilization in Washington by Wall Street|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/business/wall-street-mobilizes-to-raise-debt-ceiling.html?pagewanted=all|newspaper=New York Times|date=July 30, 2011}} In November 2011, Nichols was included on The New Republic's list of Washington's most powerful, least famous people.{{cite magazine | title = Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People| url =

http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/96131/washingtons-most-powerful-least-famous-people?passthru=ZTM3Y2VhYmZjNmIzMjllNzQ3MjMxOGEzMmJlZjg1NzI | magazine = The New Republic | date = 2011-11-03 | accessdate=2011-10-25}} In 2010, CEO UPDATE also named Nichols one of the year’s top trade association leaders.

While he represented large financial institutions, Nichols also expressed concern for smaller community banks. In 2013, he wrote an op-ed for Politico stating:

{{blockquote |text=As president of the Financial Services Forum, I spend most of my time focused on the policy priorities and unique economic value provided by large diversified financial institutions. But I also am increasingly concerned about the condition and policy challenges of smaller institutions — particularly community banks, an equally indispensable element of our financial system.... The prospects for economic growth and job creation are inextricably linked to the prospects of community banks, along with the health of the broader financial system. By improving the circumstances for community banks by way of substantial regulatory relief, we will not only ensure a more equitable playing field but also give our still-struggling economy a much-needed boost.{{cite news|last1=Nichols|first1=Rob|title=Community Banks Are Indispensable|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/when-community-banks-prosper-gains-are-widespread-091948|access-date=28 September 2015|work=Politico|date=28 May 2013}}}}.

During Nichols' tenure, the forum also co-chaired Engage China, a coalition of 12 financial trade associations pushing for greater access to Chinese markets for overseas firms and more financial liberalization in Chinese markets.{{cite web|title=Engagement with China|url=http://financialservicesforum.org/the-issues/engagement-with-china/|publisher=Financial Services Forum|accessdate=28 September 2015}}

In May 2015, Nichols was named president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, the nation’s largest trade group representing banks of all sizes. During his tenure as CEO, several bills and regulatory proposals supported by ABA have been enacted, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017{{cite news |title=President Trump Signs Historic Tax Bill |url=https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2017/12/president-trump-signs-historic-tax-bill/ |accessdate=26 December 2019 |work=ABA Banking Journal |date=22 December 2017}} and the first major banking reform bill since the Dodd-Frank Act, the bipartisan Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155).{{cite news |last1=Haggerty |first1=Neil |title=Congress seals deal on Dodd-Frank reforms |url=https://www.americanbanker.com/news/congress-seals-deal-on-dodd-frank-reforms |accessdate=26 December 2019 |work=American Banker |date=22 May 2018}} In 2019, Nichols was a vocal advocate for the SAFE Banking Act, which would allow banks to serve the cannabis industry.{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=Rob |title=End the cannabis banking problem |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/430463-end-the-cannabis-banking-problem/ |access-date=26 December 2019 |work=The Hill |date=18 February 2019}} With ABA’s support, the legislation was passed by the House with a bipartisan vote in September 2019.{{cite news |last1=Warmbrodt |first1=Zachary |title=How Republicans learned to love a pot bill |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/25/house-oks-giving-cannabis-industry-access-to-banks-1512850 |accessdate=26 December 2019 |work=Politico |date=25 September 2019}} Since Nichols’ arrival at ABA, the association’s push for “tailored regulation” and other refinements to the post-financial crisis regulatory framework has seen traction at regulatory agencies such as the Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC and CFPB.{{cite web |title=Federal Reserve Board finalizes rules that tailor its regulations for domestic and foreign banks to more closely match their risk profiles |work=Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System |url=https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20191010a.htm |publisher=Federal Reserve Board of Governors |accessdate=26 December 2019}}

Nichols also reorganized ABA’s political engagement strategy, with the association producing ads endorsing congressional candidates for the first time—both Republicans and Democrats—and increasing its political activity in the 2020 campaign cycle.{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Alex |title=Bank lobby builds 'political machine' to spend for 2020 House and Senate races |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/18/politics/american-banking-association-2020-elections/index.html |accessdate=27 December 2019 |work=CNN |date=18 July 2019}} “Our goal is to support candidates who understand and appreciate the critical role banks of all sizes play in the economy,” Nichols said, according to the Wall Street Journal. “We plan to expand our efforts in 2020 on a rigorously bipartisan basis.”{{cite news |last1=Clozel |first1=Lalita |title=Banks Plan to Boost Campaign Spending in 2020 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/banks-plan-to-boost-campaign-spending-in-2020-11566487868 |accessdate=27 December 2019 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=22 August 2019}} He made several key executive hires at ABA, including former managing director at JPMorgan Chase Naomi Camper as chief policy officer,{{cite news |last1=Berry |first1=Kate |title=ABA taps former JPM lobbyist for new policy post |url=https://www.americanbanker.com/news/aba-names-jpmorgan-chase-exec-as-chief-policy-officer |accessdate=27 December 2019 |work=American Banker |date=21 March 2018}} former director for Freddie Mac’s single-family business Alethia Baggett as chief human resources officer,{{cite news |title=GPG hires Reid's Gluck |url=https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/politico-influence/2016/10/gpg-hires-reids-gluck-216719 |accessdate=27 December 2019 |work=Politico Influence |date=6 October 2019}} and former Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook as chief communications officer.{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Ben |title=Inside the room with Trump |url=https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-money/2017/04/inside-the-room-with-trump-219725 |accessdate=27 December 2019 |work=Politico Morning Money}} The Washington Post has cited Nichols as one of a “new generation of trade group CEOs” taking an unconventional approach to lobbying to remake the image of trade associations.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/11/04/new-generation-of-trade-group-ceos-take-more-aggressive-and-at-times-unorthodox-approach-to-lobbying/ |title=New generation of trade group CEOs take more aggressive — and at times unorthodox — approach to lobbying |date=2021-10-28 |orig-date=2015-11-04 |author1=Catherine Ho |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}{{WaPoCheckDates}} Nichols has also been regularly named one of the "Top Lobbyists" by The Hill, most recently in 2022.{{cite news |title=The Hill's Top Lobbyists 2022 |url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-lobbying/3764295-the-hills-top-lobbyists-2022/ |access-date=7 December 2022 |work=The Hill |date=December 7, 2022}} Nichols was also named to Washingtonian magazine's 2022 list of the 500 most influential people in Washington, which recognized him for "work[ing] to remove the IRS reporting provision from the House version of the Build Back Better plan."{{cite news |title=Washington DC's 500 Most Influential People |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/05/03/washington-dcs-500-most-influential-people/ |access-date=7 December 2022 |work=Washingtonian |date=May 3, 2022}}

In November 2016, the association announced a new student debt repayment benefit for employees, something offered by only 4% of U.S. employers at that time.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Ernie |title=STUDENT LOAN DEBT IS RISING. CAN YOUR ASSOCIATION HELP? |url=https://associationsnow.com/2016/11/student-loan-debt-rising-can-association-help/ |accessdate=27 December 2019 |work=Associations Now |issue=7 November 2016}} In 2018, ABA was recognized as a "Great Place to Work" by the company that produces Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list.{{cite web |title=American Bankers Association |url=https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7000355 |publisher=Great Place to Work |accessdate=27 December 2019}}

Nichols also announced ABA efforts to help banks innovate, including the association’s first direct investments in fintech companies.{{cite news |last1=Crosman |first1=Penny |title=Why startup Finxact just got $30M from the ABA, SunTrust, others |url=https://www.americanbanker.com/news/why-startup-finxact-just-got-30m-from-the-aba-suntrust-others |accessdate=30 December 2019 |work=American Banker |date=25 January 2019}} At ABA’s annual convention in 2018, he challenged large core processing firms to improve the services they provide to community banks, especially when it comes to implementing mobile banking, real-time payments and other services customers are demanding.{{cite news |last1=Hernandez |first1=Will |title=ABA urges core providers to do more for community banks |url=https://www.americanbanker.com/news/aba-urges-core-providers-to-do-more-for-community-banks |accessdate=30 December 2019 |work=American Banker |date=23 October 2018}} As CEO, Nichols has increased participation of women in the ranks of ABA’s officers and executive staff. Within his first four years at the association, ABA elected the second{{cite web |title=Dorothy A. Savarese Elected Chairman of the American Bankers Association |url=https://www.capecodfive.com/dorothy-savarese-elected-chairman-american-bankers-association |website=Cape Cod 5 |accessdate=30 December 2019}} and third{{cite news |last1=Sparks |first1=Evan |title=Leader of the Pod |url=https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2019/10/leader-of-the-pod-laurie-stewart/ |accessdate=30 December 2019 |work=ABA Banking Journal |date=November–December 2019}} women to chair the association in its 145-year history. As of 2019, the association had a female chief human resources officer, chief policy officer, general counsel, chief financial officer and senior adviser, five out of the association’s nine C-suite executive staff.{{cite web |title=ABA Leadership |url=https://www.aba.com/about-us/leadership |publisher=American Bankers Association |accessdate=30 December 2019}}

Nichols is former vice chairman and a current board of governors member of Food Allergy Research and Education, a nonprofit group that supports scientific research and allergy-related advocacy. FARE helped support the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, which was signed in 2013.{{cite news|last1=Solomon|first1=Deborah|title=Obama Signs Bill to Increase EpiPen Availability in Schools|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/11/13/obama-signs-bill-to-increase-epipen-availability-in-schools/|accessdate=28 September 2015|work=Wall Street Journal|date=13 November 2013}}

• [https://www.aba.com/leadership/rob-nichols American Bankers Association bio]

{{reflist}}

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box

| title = Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs

| years = 2003–2005

| before = Michele Davis

| after = Tony Fratto

}}

{{Succession box

| title = President and CEO of the American Bankers Association

| years = 2016–present

| before = Frank Keating

| after = incumbent

}}

{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nichols, Rob}}

Category:Living people

Category:George Washington University alumni

Category:1969 births

Category:American lobbyists

Category:United States assistant secretaries of the treasury