American Bankers Association Names Jonathan Blum Executive Vice President of Congressional Relations and Legislative Affairs

The American Bankers Association this week welcomed the return of Jonathan Blum to serve as ABA’s new Executive Vice President, Congressional Relations and Legislative Affairs. Blum, who previously served on ABA’s Congressional Relations team from December 2022 – January 2025, returned to ABA today after serving at the U.S. Department of the Treasury as Acting Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs and most recently as a Senior Vice President at Venture Government Strategies in Washington, D.C.

In his new role, Blum will oversee the association’s bipartisan team responsible for engaging lawmakers and their staff on policy and legislative issues affecting banks and the communities they serve. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Jon back to ABA to lead our Congressional Relations team,” said ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols. “His deep knowledge of banking policy issues, years of experience in government and familiarity with ABA and our members make him the perfect choice to advance the banking sector’s policy priorities on Capitol Hill.” 

“Jon’s experience across Congress, Treasury and the private sector will guide our work with policymakers in both parties to advance policies that help banks serve their customers and communities,” said Naomi Camper, ABA chief policy officer. 

Prior to his work at Venture Government Strategies, Blum served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the Treasury Department, where he also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary during the first Trump administration, and was a Public Policy Advisor at WilmerHale. He spent nearly a decade on Capitol Hill as lead advisor for the House Financial Services Committee Financial Institutions Subcommittee under then-Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and as staff to U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), former U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-Nev.), and former Ranking Member Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) on the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee. 

“I’m excited to return to ABA to lead such a talented Congressional Relations team,” said Blum. “I look forward to building on ABA’s strong record of success and continuing to advance policies that help banks support their customers and communities, create greater opportunity, and contribute to a stronger American economy.”

Blum holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington College. He is the recipient of the Treasury Department’s Alexander Hamilton Award, the Department’s highest honor bestowed by the Secretary.