Remarks from Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent at Event with Texas Bankers in Houston

Thank you for joining us. Today, I want to address the critical role that America's community banks play in protecting our financial system.Across the country, community bankers serve as the first line of defense in our financial infrastructure. They know their customers, understand their local economies, and often discern emerging risks long before they appear in national statistics.Every day, bankers help identify suspicious activity, detect fraud schemes, support law enforcement investigations, and prevent criminals from exploiting our financial system.Economic security is national security.Houston provides a uniquely important example.President Trump has taken historic action to secure the southern border. Still, Texas remains on the front lines of the challenges created by years of unchecked illegal immigration under the Biden Administration.