5,000 Converge On American Bankers Association Convention

Taxpayers Launch National Campaign to Demand Banks Stop Lobbying Against
Financial Reform During Third Day of Protests in Chicago

CHICAGO, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the largest mobilization since
the economic crisis began, more than 5,000 taxpayers from 20 states marched on
the American Bankers Association (ABA) convention in downtown Chicago today.
The public march culminated three days of demonstrations demanding that banks
stop lobbying against financial reform, end extravagant executive bonuses and
halt home foreclosures that are ruining neighborhoods across the nation.

"We need to continue to demand that big bankers stop using our taxpayer money
to buy politicians and instead use that money to create jobs, save families
from foreclosure, and invest in our communities," said Service Employees
International Union Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger. "And we need to tell the
politicians that we will no longer tolerate them taking the side of Wall
Street and big banks."

The march and rally concluded three days of demonstrations around the ABA
convention and launched a nationwide campaign to demand big banks and Wall
Street stop spending millions in taxpayer dollars to lobby against financial
reform.

After taking $17.8 trillion in taxpayer bailouts and backstops, the ABA and
the six largest banks are back to business as usual, ignoring their
commitments to help taxpayers and helping themselves instead. The largest
banks are making tens of billions of dollars in profits on the backs of the
American taxpayers while spending $35 million in taxpayer funds to lobby for
more taxpayer bailouts and fight against reforms that would protect taxpayers
from bank abuses in the future.

Meanwhile, ordinary Americans continue to face rising foreclosures, record
unemployment, skyrocketing bank and credit card fees, and vanishing pensions
and 401(k)s. Americans have lost six million jobs, homeowners have lost $6
trillion in home values and local governments have lost up to $58.0 billion in
annual property taxes.

"When we bailed out the banks, they were supposed to help people who were hurt
by the economic crisis," said Maria Guerra, janitor at Little Village Academy.
"The banks got our money and they could help people like me, but they don't
even try."

Events kicked off Sunday with a gathering of hundreds of ordinary Americans
who have lost their homes, jobs and pensions during the bank-induced economic
crisis sharing their stories and hearing from Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). That
evening, more than 900 people took their message directly to the ABA at a
banker's ball being held at the ABA convention.

"American families already lost $11 trillion in wealth and every 13 seconds
another home goes into foreclosure," said Denise Dixon, Executive Director of
Action Now. "All while the bank bosses live it up on big bonuses and lavish
parties. The banks must be held accountable for the destruction they've caused
in our communities."

On Monday, FDIC Chair Sheila Bair addressed nearly 1,000 people and reaffirmed
her support for much needed reforms like the Consumer Financial Protection
Agency. She told the crowd she would deliver that message when she addressed
the ABA convention later that morning. Following Bair's remarks, taxpayers
took their message directly to the banks at demonstrations outside of Goldman
Sachs, Wells Fargo and the ABA convention.

Groups participating in the three days of mobilizations include: A New Way
Forward, AFL-CIO, Action Now, Albany Park Neighborhood Council, Alliance to
Develop Power (ADP), Americans for Fairness in Lending, Americans for
Financial Reform, ARISE Chicago, Brighten Park Neighborhood Council, Central
Illinois Organizing Project (CIOP), Center for Community Change (CCC), Change
in Terms, Change to Win, Citizen Action, Chicago Coalition of the Homeless,
Communities United for Action (CUFA), Community Voices Heard (CVH), Contra
Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO), Grassroots
Collaborative, Green Party of Nevada, Fuerza Laboral/Power of Workers,
Illinois Hunger Coalition, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Jobs with
Justice, Gender Just Metanoia Centers, Inc., Michigan People's Action (MPA),
MoveOn, National People's Action, Northside Action for Justice, Northside
POWER, Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition, People Organized for West
Side Renewal (POWER), PUSH Buffalo, Right to the City Alliance, Rights for All
People (RAP), Roomdad Productions, Service Employees International Union
(SEIU), SEIU Illinois State Council, SOUL, South Austin Coalition Community
Council (SACCC), Sunflower Community Action, Syracuse United Neighbors (SUN),
Teach Our Children (TOC), The Grassroots Collaborate, UE, UCLA Undergraduate
Students Association, Workers United, and Working In Neighborhoods (WIN)

SOURCE Service Employees International Union

Andrea Frye, +1-773-559-8078; or Marcus Mrowka of SEIU, +1-202-531-0689