Responding to a request from lawmakers, Treasury official Brian Nelson wrote that state laws that require banks to provide services to certain customers may inhibit banks' ability to comply with federally required anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism laws and sanctions. The statement comes in the aftermath of a new Florida law that prevents banks from denying services to customers because of their political, business or religious affiliations. This follows advocacy efforts by bank trade groups, including NYBA, to federal regulators reiterating the importance of preserving national bank visitorial powers against encroachment by State authorities.