FAP, April 22 (FAP)-- due to concerns about the spread of the banking crisis, the 32 largest banks and four industry groups in the United States spent a total of $22 million to influence members of Congress in the first quarter of 2023, up from $18.4 million in the same period last year and an increase of 19.3 percent over the same period last year. Regional banks, including PNC Financial Services Group, Key Corp and Citizens Financial, have seen the biggest increases in lobbying fees. While banking lobbying fees may fluctuate due to a variety of factors, the general rise in lobbying fees in the first quarter of this year suggests that US banks have responded to the possibility of greater government regulation in the future. (Bloomberg)