New analysis by Intellectia AI, drawing on OpenSecrets data, ranks the top financial sectors investing in lobbying ahead of critical 2025 regulatory decisions on lending, banking, and consumer protection. The report evaluates sectors by spending per client, spending per lobbyist, client-to-lobbyist ratios, and share of former government officials (“revolvers”) in their ranks.
Top Five Lobbying Spenders per Client
- Insurance – $302,911
- Accountants – $234,737
- Commercial Banks – $218,442
- Finance/Credit Companies – $191,596
- Hedge Funds – $134,444
Top 10 Financial Sectors by Lobbying Intensity
| Rank | Sector | Spend/Client ($) | Spend/Lobbyist ($) | Client-to-Lobbyist | Revolvers (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance & Credit Companies | 191,596 | 35,780 | 0.19 | 67.8 |
| 2 | Accountants | 234,737 | 27,362 | 0.12 | 66.3 |
| 3 | Insurance | 302,911 | 64,077 | 0.21 | 61.0 |
| 4 | Commercial Banks | 218,442 | 44,337 | 0.20 | 63.1 |
| 5 | Hedge Funds | 134,444 | 26,889 | 0.20 | 67.8 |
| 6 | Mortgage Bankers & Brokers | 121,617 | 23,692 | 0.19 | 68.8 |
| 7 | Payday Lenders | 118,750 | 24,153 | 0.20 | 67.8 |
| 8 | Securities & Investment | 134,335 | 48,489 | 0.36 | 60.6 |
| 9 | Student Loan Companies | 105,209 | 46,416 | 0.44 | 67.7 |
| 10 | Credit Unions | 148,769 | 31,193 | 0.21 | 48.4 |
Key insights:
- Finance & Credit Companies top the overall ranking by combined metrics, reflecting aggressive lobbying on credit regulations.
- Accountants and Insurance Firms show high per-client spend, tied to corporate tax and insurance policy debates.
- Commercial Banks and Hedge Funds maintain strong Wall Street influence, with significant revolver representation.
“Lobbying in the financial sector isn’t just about dollars spent, it’s about access and timing. The sectors leading this year’s list are those facing regulatory scrutiny or with major policy interests at stake in 2025,” said Fei Chen, Founder & CEO of Intellectia AI.
“The high percentage of ‘revolvers’, especially in private equity and credit sectors, suggests these industries are betting on insider expertise to navigate upcoming legislative changes.”
As lawmakers weigh new consumer protections and credit rules, this data highlights which industries are most actively shaping policy—and underscores the growing role of former officials in private-sector influence campaigns.
