Discover Financial Services
Finance & Banking · Lobbying Client
Discover Financial Services's Federal Lobbying Record
Discover Financial Services's $4.5M in disclosed federal lobbying puts it in the mid-tier of registered filers. Spending in the seven-figure range is common for established trade groups, mid-size corporations, and advocacy organizations that maintain a steady but not aggressive presence on Capitol Hill.
Across the 5-year window from 2020 to 2024, Discover Financial Services's annual disclosed lobbying spend has held roughly steady — $953K at the start versus $913K at the most recent year-end. Year-to-year wobbles inside that range usually reflect timing of legislative cycles rather than a strategic shift.
Discover Financial Services's disclosed lobbying focuses on a narrow 4-issue footprint. A focused issue list usually means the organization concentrates its federal engagement on a small set of bills or rulemakings directly relevant to its core business.
1 of 3 lobbyists reported by Discover Financial Services (33%) disclose prior federal government service. That share is common at established government affairs operations that explicitly hire from agency and committee staff.
Among the named bench, lobbyists with disclosed prior federal service include Howard M. Berman (Former Counsel, Senate Judiciary Committee). The covered-position field on LDA cover sheets captures executive-branch and senior congressional roles held within the prior two years.
Within the Finance & Banking sector, Discover Financial Services ranks #23 of 27 tracked organizations by disclosed lobbying spend. The sector leader is American Bankers Association at $43.0M; the sector average is $11.3M. Discover Financial Services's $4.5M sits 60% below the sector average.
Discover Financial Services's LobbySpend Influence Score of 53/100 (grade C) is the most common grade in the index — it covers organizations with established but moderate federal advocacy programs. The score combines disclosed total spend (40%), issue breadth (30%), and revolving-door connections (30%). A C-grade is typical of mid-size corporations and trade associations with steady quarterly filings on a focused issue set.
Every figure above is sourced from Senate lobbying disclosure filings submitted under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. Per-issue dollar splits and covered-position flags are filer-reported and may be amended after initial submission.
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Annual Lobbying Spend
Policy Issues
Government Entities Contacted
Recent Filings
| Period | Registrant | Issues | Lobbyists | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Oct-Dec | Mehlman Consulting | CSPGOVFIN | 3 | $271K |
| 2024 Jul-Sep | BGR Group | CSPGOVFIN+1 | 1 | $241K |
| 2024 Apr-Jun | Stewart & Stewart | CSPFINBAN | 3 | $208K |
| 2024 Jan-Mar | Tarplin, Downs & Young | FINBAN | 1 | $236K |
| 2023 Oct-Dec | Summit Strategies Government Affairs | CSPBANFIN+1 | 2 | $234K |
| 2023 Jul-Sep | Arnold & Porter | GOVBAN | 2 | $210K |
| 2023 Apr-Jun | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld | GOVBAN | 2 | $213K |
| 2023 Jan-Mar | Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck | CSPFINGOV+1 | 3 | $230K |
Discover Financial Services Lobbying FAQ
Discover Financial Services has spent $4.5M on federal lobbying across 4 policy areas. This includes spending on registered lobbyists and direct government contacts.
Discover Financial Services lobbies on 4 policy issues, including Financial Institutions, Banking, Consumer Issues/Safety, Government Issues. These disclosures are filed quarterly with the Senate Office of Public Records.
Discover Financial Services has an Influence Score of 53/100 (Grade C). This proprietary score is based on total lobby spend (40%), policy issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%).
Discover Financial Services employs 3 registered lobbyists, of whom 1 have revolving door connections, meaning they previously held government positions before becoming lobbyists.
Discover Financial Services has contacted 7 government entities as part of their lobbying activities, including Dept of Transportation, Dept of Housing & Urban Development, Dept of Justice.
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Lobbying data is sourced from quarterly Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings with the Senate Office of Public Records. Influence Scores combine total spend (40%), issue breadth (30%), and revolving door connections (30%). Filings may be amended after initial submission.