(FORTUNE Magazine) – BANK LOBBYISTS sometimes think that things haven't changed much in Washington since Andrew Jackson told a visiting delegation of bankers in 1832: ''You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out.'' In 1985 bankers pressed Congress for more freedom to expand across state lines and into new kinds of business, such as underwriting and insurance. They struck out. Congressmen have become more concerned with the safety of U.S. banking than with its structure. The near failure of Chicago's Continental Illinois National Bank in 1984 threatened to wreck the banking system. That was followed by thrift crises in Ohio and Maryland that produced front-page pictures reminiscent of the Depression: unpaid depositors standing in long lines to withdraw money. Small banks toppled at a record rate (more than 100 this year alone). In that atmosphere, bank lobbyists were about as welcome on Capitol Hill as at a farm auction. Banking's legislative agenda also suffered from the Reagan Administration's neglect. Treasury Department support for a bill to give banks new powers in the securities and insurance businesses withered in 1985 after James A. Baker III took over as Secretary. After sailing through the Senate in 1984, the bill was never taken up in the House. The banking lobby was in disarray for much of the year. The chief of staff at the American Bankers Association retired and the head lobbyist resigned. As the leadership reshuffled, a dispute smoldered between small banks and large over the ABA's position on interstate banking. In February the ABA endorsed a ''trigger'' date, when the present scheme of regional compacts, with interstate deals allowed only among groups of consenting states, would be superseded by national interstate banking. In September little banks forced the ABA's new leadership to back off the trigger. Lobbyists say the change hurt the industry with lawmakers who, respectful of the 13,000-member ABA, had agreed to go along with the trigger date. Banks also stand to get bruised by tax reform. Two years ago the ABA whipped up voter fury to repeal a tax law that would have required banks to withhold taxes on the interest and dividend income they pay depositors. Bags of mail glutted Capitol Hill offices, forcing congressional and Administration leaders to make an embarrassing about-face. Some lobbyists say the industry is paying for that victory. ''People don't like to get beat and they didn't forget,'' says Donald Rogers of the Association of Bank Holding Companies. More bad news for bankers is coming. Six consumer groups have lobbyists at work on banking issues. The consumer groups are pushing bills that would cap credit card rates, limit the time banks can hold checks before paying out money, and force bankers to offer free accounts to low-income depositors. All this leads some lobbyists to talk of damage control. If bankers can get through next year with no harmful new bank bill, they might forgo the legislation they want and declare victory.