Travillian Next

In this episode of Travillian Next, Zane Smith, Chief Banking Officer at American Bank, discusses the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) industry and stresses banks' need for in-house expertise. He advocates for a shift towards banks assuming responsibility for risk and compliance, rather than relying on middleware providers. Smith also addresses talent needs in the BaaS space, emphasizing strategic planning for growth. He highlights the importance of banks innovating within safety and soundness frameworks, urging a return to basics.

Travillian Host: Keith Daly, Head of Tech & Innovation

Key Takeaways

• Banks need to shift their thinking and take responsibility for risk and compliance in the banking as a service (BaaS) industry.
• In-house expertise is crucial for banks in the BaaS space, from the board level to the analyst level.
• Banks should focus on strategy and planning, considering the impact on their balance sheet, capital, and infrastructure.
• It is important for banks to get back to basics and innovate within the framework of safety and soundness.

Attorney Michael Bell and Past Chairman of the Independent Bankers of America, Brad Bolton, have separately disagreed in the press about their views on credit union purchasing community banks. Bell has been a CU legal advisor on almost every deal announced since 2008. Bolton has been very critical of these transactions as the ICBA believes they have unfair advantages, namely around their tax exemption. In their very first appearance together, Brad and Mike engage in a congenial debate – which uncovered more agreements than disagreements.

We cover hot topics related to these unique mergers, including:

• A deeper dive into the tax exemption “advantage”
• How states are taking their own stances
• CRA requirements
• Cybersecurity risks
• Publicizing deal costs

Join us for the latest episode of Travillian Next, where Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, dives into the hot topic of credit unions acquiring community banks.

In this discussion, Brian sits down with Jeffrey Cardone, Partner and Attorney at Luse Gorman, PC, and Michael Bell, Partner at Honigman LLP, to explore the dynamics of these acquisitions. They shed light on the roles played by all parties involved and the hurdles they encounter along the way.

But that’s not all – they also zoom out to examine the broader landscape of mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector. From succession planning to regulatory challenges, they unpack the complexities driving M&A activity.

Don’t miss out on this deep dive into the future of banking mergers!

• Patrick Cooney, Lead GRC Search Consultant Travillian
• Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory at Travillian

• Konrad Alt, Co-Founder of Klaros Group
• Michele Alt, Co-Founder of Klaros Group

Travillian Next is excited to announce our latest episode with Klaros Group’s Co-Founders, Konrad and Michele Alt, for an in-depth discussion on the regulatory landscape anticipated for 2024 within banking, fintech, and their governing boards. With extensive expertise in the financial services sector as legal professionals, regulators, advisors, and more, Konrad and Michele bring a wealth of knowledge to the table.

Travillian hosts Patrick Cooney, Lead GRC Search Consultant, and Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory, come together with Konrad and Michele to delve into a range of topics within their expertise. These include future state regulatory awareness, talent considerations across all GRC functionalities, assessing Board composition, and understanding the dynamics of fintech-bank partnerships.

Guests:

In the latest Travillian Next episode, Travillian hosts Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech, and Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory, sat down with Ted Rosinus, Managing Director at Stephens for a thought-provoking discussion. Ted shares M&A insights from the intersection of investment banking and his banking background. Explore the latest deal trends, outlooks, M&A process, and the strategic utilization of M&A for a competitive edge. Gain valuable perspectives on talent strategies, succession planning, and PE trends through the M&A Lens.

3:56 Top Priorities for Banks in M&A

7:24 Outlook for Banking M&A in 2024 and Beyond

10:55 Incorporating Capital Market Capabilities in M&A

13:30 Impact of M&A on Talent Strategy

22:26 Private Equity Investments

28:45 Current Concerns of Community Bank Boards

30:58 Factors Affecting the Length of the M&A Process

33:45 Favorite Movie

In this Travillian Next episode, Keith Daly, Principal – Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Paul Davis, Director of Market Intelligence at Strategic Resource Management and Founder/CEO of the Bank Slate LLC. Paul has decades of experience analyzing and studying trends in community banking and his insights are invaluable for banking and fintech executives across the country. Keith and Paul discuss the year that was and try to predict the coming challenges and opportunities for banks and their tech partners in 2024.

Introducing the latest episode of Travillian Next, featuring Dimitris Malisianos, Principal – Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, and Simone Lagomarsino, President and CEO at Luther Burbank Savings Bank. Acquire invaluable perspectives into Simone's journey to leadership and explore the intricacies of Luther Burbank Savings Bank's Success story. At Luther Burbank Savings Bank, success is driven by people. The bank is committed to delivering a straightforward, human-centered banking experience through genuine relationships built on trust, respect, and personalized expertise. Introduction of Simone Lagomarsino 01:00 - 17:00 Culture: 17:00 - 20:32 Talent 21:27 - 31:49 Diversity and Inclusion: 30:54-35:44 California Banking 35:44 - 41:00 Insights on the current economic landscape and community banking: 41:00 - 50:05

In our latest Travillian Next episode, Charles Potts, EVP and Chief Innovation Officer at ICBA, joined our host, Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, , for a lively chat and some entertaining banter about tech's impact on banking efficiency.

This was a fun one with tons of "bank geek" banter, talk of flying cars and the hard-hitting facts! Use the guide below to read more about the topics discussed or use the time stamps next to the header to jump to which part interests you most.

(02:13) Technology's Role in Banking Efficiency

Brian and Charles dove into the tech-driven evolution of banking operations. Charles stressed tech isn't about replacing bank talent but supercharging their skills. It's about changing the hiring game and upgrading operations. Brian shared examples of simple bots being used to automate tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more valuable work. Charles added that technology allows sales process to handle more volume, enabling officers to see more prospects and loans. Bottom line: Max out tech for max efficiency in banking ops.

(10:34) Community Banks Embracing Technology

Charles and Brian dug into tech's pandemic impact on banks. Charles highlighted a shift from manual labor to the adoption of RPA and machine learning, revolutionizing loan processing efficiency. Brian connected the dots, emphasizing the direct link between streamlined back-office operations and heightened frontline productivity. Their conversation featured success stories from Kimberly Kirk, Chief Operations Officer, Queensborough National Bank and Jay Tuli, President & Director, Leader Bank.

(15:10) Innovation and Succession Planning in Banks

Brian and Charles discussed the pivotal connection between innovation and succession planning in banks, expressing concerns about potential talent loss like Kim and Jake, fearing a hit to innovative vision. They emphasized the need for a clear leader successor and integrating innovation into the organization's culture beyond a specific department, recognizing the importance of attracting younger, innovation-minded talent. Charles illustrated this with an example of creatively combining existing products and services for improved outcomes.

(22:35) Data's Rising Impact on Banking

Charles emphasized the increasing importance of data in the banking industry, envisioning a future where hiring priorities will favor those proficient in data analysis and strategic alignment. He noted universities' response to this trend by expanding their data analytics curricula. In response to Brian's query about potential paths to the CEO role, Charles confirmed that positions like Chief Technology Officer or Chief Data Officer could indeed pave the way. Emphasizing the critical role of data in banking success, Charles acknowledged the challenges of data volume, speed, and precision. He advocated for enhanced data analytics tools and a stronger strategic approach to boost operational efficiency. Brian agreed, adding that future industry leaders will likely emerge from diverse backgrounds and skillsets.

Discover insights from industry expert Matt Resch, Founder of RT Partners, in our latest Travillian Next conversation with host Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian.

Answers to key banking questions, including:

• Talent: What does the Banking Executive of the Future look like?
• M&A Dynamics: What are the consolidation trends now and in the near future?
• Balance Sheet Strategies: How can banks think proactively to set themselves up for success? 
• Earnings Outlook: What are the early takeaways from Q3 bank performance?

Learn about the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the banking sector. Don't miss this engaging conversation!

During a discussion with Michael Denis, Head of Private Capital Group at Cushman & Wakefield, Mark Hesser, President & CEO of Pinnacle Bancorp, which has $18.5 billion in assets, and Jack Hopkins, the President & CEO of CorTrust Bank, which has $1.6 billion in assets, explored important issues in the world of commercial real estate. Their goal was to discover valuable insights on today's most urgent topics in this field.

In this exchange, the bank CEOs held a meaningful dialogue with Michael Denis, the Head of Private Capital Group at Cushman & Wakefield. Together, they posed pertinent questions that cut to the heart of latest trends in Commercial Real Estate, spanning various sectors such as Office, Retail, Multi-Family, and Industrial, while also diving into regional dynamics. Cushman & Wakefield, a leading authority in the field, generously shared valuable insights. These included perspectives on vacancy rates, innovative ways to repurpose vacant properties, cap rates, the challenges posed by rising construction costs, and a host of other crucial factors that are currently shaping the CRE landscape.

Chapter Index

00:41 | Introduction of panelists

02:34 | Office Sector National Trends and Fundamentals

09:42 | Retail Sector trends

30:02 | Multi-Family National Trends and Fundamentals

44:48 | Industrial Trends

49:23 | General CRE Trends Q/A

54:30 | CEO Talent Views

Jill Castilla, President and CEO at Citizens Bank of Edmond ($375M in Assets / Edmond, OK) is a Veteran, military mom and military spouse.  Besides her role as CEO at a flourishing community bank, she also is an entrepreneur at heart and saw a gap in the marketplace providing banking products and services to new enlistments in our military.

But how to go from idea to execution? This is where Jeffery Kendall, Chairman and CEO at Nymbus enters the story. The technology products and teams at Nymbus partnered with Jill and her teams to launch Roger, a digital bank with a mission that will help in many ways, including new deposits at Citizens Bank, which is critical in this market.

Keith Daly, Principal – Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Jill and Jeffery to discuss the road to Roger and advice for other community bank CEOs looking to expand into new markets digitally.

Exploring the Resilience of Community Banks Amid Macroeconomic Pressures we had an enlightening discourse with ICBA Panelists. We welcomed ICBA (Independent Community Bankers of America) - Ardent Advocates for Community Banks for a Perspectives-Sharing Session.

Brad Bolton, President & CEO of Community Spirit Bank, Sarah Getzlaff, CEO of Security First Bank of North Dakota and Jim Sills, President & CEO of Mechanics and Farmers Bank exchanged their perspectives on the evolving trends in deposit and lending pricing, regulations, GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance), cybersecurity, M&A and initiatives related to talent development.

Travillian Hosts: Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory, Dale Henderson, Principal Banking & Fintech, Patrick Cooney, GRC Search Lead and Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech

With an incredibly diverse past in investment banking, private equity, and bank regulation, InterBank’s President and COO, C.K. Lee, is one of the industry’s most well-rounded executives. He joined InterBank three years ago, which has a distinct strategy around loan pricing and funding which is so simple yet so atypical in the bank space.

In an expansive dialogue, Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, asked Lee about his own career trajectory, what it’s like to land on Main St. from Wall St., how he manages his talent and succession planning, his thoughts on M&A, and his favorite movie.

01:02 | C.K. Lee's Transition from Wall Street to Main Street

04:31 | About InterBank & It's Process (Adjustable Rate Loans)

08:05 | What Does the Funding Look Like?

11:33 | Talent

16:52 | How Have C.K. Lee & InterBank Stayed Ahead in the Talent & Succession Planning Game?

22:02 | M&A

30:21 | C.K. Lee's Take on M&A & Where Its Headed

33:44 | Favorite Movie!

It’s been a while since our last additions, but we are thrilled to introduce three new visionary banks to the Travillian Tech-Forward Bank Index by hosting an engaging group discussion with a C-level executive from each bank. These institutions epitomize the spirit of innovation and stand poised to be meaningful participants in an era of banking that is reshaping existing paradigms.

Chris Black, President & CEO of Thread Bank, Wade Peery, Chief Innovations Officer of FirstBank in TN, and Jimmy Stallings, President of Payments of Stride Bank shared their distinctive innovation journeys and vision for their banks, elaborated on talent strategies within an innovative and digital culture, described how they foresee success in bank-fintech collaborations, and even filled us in on their favorite movies of all time.

Travillian Hosts: Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech, and Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory.

Also, on the Index page, click each bank’s drop down to see a video from these gentleman providing a brief summary of their bank.

Join Keith Daly, Principal – Banking & Fintech Search, at Travillian, as he hosts a dynamic discussion featuring industry experts Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, and Micah Davis, Chief Marketing Officer at Live Oak Bank. Together, they delve into the strategies necessary to compete in the relentless battle for deposits and customer retention.

Discover how Fintel Connect's cutting-edge solutions assist clients like Live Oak Bank in leveraging their marketing efforts. Learn some useful techniques and tips for reaching new potential customers in a crowded digital landscape. Evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing plan and gain insights into the crucial analytics required to drive and track success.

If you are ready to stay ahead in the ever-changing world of banking marketing, look no further than the latest Travillian Next chat. Don't miss this opportunity to unravel the future of marketing for community banks and credit unions.

Step into the world of banking, where the pursuit of talent consumes the thoughts of all. It's a constant quest to find exceptional individuals, to hold onto those vital team members, and to nurture the rise of future leaders. In the heart of North Dakota, at Choice Bank, Samantha Berg serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer, tackling these substantial challenges with unwavering confidence and an innovative approach.

Join us on this episode of Travillian Next as Berg takes us on a journey through Choice Bank's triumph in the talent war, revealing their secret weapon—an unwavering embrace of "uncomfortability" in their culture and an audacious hiring process that defies the boundaries of their size.

In this conversation, Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, and Berg delve into the ever-shifting landscape of hiring trends, exploring the coveted skill sets that define the very essence of hot talent.

In his Travillian Next debut, Dimitris Malisianos, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search, engages with two recognized influencers and advocates of payments, innovation, and fintech: Jason Mikula, Publisher of Fintech Business Weekly and Managing Director of 312 Global Strategies BV and Panagiotis Kriaris, Commercial Director, and Head of Business Development at Unzer.

Their discussion focuses primarily on cross-border payments, which are essential in international trade, investments, and remittance. Although there are advancements being made, the pace of progress varies depending on the country. Additionally, further challenges arise around regulation, risk management, fees, currency fluctuations, and processing time.

Kriaris and Mikula also discuss Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and how they may change the traditional way of banking to better enable real-time transactions worldwide, eliminating delays, fees and intermediate banks involved.

Alexander Rolfe, a former FDIC Official and current Managing Director at JCSmithAdvisors, recently joined Travillian’s Head of Banking & Fintech, Brian Love, and Head of Strategic Advisory, Indra Elangovan, to discuss the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. Drawing on his experience as a bank examiner, Rolfe provides valuable insights into the regulatory environment and the risk landscape of banking, as well as potential impacts on banks from FDIC insurance and deposit flows. He also offers his thoughts on the future talent and skill requirements for the banking industry.

Continuing with Travillian Next's video series highlighting the nation’s highest-valued publicly traded banks, Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, and Joe Fenech, Chief Investment Officer at GenOpp Capital Management, speak to Stock Yards Bank & Trust CEO, Ja Hillebrand and Lake City Bank CEO, David Findlay.

Recorded just prior to recent events impacting the banking industry, this insightful discussion touches on the consistent, disciplined approach employed by each bank, enabling them to thrive through the business and economic cycle. As our nation’s banks navigate through an increasingly challenging operating environment, this is a timely discussion with two of the sector’s very best and most well-respected operators.

To watch part one with Community Bank System’s Mark Tryniski and ServisFirst Bancshares’ Tom Broughton, please click here.

Chapters:

00:16 | Introduction

16:01 | Entrenchment in markets; Metro vs. Non-Metro Markets

32:56 | Culture / Talent

48:22 | Liquidity 

52:08 | Asset Quality 

1:05:58 | Where is Banking Headed/Competitors You Respect

1:11:01 | Conclusion

With the credible perspective very few possess, Hernan Hernandez sheds light on this past weekend’s wild events which shockingly led to Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failing. Joined by Travillian hosts, Brian Love and Indra Elangovan, Hernan tries to piece together what the FDIC may have missed and gives gives a behind-the-scenes view of the fair auction, bidding process and how this event may change banking sector fundamentals like deposit flows and liquidity risks.  Also tune in to hear Hernan’s hot takes on potential changes to the FDIC’s insurance policy.

Video Index

0:20 | Intro and What Was Missed

12:09 | Auction Process/Changes to Banking Fundamentals

14:30 | Potential Changes to FDIC’s Insurance Policy

Hernan Hernandez - Background Snapshot:

Hernan started at the FDIC in Los Angeles, CA in 1990 as a Commissioned Bank Examiner – Capital Markets Specialist, primarily monitoring West Coast banks of $100M to $50B in assets. He then joined Comerica Bancorp, as First Vice President and Manager of Finance for the bank’s Western Division. There, he managed a 15-person staff in charge of budgeting, strategic planning, forecasting earnings, measuring and analyzing divisional performance, asset/liability hedging strategies, and customer profitability management. Hernan was the key strategic analyst in the Comerica/Imperial merger that recognized $785 million gain on the $1.3 billion transaction (2.4x TBV). He moved to City National Bank, Los Angeles, CA, in 2004 as Senior Vice President and Manager – Financial Planning, Corporate Development, Strategy and Special Projects, directly reporting to the CEO and Board of Directors. Hernan was an important part of the executive strategic team that grew the bank from $12 billion to over $90 billion. He managed the team in charge of strategy and merger and acquisitions (including equity partnerships and direct investments in fintech ventures) and led the Strategic Project Management Group which consists of 23 colleagues managing regulatory, efficiency and productivity projects throughout the organization. Hernan is now an FIG investment banker, primarily covering community and regional banks on the West Coast.

Keith Daly, Principal of Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sat down with Damon Magnuski, Founder and CEO of Acceleron Bank, to delve deeper into these topics. Acceleron Bank is a digital firm that partners with community banks and credit unions to offer FX payment services, which can help turn losses into a profit-generating service while keeping customers engaged with their local financial institutions. As business becomes even more global, community banks and credit unions need a way to produce revenue from international transactions and Damon discusses the potential of new streams of income.

Join Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, as he sits down with two industry leaders, Adam Watts, President & COO at Save and Chris Rigoni, Senior Managing Director, Head of Enterprise Payments, BaaS Sales & Implementation at Webster Bank, to explore why their partnership has been flourishing and to gain valuable insights on how to navigate the complex world of bank-fintech partnerships.

Through their extensive experience in the industry, Adam and Chris highlight the importance of clear communication, shared values, and foundational principles to build a successful partnership that benefits both parties. Their advice is invaluable for fellow fintechs and banks looking to embark on a journey together and achieve mutual success in the competitive world of banking and fintech.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn from the best in the industry! Join Keith, Adam, and Chris in this thought-provoking conversation on the critical elements of successful bank-fintech partnerships.

SmartBank's exceptional track record as a premier financial institution for over a decade has positioned it as an exemplary model for community banks seeking to nurture and invest in their own workforce. With a strong focus on talent development and employee retention, SmartBank has implemented a variety of internal mentorship and leadership initiatives to develop and empower emerging leaders. Further, their unique focus on acquisitive and organic growth in the southeast (namely their home state of Tennessee) has proven quite successful.

Brian Love, Head of Banking and Fintech at Travillian, joined SmartBank's Billy Carroll, President & Chief Executive Officer and Nate Strall, Director of Strategy & Corporate Development, for an insightful conversation about SmartBank and how they plan to move forward with a clear strategy and a talented team.

Key topics discussed:

• Billy and Nate’s Approach to Recruitment, Retention, and Employee Development
• Impact of M&A on SmartBank's Growth Strategy
• Current Outlook on the Market and Credit

Nate Mittag and Frank Sorrentino, Managing Directors of FIG at Stephens, joined Brian Love, Head of Banking and Fintech at Travillian, in a conversation about the state of the community banking space in 2023. Economic uncertainties around AOCI, credit and equity have altered some banks’ strategies but Nate and Frank share their thinking on opportunities for banks to plant seeds, think introspectively, and stand out among their peers. The discussion also covers timely topics like M&A, capital raising, share repurchases, tech investments and talent.

Travillian is excited to welcome industry-veteran Tom Bell, CEO of Maast, to discuss the payments ecosystem in a new episode of Travillian Next. Bell’s accomplished career spans decades and includes influential roles like EVP, Corporate Strategy at First Data and CEO of Bank of America’s Merchant Services division. Bell introduces Maast and how the Synovus Bank-backed “Money-as-a-Service” initiative marks a new, innovative player in embedded finance. We also get Bell’s take on what an idea like Maast takes from a talent, skillset, and strategy perspective.

Two of the most well-respected CEO’s in the banking industry – Community Bank System’s Mark Tryniski and ServisFirst Bancshares’ Tom Broughton – join Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, and Joe Fenech, Managing Principal of SMBT Consulting, LLC, for an insightful discussion on the approach employed by each bank on their path to success and other observable traits of the nation’s highest valued public banks.

This wide-ranging conversation touched on a number of topics, including the value of core funding, operating in metro vs. non-metro markets, the importance of maintaining discipline, thoughts on M&A, culture, the “sweet spot” for asset size, fintech, and prognostications for the upcoming year.

With the banking industry navigating through a challenging operating environment, this is a timely discussion with two of the industry’s best operators.

0:00 - 3:47 Introduction of Webinar

3:47 - 9:14 Introduction of CEO’s & Companies

9:14 - 16:00 Core Funding Importance/Metro vs. Non-Metro Markets:

16:00 - 19:15 Importance of Discipline

9:15 - 29:00 M&A Strategy

29:00 - 35:45 Culture/Management

35:45 - 39:30 Missteps Along the Way

39:30 - 42:24 SFBS and CBU: More Alike Than Different?

42:24 - 53:48 $10 Bil. Asset Threshold; Optimal Size

53:48 - 1:01:35 Fintech

1:01:35 - 1:07:03 Prognostications for 2023

1:07:03 - 1:07:29 Conclusion

Infinant, a Charlotte, N.C.-based technology company, offers a unique platform that is purpose-built for banks trying to pivot into BaaS. Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, sat down with Sarah Howell, SVP Partner Programs at Infinant, to discuss their platform and other BaaS-related topics including:

• A Strategy for Pivoting to BaaS
• Risk & Regulatory Scrutiny
• Talent Need for Embedded Finance
• Recent Layoffs in the Industry

Brian Love, Head of Banking and Fintech at Travillian, is joined by Todd Weiden, Principal and Founder of Saltee Co. Weiden has nearly 20 years of experience as a rising star, most recently as Synovus' Director of Strategic and Business Transformation and previously as SunTrust's EVP of Branch Transformation. Todd recently established his consulting firm, Saltee Co, “that exists to BRING TO LIFE ideas + strategies that will permeate + preserve your organization, driving an incredible experience + growth for your team.”

Matthew Smith is a community banker at heart, having spent his entire career working in various high-level roles at community banks including Happy State Bank and First United Bank. Matthew is also a big fan of digital transformation, BaaS, Data Analytics, Embedded Finance,  and advanced technology, so when the opportunity came along for his “dream job” of working with Initiatives for Independent Banks Association of Texas (IBAT) to assist community banks evolve in the digital era, he jumped at the chance.

Through partnerships with FedFis, Bankers helping Bankers, and other channels, Matthew is helping educate and advise community banks not only in Texas but across the nation. Keith Daly, Director – Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian sits down with Matthew to discuss his dedication to community banks and what’s next for IBAT as we quickly head towards 2023.

Keith Daly, Director – Banking & Fintech at Travillian is joined by Coastal Financial Corporation’s President, Curt Queyrouze and Chief Risk Officer, Andrew Stines. As a leader & pioneer in BaaS with over 30 fintech partnerships, Coastal is at the forefront of innovation and technology advancements. With this success comes more scrutiny from the regulators, so it is essential to have top talent in the risk, audit, and compliance departments. Curt and Andrew discuss the critical attributes and skill sets for members of the team to succeed in a fast-changing industry.

Tune into our latest video where The Fintech Cowboys, Dave Mayo and Tanner Mayo, are lassoed into a compelling discussion with Travillian’s Keith Daly and Brian Love.  They discussed:

• The Bankers Helping Bankers (BHB) BaaS Association, launched by FedFis & Travillian earlier this year.
• Talent needed at Tech-Forward banks to compete and grow in the current market
• The Fintech Roundup Conference hosted by FedFis in early November

On Thursday, July 7th, Travillian had the opportunity to speak with a trio of bank executives, each at different stages of their tech-forward journey. In a nod to their innovation accomplishments, Communities First Financial Corporation and Central Payments are also members of the Travillian NEXT Tech Forward Bank Index. And spoiler alert, it’s very likely First Fed will also join this select group in the near future.

Hosts Brian Love, Travillian’s Head of Banking & Fintech, and Joe Fenech, Chief Investment Officer at GenOpp Capital Management, led a stimulating discussion with First Fed President and CEO Matt Deines, Communities First Financial Corporation President and CEO Steven Miller, and Central Payments President and Founder Trent Sorbe on the evolution of becoming a tech-forward bank and what it means for the bottom line.

John Allison, Chairman and CEO of Home Bancshares, is one of the great value creators in the bank sector over the past 3+ decades. Through the lens of his experience, Mr. Allison speaks to the issues confronting the banking sector today and discusses with our moderators the key attributes that have driven the success of Home Bancshares, one of the nation’s top-performing and highest valued publicly traded banks. See below for an index, outlining the topics discussed by our moderators, Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, and Joe Fenech, Chief Investment Officer at GenOpp Capital Management, and our guest, Mr. John Allison.

Start to 3:15: Introduction

3:15 – 9:00: The Makings of a Successful M&A Transaction

9:00 – 13:17: Growing Geographic Markets Through M&A

13:17 – 16:33: The Merits of Private vs. Public M&A Transactions

16:33 – 20:04: The Makings of a Successful M&A Transaction

20:04 – 25:00: Is The Current Macro Backdrop An Opportunity Or A Time To Be Cautious?

25:00 – 28:55: The Changing Banking Landscape

28:55 – 33:04: The Importance of Culture

33:04 – 35:36: M&A Transactions In Challenging Market Environments

35:36 – 40:17: Are Credit Fears For Banks Overblown?

40:17 – 43:17: What Are The Opportunities From Here?

43:17 – 47:16: Building In A Strong Market

47:16 – End: Who Do You Admire?