This week, Travillian headed to Chicago for The 2026 Deposit Conference, and our usual host found himself on the other side of the mic. Between leading a panel on the rise of the Chief Deposit Officer and catching up with industry leaders, Brian Love, our Head of Banking & Fintech, slipped backstage for an interview with Caleb Stevens of SouthState Bank to answer the questions for once.
Your Deposits Have Commitment Issues: The Economy’s Humming, So Why Is Money Walking Out the Door?
Bank deposits are getting harder to keep, even with the economy humming. Nationwide’s Mark Hackett and Wolf & Company’s Jeff Marsico zoom out on rates, AI, private credit, M&A, and the growing fight for customers’ money…
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The CISO Conversation: When You Need One, What to Look For, and How to Structure the Role
Chris Bedel and Cyrene Wilke on security leadership at a community bank, and how to tell whether yours needs a full-time CISO, a fractional partner, or something else…
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How CNB Bank Built a New Growth Engine by Listening to Women Entrepreneurs: Mary Kate Loftus, President, Impressia Connect, CNB Bank
The gap hiding in a commercial portfolio, fertility financing as a bank product, and relationships that outlasted self-service — inside Impressia Connect…
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What 2Q Bank Tech Earnings Say About AI, IT Spending, and Efficiency
Fraud spend with measurable ROI, AI that’s only as good as your data, and an efficiency push that isn’t AI-driven yet — inside 2Q bank tech earnings…
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The Latest
What Travillian’s Placements Reveal About the Future of Bank Leadership: A Note from Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech
What do this year’s banking and fintech executive placements have in common? Despite different titles, markets, and business models, they’re all centered on one goal: building leadership teams ready for the future…
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What Travillian’s Placements Reveal About the Future of Bank Leadership: A Note from Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech
What do this year’s banking and fintech executive placements have in common? Despite different titles, markets, and business models, they’re all centered on one goal: building leadership teams ready for the future…
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A Retirement Tsunami? What CEO Age Signals About Succession
Half of major bank CEOs are now over 65. Is a “retirement tsunami” about to hit executive leadership, or is there more to the succession story? We dig into the data behind CEO age, tenure, and M&A…
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A Retirement Tsunami? What CEO Age Signals About Succession
Half of major bank CEOs are now over 65. Is a “retirement tsunami” about to hit executive leadership, or is there more to the succession story? We dig into the data behind CEO age, tenure, and M&A…
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Why Community Banks Win the Loan But Lose the Deposits
Community banks dominate small business lending but keep losing deposits to megabanks. The breakdown starts with business account opening — a process most banks can’t offer end-to-end. Here’s why, and how they can fight back for deposits.
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Why Community Banks Win the Loan But Lose the Deposits
Community banks dominate small business lending but keep losing deposits to megabanks. The breakdown starts with business account opening — a process most banks can’t offer end-to-end. Here’s why, and how they can fight back for deposits.
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Playing the Hits! A Roundtable Discussion with Bridgewater Bank’s Joe Chybowski, AllianceBernstein’s Michael Howard, and Performance Trust’s Matt Shields
Performance Trust’s Matt Shields, AllianceBernstein’s Michael Howard, and Bridgewater Bank’s Joe Chybowski on why capital is flowing again and what separates the banks that can capitalize on it…
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Playing the Hits! A Roundtable Discussion with Bridgewater Bank’s Joe Chybowski, AllianceBernstein’s Michael Howard, and Performance Trust’s Matt Shields
Performance Trust’s Matt Shields, AllianceBernstein’s Michael Howard, and Bridgewater Bank’s Joe Chybowski on why capital is flowing again and what separates the banks that can capitalize on it…
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Fighting to Stay Independent: How 4 Bank CEOs Are Defending Community Banking
Four bank CEOs on what it really takes to stay independent — from First Mid’s disciplined M&A and Rhinebeck’s second-step conversion to Valley National and WaFd’s public case against too-big-to-fail…
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Fighting to Stay Independent: How 4 Bank CEOs Are Defending Community Banking
Four bank CEOs on what it really takes to stay independent — from First Mid’s disciplined M&A and Rhinebeck’s second-step conversion to Valley National and WaFd’s public case against too-big-to-fail…
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Community Banking’s Stablecoin Moment: Why Now Is the Time to Act
Stablecore’s Alex Treece and Bank of Utah’s Branden Hansen on why now is the moment for community banks to act on stablecoins, from the GENIUS Act to new use cases, deposit risk, and the race with fintechs…
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Community Banking’s Stablecoin Moment: Why Now Is the Time to Act
Stablecore’s Alex Treece and Bank of Utah’s Branden Hansen on why now is the moment for community banks to act on stablecoins, from the GENIUS Act to new use cases, deposit risk, and the race with fintechs…
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What’s Changing in Bank Compliance, From Regulatory Oversight to AI: Ian Moloney, Chief Policy Officer at AFC
American Fintech Council’s chief policy officer on what’s changing for bank compliance teams, from reputation risk leaving the exam handbooks to where AI now fits into supervision…
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What’s Changing in Bank Compliance, From Regulatory Oversight to AI: Ian Moloney, Chief Policy Officer at AFC
American Fintech Council’s chief policy officer on what’s changing for bank compliance teams, from reputation risk leaving the exam handbooks to where AI now fits into supervision…
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The Bank Failure That Sent a Ripple Through American Banking: Steve Plunk’s Lessons from Penn Square
The OCC examiner at the center of the Penn Square collapse on the one balance-sheet line that unraveled it all, and the credit discipline that still separates strong banks from fragile ones…
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The Bank Failure That Sent a Ripple Through American Banking: Steve Plunk’s Lessons from Penn Square
The OCC examiner at the center of the Penn Square collapse on the one balance-sheet line that unraveled it all, and the credit discipline that still separates strong banks from fragile ones…
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Travillian’s Conference Crawl: What Amber & Brian Heard at Finovate, D.A. Davidson, Alloy Labs, and S&P Global
An honest, occasionally goofy recap from Travillian’s Amber Buker and Brian Love on what May’s biggest banking and fintech conferences revealed about talent, stablecoin, M&A, and the road ahead…
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Travillian’s Conference Crawl: What Amber & Brian Heard at Finovate, D.A. Davidson, Alloy Labs, and S&P Global
An honest, occasionally goofy recap from Travillian’s Amber Buker and Brian Love on what May’s biggest banking and fintech conferences revealed about talent, stablecoin, M&A, and the road ahead…
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CEO Matthew Smith on Building Rhinebeck Bank’s Next 160 Years
Rhinebeck Bank CEO Matthew Smith on Community Banking, Open Architecture, and the Next 160 Years In this episode of Travillian…
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CEO Matthew Smith on Building Rhinebeck Bank’s Next 160 Years
Rhinebeck Bank CEO Matthew Smith on Community Banking, Open Architecture, and the Next 160 Years In this episode of Travillian…
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Travillian’s Amber Buker Heads to S&P Global’s Community Bankers Conference: Nichols, LeBlanc, and Vansia on Stablecoin, Ownership, and the Talent Stack
Each spring, bank and fintech professionals take to the road for a whirlwind tour of the conference circuit, and this…
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Travillian’s Amber Buker Heads to S&P Global’s Community Bankers Conference: Nichols, LeBlanc, and Vansia on Stablecoin, Ownership, and the Talent Stack
Each spring, bank and fintech professionals take to the road for a whirlwind tour of the conference circuit, and this…
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“We Don’t Carry Any Dead Weight” — Inside Five Star Bank’s Financial Engine with CFO Heather Luck (Part 2)
CFO Heather Luck, breaks down how one of California’s fastest-growing community banks keeps its efficiency ratio in the low 40s while spending big on people, tech, and branches…
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“We Don’t Carry Any Dead Weight” — Inside Five Star Bank’s Financial Engine with CFO Heather Luck (Part 2)
CFO Heather Luck, breaks down how one of California’s fastest-growing community banks keeps its efficiency ratio in the low 40s while spending big on people, tech, and branches…
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Why Comp Data Alone Won’t Win Your Next Executive Hire
Many community banks rely on comp data as a guidepost, but it rarely reflects the realities of the hire in front of them. Brian Love breaks it all down…
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Why Comp Data Alone Won’t Win Your Next Executive Hire
Many community banks rely on comp data as a guidepost, but it rarely reflects the realities of the hire in front of them. Brian Love breaks it all down…
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Banking the Nation: Huntington Bank Executives on the $26B Federal Contracting Opportunity in Indian Country
From dismantling misconceptions about tribal creditworthiness and sovereignty to uncovering a $26 billion federal contracting ecosystem most bankers have never heard of…
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Banking the Nation: Huntington Bank Executives on the $26B Federal Contracting Opportunity in Indian Country
From dismantling misconceptions about tribal creditworthiness and sovereignty to uncovering a $26 billion federal contracting ecosystem most bankers have never heard of…
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Fight Like Heck to Stay Independent: How First Mid Bank & Trust Built a $9 Billion Community Banking Powerhouse
How First Mid Bank & Trust scaled to $9 billion by pairing disciplined M&A, long-term relationships, and a leadership strategy built for independence…
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Fight Like Heck to Stay Independent: How First Mid Bank & Trust Built a $9 Billion Community Banking Powerhouse
How First Mid Bank & Trust scaled to $9 billion by pairing disciplined M&A, long-term relationships, and a leadership strategy built for independence…
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What Sets the Industry’s Highest-Valued Banks Apart | Deposits, Discipline, and Differentiation
A closer look at why some banks command premium valuations, and how strategy, not just profitability, separates them from the pack…
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What Sets the Industry’s Highest-Valued Banks Apart | Deposits, Discipline, and Differentiation
A closer look at why some banks command premium valuations, and how strategy, not just profitability, separates them from the pack…
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Cannabis Banking and the Boardroom: What Bank Directors Need to Know Before Entering the Industry
What Should Bank Boards Know Before Banking Cannabis? More than a decade into state‑level legalization, federal policy remains stuck in neutral, forcing institutions…
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Cannabis Banking and the Boardroom: What Bank Directors Need to Know Before Entering the Industry
What Should Bank Boards Know Before Banking Cannabis? More than a decade into state‑level legalization, federal policy remains stuck in neutral, forcing institutions…
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How Community Banks Can Build Stronger and More Diverse Bank Boards — Jennifer Docherty, Founder of Bank on Women
Jennifer Docherty of Bank on Women breaks down the structural dynamics that shape how directors are recruited, the research behind why reaching…
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How Community Banks Can Build Stronger and More Diverse Bank Boards — Jennifer Docherty, Founder of Bank on Women
Jennifer Docherty of Bank on Women breaks down the structural dynamics that shape how directors are recruited, the research behind why reaching…
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Winning the War for Talent: Why Compensation Strategy Matters More Than Ever
As competition for producers intensifies, Mike Higgins breaks down the shift away from bonus “parades” and toward a “Bank of One” model…
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Winning the War for Talent: Why Compensation Strategy Matters More Than Ever
As competition for producers intensifies, Mike Higgins breaks down the shift away from bonus “parades” and toward a “Bank of One” model…
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Beyond the Hype: Stephens’ Chuck Nabhan on the “Fact vs. Fiction” of Fintech Valuations
Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Chuck Nabhan, Managing Director and Equity Research Analyst…
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Beyond the Hype: Stephens’ Chuck Nabhan on the “Fact vs. Fiction” of Fintech Valuations
Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Chuck Nabhan, Managing Director and Equity Research Analyst…
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Wall Street to Main Street: CEOs Dimitar Karaivanov and C.K. Lee on Strategy, Talent, and Long-Term Growth
As community banks face rising complexity, tighter margins, and higher expectations from boards and regulators, leadership backgrounds are evolving. Dimitar…
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Wall Street to Main Street: CEOs Dimitar Karaivanov and C.K. Lee on Strategy, Talent, and Long-Term Growth
As community banks face rising complexity, tighter margins, and higher expectations from boards and regulators, leadership backgrounds are evolving. Dimitar…
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The Technology Takeover in the Desert: An AOBA Recap with Andrew Liesch, Travillian’s Head of Bank Strategy
Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired has long been known as the industry’s marquee M&A conference. But this year in…
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The Technology Takeover in the Desert: An AOBA Recap with Andrew Liesch, Travillian’s Head of Bank Strategy
Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired has long been known as the industry’s marquee M&A conference. But this year in…
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Where to Find Outsized Returns in Bank Land (Hint: Look for Differentiated Stories)
Why Some Banks Outperformed in 2025 Throughout January, I had several management teams ask me what drove some banks to…
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Where to Find Outsized Returns in Bank Land (Hint: Look for Differentiated Stories)
Why Some Banks Outperformed in 2025 Throughout January, I had several management teams ask me what drove some banks to…
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Culture as a Talent Magnet: How Pathward Earned an 84% Employee Satisfaction Score
Pathward’s culture-first approach has become a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining top banking talent…
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Culture as a Talent Magnet: How Pathward Earned an 84% Employee Satisfaction Score
Pathward’s culture-first approach has become a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining top banking talent…
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Succession Without Shortcuts: Lessons from Starion Bank’s President Search
Starion Bank CEO Craig Larson and President Dave Rogstad share the real story behind their leadership transition…
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Succession Without Shortcuts: Lessons from Starion Bank’s President Search
Starion Bank CEO Craig Larson and President Dave Rogstad share the real story behind their leadership transition…
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3 Takeaways from the Recent Surge in Bank M&A and 1 Forecast (Plus Deal-Related Stock Ideas for 2026!)
Bank M&A Activity Is Increasing as Regulatory and Economic Frictions Ease The bank M&A environment is on fire! In 4Q25 alone, there…
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3 Takeaways from the Recent Surge in Bank M&A and 1 Forecast (Plus Deal-Related Stock Ideas for 2026!)
Bank M&A Activity Is Increasing as Regulatory and Economic Frictions Ease The bank M&A environment is on fire! In 4Q25 alone, there…
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All I Want for Christmas is a Strategic CFO: Community Bank & Fintech Talent Advice from Travillian
What 2025 Revealed About Community Bank Talent 2025 was anything but predictable for community banks navigating the talent market. Early…
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All I Want for Christmas is a Strategic CFO: Community Bank & Fintech Talent Advice from Travillian
What 2025 Revealed About Community Bank Talent 2025 was anything but predictable for community banks navigating the talent market. Early…
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The Long Game of Bank M&A: Janney and D.A. Davidson on Diligence, Culture, and What Comes Next
From Deal Volume to Deal Quality: What’s Driving Today’s Bank M&A After years of regulatory drag, valuation gaps, and general…
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The Long Game of Bank M&A: Janney and D.A. Davidson on Diligence, Culture, and What Comes Next
From Deal Volume to Deal Quality: What’s Driving Today’s Bank M&A After years of regulatory drag, valuation gaps, and general…
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Democratizing Derivatives: How Exchange-Traded Swap Futures Are Opening Doors for Community Banks
Why Community Banks Have Been Locked Out of Derivatives and Interest Rate Risk Hedging The most prominent promise of fintech…
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Democratizing Derivatives: How Exchange-Traded Swap Futures Are Opening Doors for Community Banks
Why Community Banks Have Been Locked Out of Derivatives and Interest Rate Risk Hedging The most prominent promise of fintech…
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How AI Is Reshaping Financial Product Discovery: A Follow-Up with Fintel Connect
Why AI-Driven Search Behavior Matters for Banks and Marketers Consumers are shifting from traditional search engines to AI tools like…
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How AI Is Reshaping Financial Product Discovery: A Follow-Up with Fintel Connect
Why AI-Driven Search Behavior Matters for Banks and Marketers Consumers are shifting from traditional search engines to AI tools like…
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Turning AI into Your Small Business CFO: A Conversation with Narmi and Grasshopper Bank
How AI Is Replacing Manual Small Business Financial Work Hosted by Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian,…
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Turning AI into Your Small Business CFO: A Conversation with Narmi and Grasshopper Bank
How AI Is Replacing Manual Small Business Financial Work Hosted by Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian,…
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What Generalist Investors Miss: Piper Sandler’s Stephen Scouten on Bank Performance, Credit, and M&A
This episode brings together host Andrew Liesch, Head of Bank Strategy at Travillian, and Stephen Scouten, Managing Director and Senior…
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What Generalist Investors Miss: Piper Sandler’s Stephen Scouten on Bank Performance, Credit, and M&A
This episode brings together host Andrew Liesch, Head of Bank Strategy at Travillian, and Stephen Scouten, Managing Director and Senior…
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Building Brotherly Love: Ira Robbins and Brent Beardall on Leadership, Vulnerability, and Fighting for Community Banking
Valley National Bank and WaFd Bank Leadership Ira Robbins and Brent Beardall take their roles representing the banking industry seriously.…
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Building Brotherly Love: Ira Robbins and Brent Beardall on Leadership, Vulnerability, and Fighting for Community Banking
Valley National Bank and WaFd Bank Leadership Ira Robbins and Brent Beardall take their roles representing the banking industry seriously.…
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A Share Liquidity Tool for Private Banks: Inside the My Private Shares Platform
As privately held banks navigate increasing complexity around shareholder management, one platform is helping them modernize without giving up control.…
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A Share Liquidity Tool for Private Banks: Inside the My Private Shares Platform
As privately held banks navigate increasing complexity around shareholder management, one platform is helping them modernize without giving up control.…
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Trailblazers Ep.5: Why International Payments Matter for Community Banks with Acceleron
This Travillian Next Trailblazers episode dives into the future of international payments for community banks and why getting this right…
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Trailblazers Ep.5: Why International Payments Matter for Community Banks with Acceleron
This Travillian Next Trailblazers episode dives into the future of international payments for community banks and why getting this right…
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3 Actionable Takeaways on AI for Community Bank Executives
Much like the introduction of the internet in the mid-1990s and the smartphone revolution 15 years ago, AI has the…
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3 Actionable Takeaways on AI for Community Bank Executives
Much like the introduction of the internet in the mid-1990s and the smartphone revolution 15 years ago, AI has the…
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Inside the Quiet War for Deposits: How Fulton Financial Is Playing the Long Game
In April 2024, Fulton Financial Corporation executed one of the year’s most compelling and forward-thinking bank acquisitions. The Pennsylvania-based lender…
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Inside the Quiet War for Deposits: How Fulton Financial Is Playing the Long Game
In April 2024, Fulton Financial Corporation executed one of the year’s most compelling and forward-thinking bank acquisitions. The Pennsylvania-based lender…
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Four Hard Truths About Staying Independent in 2025
When Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, community bankers anticipated a swift rollback of regulatory burdens…
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Four Hard Truths About Staying Independent in 2025
When Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, community bankers anticipated a swift rollback of regulatory burdens…
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Travillian Next, launched in early 2020, is dedicated to producing original, behind-the-scenes content for the banking & fintech industries.