The Voice of the Banking Community

Strategy, Innovation, Talent and Leadership Perspectives for Today’s Banking Leaders

Dimitar Karaivanov of Community Bank System and C.K. Lee of InterBank discuss bank strategy and leadership on the Wall Street to Main Street Travillian Next podcast

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 Karaivanov, President & CEO of…

Travillian

Amber Buker and Andrew Liesch Q&A about Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired (AOBA) conference in Phoenix, where discussions focused on bank strategy, technology, and competition beyond M&A.

Banking, M&A, Tech & Innovation, Wall Street

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…

Andrew Liesch

Stock chart rising in front of a bank building silhouette representing differentiated banks driving outsized returns in bank stocks

Capital Markets, M&A, Wall Street

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…

Andrew Liesch

Talent, Company Culture

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…

Amber Buker

Tech & Innovation, Digital Banking

The “Easy Button” for Digital Assets: How Custodia and Vantage Are Rewriting Payments for Community Banks

The discussion dives deep into the GENIUS Act, the rise of tokenized deposits, and the launch of a new bank-led consortium…

Keith Daly

The Latest

Starion Bank leadership succession discussion with CEO Craig Larson and President Dave Rogstad

Talent, Leadership, Succession Planning

Succession Without Shortcuts: Lessons from Starion Bank’s President Search

Brian Love

January 14, 2026

Bank executives reviewing merger and acquisition strategy amid rising bank M&A activity

M&A, Wall Street

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…

Andrew Liesch

January 8, 2026

M&A, Wall Street

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…

Andrew Liesch

January 8, 2026

Community bank recruiting leaders, Brian Love, Amber Buker, Keith Daly, discussing talent strategy and leadership hiring for 2026

Banking, Leadership, Talent

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…

Travillian

December 22, 2025

Banking, Leadership, Talent

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…

Travillian

December 22, 2025

Wall Street, M&A

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…

Travillian

December 18, 2025

Wall Street, M&A

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…

Travillian

December 18, 2025

Eris swap futures enabling community banks to manage interest rate risk

Banking, Risk & Compliance

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…

Amber Buker

December 11, 2025

Banking, Risk & Compliance

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…

Amber Buker

December 11, 2025

Travillian Next follow-up conversation with Alana Levine at Fintel Connect about how AI influences financial product discovery and ranking behavior.

Tech & Innovation, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Banking

How AI Is Reshaping Financial Product Discovery: A Follow-Up with Fintel Connect

Amber Buker

December 4, 2025

Keith Daly hosts a conversation with Chris Tremont of Grasshopper Bank and Nikhil Lakhanpal of Narmi discussing the new AI banking solution for small business.

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Digital Banking, Fintech, Tech & Innovation

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,…

Keith Daly

December 4, 2025

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Digital Banking, Fintech, Tech & Innovation

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,…

Keith Daly

December 4, 2025

Wall Street, Capital Markets, Investing, M&A

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…

Andrew Liesch

November 20, 2025

Wall Street, Capital Markets, Investing, M&A

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…

Andrew Liesch

November 20, 2025

Banking, Leadership, Strategy, Talent

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.…

Amber Buker

November 13, 2025

Banking, Leadership, Strategy, Talent

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.…

Amber Buker

November 13, 2025

Banking, Strategy

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.…

Andrew Liesch

November 11, 2025

Banking, Strategy

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.…

Andrew Liesch

November 11, 2025

Tech & Innovation, Digital Banking

Trailblazers Ep.5: Why International Payments Matter for Community Banks with Acceleron

Keith Daly

November 5, 2025

Tech & Innovation, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Fintech

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…

Keith Daly

November 3, 2025

Tech & Innovation, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Fintech

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…

Keith Daly

November 3, 2025

Deposits, Banking

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…

Amber Buker

October 30, 2025

Deposits, Banking

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…

Amber Buker

October 30, 2025

Banking

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…

Andrew Liesch

October 23, 2025

Banking

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…

Andrew Liesch

October 23, 2025

Banking, Talent, Tech & Innovation, Wall Street

The New Banking Playbook: Three Themes from the NEXT Forum

Last week, more than 150 bank executives and investors filled Lincoln Hall on the second floor of the Philadelphia Union…

Travillian

October 16, 2025

Banking, Talent, Tech & Innovation, Wall Street

The New Banking Playbook: Three Themes from the NEXT Forum

Last week, more than 150 bank executives and investors filled Lincoln Hall on the second floor of the Philadelphia Union…

Travillian

October 16, 2025

Banking, Fintech, Tech & Innovation

Affiliate Marketing Strategies for Bank Leaders with Fintel Connect & Live Oak Bank

Amber Buker

October 2, 2025

Banking, Fintech, Tech & Innovation

What Banks Can Learn from EVP Rick Geloff and Bank of North Dakota’s Innovation Strategy

Host Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with Rick Geloff, EVP of Bank of North Dakota, to…

Amber Buker

September 25, 2025

Banking, Fintech, Tech & Innovation

What Banks Can Learn from EVP Rick Geloff and Bank of North Dakota’s Innovation Strategy

Host Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with Rick Geloff, EVP of Bank of North Dakota, to…

Amber Buker

September 25, 2025

Strategy, Banking

Invictus Group & CFG Bank: Turning Stress Tests into Capital Planning

Host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Zach Boyda, Treasurer at CFG Bank, and…

Keith Daly

September 18, 2025

Strategy, Banking

Invictus Group & CFG Bank: Turning Stress Tests into Capital Planning

Host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Zach Boyda, Treasurer at CFG Bank, and…

Keith Daly

September 18, 2025

Banking, M&A, Wall Street

5 Areas of Focus for Bank Stocks in the Coming Months

What a difference a few months can make! In the weeks following April earnings conference calls, the banking industry shifted…

Andrew Liesch

September 3, 2025

Banking, M&A, Wall Street

5 Areas of Focus for Bank Stocks in the Coming Months

What a difference a few months can make! In the weeks following April earnings conference calls, the banking industry shifted…

Andrew Liesch

September 3, 2025

Tech & Innovation, BaaS, Digital Banking, Fintech

Academy Bank on Laying the Foundation for a Fast BaaS Market Entry

Travillian Next host Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with David Robinson, Director of Fintech and Embedded…

Amber Buker

August 28, 2025

Tech & Innovation, BaaS, Digital Banking, Fintech

Academy Bank on Laying the Foundation for a Fast BaaS Market Entry

Travillian Next host Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with David Robinson, Director of Fintech and Embedded…

Amber Buker

August 28, 2025

Banking, Leadership, Strategy, Talent

Expanding Beyond Local Banking Limits: Denali State Bank + BancAlliance

Keith Daly

August 21, 2025

Banking, Company Culture, Digital Banking, Fintech, Strategy, Talent, Tech & Innovation

From Commodity to Competitive: How Three Banks Build Winning Products

Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine a world where a customer would select a bank based on something…

Amber Buker

August 7, 2025

Banking, Company Culture, Digital Banking, Fintech, Strategy, Talent, Tech & Innovation

From Commodity to Competitive: How Three Banks Build Winning Products

Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine a world where a customer would select a bank based on something…

Amber Buker

August 7, 2025

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Banking, Hiring Trends, Leadership, Talent

Solving the Talent Gap at a Fast-Growing Bank

There often comes a moment in the growth trajectory of successful banks where the talent in-house is outpaced by the…

Travillian

July 31, 2025

Banking, Hiring Trends, Leadership, Talent

Solving the Talent Gap at a Fast-Growing Bank

There often comes a moment in the growth trajectory of successful banks where the talent in-house is outpaced by the…

Travillian

July 31, 2025

Fintech, Tech & Innovation

The Bank That Thinks Like a Tech Company: How 50+ Engineers Are Redefining Security

What if your savings account was so secure that even your account number couldn’t be used to steal from you?…

Travillian

July 24, 2025

Fintech, Tech & Innovation

The Bank That Thinks Like a Tech Company: How 50+ Engineers Are Redefining Security

What if your savings account was so secure that even your account number couldn’t be used to steal from you?…

Travillian

July 24, 2025

Wall Street, Capital Markets

The Balance Sheet Moves Piper Sandler’s Scott Hildenbrand Says Banks Should Be Making Now

“All of the banks we talk to, for the most part, live and die by their spread. And I will…

Brian Love

July 17, 2025

Wall Street, Capital Markets

The Balance Sheet Moves Piper Sandler’s Scott Hildenbrand Says Banks Should Be Making Now

“All of the banks we talk to, for the most part, live and die by their spread. And I will…

Brian Love

July 17, 2025

Tech & Innovation, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Fintech

What’s Stopping Banks from Using AI? Featuring Finov8r Founder Allan Rayson

Keith Daly

July 10, 2025

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Wall Street, Capital Markets, M&A

Top Performing Bank Stocks YTD: 3 Names Defying the Sector Slump in 2025

Familiar Themes Emerge in the Top Performing Bank Stocks Year-to-Date At the mid-point of a rollercoaster 2025, we decided it…

Michael Perito

June 26, 2025

Wall Street, Capital Markets, M&A

Top Performing Bank Stocks YTD: 3 Names Defying the Sector Slump in 2025

Familiar Themes Emerge in the Top Performing Bank Stocks Year-to-Date At the mid-point of a rollercoaster 2025, we decided it…

Michael Perito

June 26, 2025

Tech & Innovation, BaaS, Banking, Digital Banking, Fintech, Strategy

Boom to Bust: The Partner Bank Boom Revisited

The Partner Bank Boom Revisited It’s a little untoward in journalism to acknowledge the writer. But to tell this story,…

Amber Buker

June 20, 2025

Tech & Innovation, BaaS, Banking, Digital Banking, Fintech, Strategy

Boom to Bust: The Partner Bank Boom Revisited

The Partner Bank Boom Revisited It’s a little untoward in journalism to acknowledge the writer. But to tell this story,…

Amber Buker

June 20, 2025

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Banking, Talent

Tech-Forward Thinking Meets Talent Strategy: A Q&A With Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer

Travillian is thrilled to welcome Amber Buker to the team as our first-ever Chief Research Officer. With a unique background…

Travillian

June 11, 2025

Banking, Talent

Tech-Forward Thinking Meets Talent Strategy: A Q&A With Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer

Travillian is thrilled to welcome Amber Buker to the team as our first-ever Chief Research Officer. With a unique background…

Travillian

June 11, 2025

Talent, Hiring Trends, Leadership

Banks, Breakfast Club, and Bold Moves: 2025’s Hiring Story So Far

Travillian’s Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech, and Michael Perito, Head of Bank Strategy, reunite in this informative Talent…

Travillian

June 4, 2025

Talent, Hiring Trends, Leadership

Banks, Breakfast Club, and Bold Moves: 2025’s Hiring Story So Far

Travillian’s Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech, and Michael Perito, Head of Bank Strategy, reunite in this informative Talent…

Travillian

June 4, 2025

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Banking, Risk & Compliance, Strategy

Cogent Law Breaks Down Cannabis Banking and Regulation

Travillian

June 4, 2025

Tech & Innovation, BaaS, Digital Assets, Digital Banking, Fintech

All Eyez on [Chi]me (ft. Mike Perito)

Chime filed their S-1 with the SEC in May, putting the wheels back in motion to conduct an IPO at…

Michael Perito

May 30, 2025

Tech & Innovation, BaaS, Digital Assets, Digital Banking, Fintech

All Eyez on [Chi]me (ft. Mike Perito)

Chime filed their S-1 with the SEC in May, putting the wheels back in motion to conduct an IPO at…

Michael Perito

May 30, 2025

Tech & Innovation

Trailblazers Ep. 4: How Kim Snyder Turned Banker Frustration into KlariVis Innovation

In this episode of Travillian Next Trailblazers, host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Kim…

Keith Daly

May 21, 2025

Tech & Innovation

Trailblazers Ep. 4: How Kim Snyder Turned Banker Frustration into KlariVis Innovation

In this episode of Travillian Next Trailblazers, host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Kim…

Keith Daly

May 21, 2025

Investment Bankers Unplugged WEbsite Thumbnail

M&A, Wall Street

Depository Investment Bankers Unplugged: Real Talk on M&A with Piper Sandler & D.A. Davidson

As the dust settled on the late-2024 surge in bank mergers and acquisitions, one question lingered: was it a fleeting anomaly…

Michael Perito

May 15, 2025

M&A, Wall Street

Depository Investment Bankers Unplugged: Real Talk on M&A with Piper Sandler & D.A. Davidson

As the dust settled on the late-2024 surge in bank mergers and acquisitions, one question lingered: was it a fleeting anomaly…

Michael Perito

May 15, 2025

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Banking, Tech & Innovation

The Largest Bank IPO Since 2017: Spotlight on Northpointe Bank

“Don’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows”. Starting and scaling a bank in today’s…

Michael Perito

May 8, 2025

Banking, Tech & Innovation

The Largest Bank IPO Since 2017: Spotlight on Northpointe Bank

“Don’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows”. Starting and scaling a bank in today’s…

Michael Perito

May 8, 2025

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Your Inside Look at Banking & Fintech

Travillian Next, launched in early 2020, is dedicated to producing original, behind-the-scenes content for the banking & fintech industries.