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.
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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A Six-Year Build, Not a Three-Month Win: Patrick Slain of Stearns Bank on the BaaS Long Game
Most BaaS programs stumble on timeline and risk, not technology. A two-time builder breaks down what makes one work and the fintech red flags that end deals early…
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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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The Latest
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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Brent Beardall & Simone Lagomarsino: Two Bank CEOs on Leadership, M&A, and the Deal That Made Them Family
Brent Beardall takes us from the bank file room to the CEO seat, then gets surprised on camera by Simone Lagomarsino for an honest conversation about leadership, M&A, and the deal that made them family…
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Brent Beardall & Simone Lagomarsino: Two Bank CEOs on Leadership, M&A, and the Deal That Made Them Family
Brent Beardall takes us from the bank file room to the CEO seat, then gets surprised on camera by Simone Lagomarsino for an honest conversation about leadership, M&A, and the deal that made them family…
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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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“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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“A Sales Organization Masquerading as a Bank” — Inside Five Star Bank’s Culture-First (Part 1)
Michael Rizzo on how Five Star Bank built a nationwide mobile home park vertical from one referral and protects a “never-quit” culture at scale…
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“A Sales Organization Masquerading as a Bank” — Inside Five Star Bank’s Culture-First (Part 1)
Michael Rizzo on how Five Star Bank built a nationwide mobile home park vertical from one referral and protects a “never-quit” culture at scale…
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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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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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Balance Sheet Truths from Piper Sandler’s Scott Hildebrand, The Hardest Working Man in “Bank Land”
Scott Hildenbrand on Balance Sheet Strategy, Bank Boards, and Market Volatility Travillian’s Brian Love, Head of Banking and Fintech, and…
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Balance Sheet Truths from Piper Sandler’s Scott Hildebrand, The Hardest Working Man in “Bank Land”
Scott Hildenbrand on Balance Sheet Strategy, Bank Boards, and Market Volatility Travillian’s Brian Love, Head of Banking and Fintech, and…
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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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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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Record Loans, Shrinking Opportunity: Where Ag Banking Still Works
This analysis explores how inflation, carryover debt, and tightening liquidity are reshaping ag lending performance and M&A appetite…
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Record Loans, Shrinking Opportunity: Where Ag Banking Still Works
This analysis explores how inflation, carryover debt, and tightening liquidity are reshaping ag lending performance and M&A appetite…
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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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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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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…
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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…
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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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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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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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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…
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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…
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Affiliate Marketing Strategies for Bank Leaders with Fintel Connect & Live Oak Bank
Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, and Melissa…
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Affiliate Marketing Strategies for Bank Leaders with Fintel Connect & Live Oak Bank
Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, and Melissa…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Expanding Beyond Local Banking Limits: Denali State Bank + BancAlliance
Host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Lori Bettinger, President of BancAlliance, and Steve…
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Expanding Beyond Local Banking Limits: Denali State Bank + BancAlliance
Host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Lori Bettinger, President of BancAlliance, and Steve…
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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…
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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…
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Travillian Next, launched in early 2020, is dedicated to producing original, behind-the-scenes content for the banking & fintech industries.
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