Banking

Steve Plunk, former OCC examiner, discussing the Penn Square Bank failure on Travillian Next
Banking, Credit & Lending, Risk & Compliance, Succession Planning, Talent

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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Steve Plunk, former OCC examiner, discussing the Penn Square Bank failure on Travillian Next
Banking, Credit & Lending, Risk & Compliance, Succession Planning, Talent

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 of WaFd and Simone Lagomarsino of Luther Burbank Savings with host Brian Love on the Travillian Next podcast
Banking, Leadership, M&A, Strategy, Talent, Wall Street

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 of WaFd and Simone Lagomarsino of Luther Burbank Savings with host Brian Love on the Travillian Next podcast
Banking, Leadership, M&A, Strategy, Talent, Wall Street

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 podcast: Amber Buker and Brian Love deliver a bank & fintech recap of May 2026 conferences
Banking, Talent, Tech & Innovation

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 podcast: Amber Buker and Brian Love deliver a bank & fintech recap of May 2026 conferences
Banking, Talent, Tech & Innovation

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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Matthew Smith, President and CEO of Rhinebeck Bank, on the Travillian Next podcast discussing community banking strategy and technology
Banking, Company Culture, Hiring Trends, Leadership, Strategy, Talent, Tech & Innovation

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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Matthew Smith, President and CEO of Rhinebeck Bank, on the Travillian Next podcast discussing community banking strategy and technology
Banking, Company Culture, Hiring Trends, Leadership, Strategy, Talent, Tech & Innovation

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 with Chris Nichols of SouthState Bank, Cory LeBlanc of Locality Bank, and Siya Vansia of ConnectOne Bank at S&P Global's Community Bankers Conference 2026
Banking, Talent, Tech & Innovation

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 with Chris Nichols of SouthState Bank, Cory LeBlanc of Locality Bank, and Siya Vansia of ConnectOne Bank at S&P Global's Community Bankers Conference 2026
Banking, Talent, Tech & Innovation

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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Heather Luck, EVP and Chief Financial Officer at Five Star Bank, sits down with Travillian's Amber Buker for an on-location, documentary-style interview filmed inside Five Star Bank.
Banking, Leadership, Talent

“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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Heather Luck, EVP and Chief Financial Officer at Five Star Bank, sits down with Travillian's Amber Buker for an on-location, documentary-style interview filmed inside Five Star Bank.
Banking, Leadership, Talent

“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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Michael Rizzo, EVP and Chief Banking Officer at Five Star Bank, sits down with Travillian's Amber Buker for an on-location, documentary-style interview filmed inside Five Star Bank.
Banking, Company Culture, Leadership, Talent

“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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Michael Rizzo, EVP and Chief Banking Officer at Five Star Bank, sits down with Travillian's Amber Buker for an on-location, documentary-style interview filmed inside Five Star Bank.
Banking, Company Culture, Leadership, Talent

“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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Executive reviewing comp data and compensation study binder in office, illustrating challenges in using comp data for bank hiring decisions
Banking, Talent

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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Executive reviewing comp data and compensation study binder in office, illustrating challenges in using comp data for bank hiring decisions
Banking, Talent

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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Mike Lettig and Jackson Brossy of Huntington Bank's Native American Financial Services team discuss the $26 billion federal contracting opportunity in Indian Country with Travillian host Amber Buker.
Banking

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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Mike Lettig and Jackson Brossy of Huntington Bank's Native American Financial Services team discuss the $26 billion federal contracting opportunity in Indian Country with Travillian host Amber Buker.
Banking

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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Joseph Dively, Chairman and CEO of First Mid Bank & Trust, joins Travillian's Andrew Liesch and Brian Love to discuss community banking strategy, M&A, and leadership.
Banking, Leadership, Strategy, Talent

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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Joseph Dively, Chairman and CEO of First Mid Bank & Trust, joins Travillian's Andrew Liesch and Brian Love to discuss community banking strategy, M&A, and leadership.
Banking, Leadership, Strategy, Talent

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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Highest-valued banks analysis showing deposits, discipline, and differentiation with banking performance charts and valuation metrics
Banking, M&A, Wall Street

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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Highest-valued banks analysis showing deposits, discipline, and differentiation with banking performance charts and valuation metrics
Banking, M&A, Wall Street

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…

By
Scott Hildenbrand Piper Sandler discussing bank balance sheet strategy and boardroom leadership on Travillian Next
Wall Street, Banking

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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Scott Hildenbrand Piper Sandler discussing bank balance sheet strategy and boardroom leadership on Travillian Next
Wall Street, Banking

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 illustrated through the supply chain from grower and processor to dispensary and community bank
Banking

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 illustrated through the supply chain from grower and processor to dispensary and community bank
Banking

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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Jennifer Docherty, Bank on Women, Performance Trust Capital Partners
Banking, Leadership, Succession Planning, Talent

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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Jennifer Docherty, Bank on Women, Performance Trust Capital Partners
Banking, Leadership, Succession Planning, Talent

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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Mike Higgins discussing community bank compensation strategy and incentive design in the banking war for talent on Travillian Next
Banking, Talent

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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Mike Higgins discussing community bank compensation strategy and incentive design in the banking war for talent on Travillian Next
Banking, Talent

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…

By
Chuck Nabhan, Managing Director and Equity Research Analyst at Stephens, discusses fintech valuations and core banking technology against a modern financial services backdrop.
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Fintech, Tech & Innovation

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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Chuck Nabhan, Managing Director and Equity Research Analyst at Stephens, discusses fintech valuations and core banking technology against a modern financial services backdrop.
Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Fintech, Tech & Innovation

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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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, Banking

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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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, Banking

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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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 conference. But this year in…
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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 conference. But this year in…
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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 what drove some banks to…
By
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 what drove some banks to…
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