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…
Talent
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 Next, Travillian host Keith Daly…
By
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…
By
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…
By
“We Don’t Carry Any Dead Weight” — Inside Five Star Bank’s Financial Engine with CFO Heather Luck (Part 2)
In Part 2 of our on-location series, Five Star Bank EVP & CFO Heather Luck unpacks the financial discipline behind the bank’s growth, from outsized CRE concentrations and a falling cost of funds to a low-40s efficiency ratio at a place she says “doesn’t carry any dead weight.”
By
“We Don’t Carry Any Dead Weight” — Inside Five Star Bank’s Financial Engine with CFO Heather Luck (Part 2)
In Part 2 of our on-location series, Five Star Bank EVP & CFO Heather Luck unpacks the financial discipline behind the bank’s growth, from outsized CRE concentrations and a falling cost of funds to a low-40s efficiency ratio at a place she says “doesn’t carry any dead weight.”
By
“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…
By
“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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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
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
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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.…
By
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.…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
Brian Loves Banks: Current Musings About Talent in the Banking Industry
A few musings about the banking industry—some funny, some informational, some sarcastic—but all based on themes I hear in my…
By
Brian Loves Banks: Current Musings About Talent in the Banking Industry
A few musings about the banking industry—some funny, some informational, some sarcastic—but all based on themes I hear in my…
By
Mergers, Money, and Missing Talent: What Bank CEOs Are Facing – 1st Colonial Community Bank CEO Bob White Shares His Expertise
“This business is still people-driven.” In this episode of Travillian Next, Travillian’s Michael Perito, Head of Bank Strategy, and Brian…
By
Mergers, Money, and Missing Talent: What Bank CEOs Are Facing – 1st Colonial Community Bank CEO Bob White Shares His Expertise
“This business is still people-driven.” In this episode of Travillian Next, Travillian’s Michael Perito, Head of Bank Strategy, and Brian…
By
The Recruiter, the CEO & the CIO: How MidWestOne Bank Built Its Tech Future
MidWestOne Bank is a $6.2 billion in assets community bank with a footprint spanning from Denver to Minnesota to…
By
The Recruiter, the CEO & the CIO: How MidWestOne Bank Built Its Tech Future
MidWestOne Bank is a $6.2 billion in assets community bank with a footprint spanning from Denver to Minnesota to…
By