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…
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
The Latest
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
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)
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…
By
“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…
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
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…
By
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…
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
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
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
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…
By
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…
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
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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
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
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
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…
By
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…
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
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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,…
By
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,…
By
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…
By
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…
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
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
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
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
By
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…
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
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?…
By
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?…
By
Get Travillian Next Straight to Your Inbox
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.
Subscribe to Travillian Next
We appreciate your interest in Travillian Next! Please provide the following information to subscribe to our newsletter.