7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Sponsored by: Q2
8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Day Two Welcome: Editorial Highlights
Emily McCormick, Vice President of Editorial & Research, Bank Director
Naomi Snyder, Editor-in-Chief, Bank Director
Hear from Bank Director’s editorial team as they share the most significant developments and stories they have been writing about.
8:10 AM – 8:50 AM
The Best of RankingBanking
Charles Hageboeck, President & CEO, City National Bank and City Holding Company
Moderated by: Kara Baldwin, Partner, Crowe LLP
Based on the latest iteration of Bank Director’s RankingBanking study, hear from three banks that topped our list.
8:50 AM – 9:10 AM
Getting The Deal Done: Lessons Learned from a Veteran Acquirer
Jack Milligan, Editor-at-Large, Bank Director
Clint Stein, President & CEO, Columbia Banking System and CEO, Umpqua Bank
Hear from the CEO of Columbia Banking System and Umpqua Bank, Clint Stein, as he discusses lessons learned from his latest merger of Umpqua and Columbia – and what opportunities he sees for banks today.
9:10 AM – 9:50 AM
Lessons From The Latest Acquisitions
Scott Anderson, Head of Investment Banking, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company
Joseph Berry, Co-Head of Investment Banking, Co-Head of Fintech and Head of Depositories Investment Banking, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company
Hear what worked and what didn’t from experts and bankers featured in this panel session.
9:50 AM – 10:10 AM
Competitive Threats & Opportunities
David Foss, Board Chair & CEO, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
Emily McCormick, Vice President of Editorial & Research, Bank Director
Drawing from Bank Director’s 2023 Technology Survey, sponsored by Jack Henry, this session explores competitive threats and opportunities for banks. How can banks align in-person and digital service to attract and retain customers? How do they serve younger generations like Gen Z? What role do payments and artificial intelligence play in the future of banking? And how can banks address challenges around getting the right technology in place?
8:10 AM – 8:45 AM
FinXTech Session: Lending Across The Bank
Steve Allocca, Managing Director, U.S. & President, Funding Circle
Jonathan Katz, VP, Client Development & Strategy, Amount, Inc.
Dan O’Malley, CEO & Co-founder, Numerated
Moderated by: Lexie Grindstaff, Director of Business Development, Bank Director
How is your bank competing with digital, nonbank lenders? This session focuses on the many areas of lending – consumer, small business, commercial – and new lending strategies your bank should consider.
8:55 AM – 9:30 AM
FinXTech Session: Optimizing Data and Using It For Success
Meghan Crawford-Hamlin, President, Bank Division, BHG Financial
Joshua Jordan, Director of Digital Engagement, Digital Experience, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
Anthony Morris, SVP of Global Banking Strategy & Customer Advisory, nCino
Moderated by: Kiah Haslett, Banking & Fintech Editor, Bank Director
Banks have a wealth of data, but is your bank using it and using it well? Find out how your peers are using data to expand existing customer relationships and market share through data aggregation.
9:40 AM – 10:15 AM
FinXTech Session: Innovation in Payments
Silvana Hernandez, Executive Vice President, Product and Engineering North America, Mastercard Inc.
Derik Sutton, Chief Marketing Officer, Autobooks
Heidi Wicker, Partner, Stinson LLP
Moderated by: Michelle King, President, Bank Director
Today’s digital payments landscape is about providing choice and flexibility. Yet, with so many payment solutions and services to choose from, it can be challenging to determine where to prioritize and invest. This session dives into today’s top digital payments trends – from open banking to the evolution of digital wallets – to get ahead of what’s next as the pace of innovation continues to rapidly evolve.
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM
Refreshment Break
10:25 AM – 11:55 AM
M&A Simulation
Peter Buck, Managing Director, Piper Sandler & Co.
Grant Butler, Partner, K&L Gates LLP
John Freechack, Managing Director, Piper Sandler & Co.
Matthew Murray, Director, Piper Sandler & Co.
Adam Smith, Partner, K&L Gates LLP
Robert Tammero, Partner, K&L Gates LLP
The process of striking a deal for a prized target has never been more competitive than it is today. For buyers, careful discipline is required to ensure that bids are designed to accomplish acquisition growth without damaging the company’s value. For sellers, a competitive bid process must be skillfully navigated to earn the best deal for shareholders. In this session, participants work through the final rounds of a competitive auction involving a prized seller to see which bank emerges as the successful acquirer. Of course, as in real deals, some wrinkles will emerge. The M&A Simulation is exclusive to 45 bank attendees only, allows for one banker per institution, no capital markets titles (this session is NOT for investment bankers of any kind) and runs concurrently with the below breakout sessions.
10:30 AM – 11:10 AM
Breakout Sessions
Participants have the opportunity to select from one of seven breakout sessions to attend. Sessions to be announced.
Breakout 1: The Pit Stop Approach: Optimizing Efficiency in a Slow Loan Growth Environment
Joe Ehrhardt, CEO & Founder, Teslar Software
In today’s economic climate, loan growth may be slow, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to improve your processes and put your bank ahead of the curve. This session discusses strategies to maximize growth in this environment and the advantages of optimizing your lending processes to prepare your bank for optimal efficiency when loan growth spins back up.
Breakout 2: Taking Loss on the Installment Method – Impact on Value
Jeff Davis, Managing Director, Mercer Capital
Andrew Gibbs, Senior Vice President, Mercer Capital
Banks are saddled with hundreds of billions of low-coupon bonds that are worth far less than the current market price. As much as one might like to do so, there is no escaping the bloodless verdict of the market in which losses will be realized immediately if the bonds are sold or slowly if the bonds are held to maturity. In this session, we review the impact on the value of a bank’s equity from taking a loss today vs. holding the bonds to maturity, as well as an intermediate strategy that we refer to as the installment method.
Breakout 3: Leadership Talent Assessment: A Key to Unlocking Shareholder Value in Mergers
Elise Walton, Principal, Pearl Meyer
Experience shows that “strength of leadership” is an important factor in influencing the financial success of mergers. Whether acquiring or being acquired, the skills, knowledge and effectiveness of the leadership team are key to unlocking shareholder value and realizing merger synergies. In this session, we share best practices for assessing leadership in the context of a merger.
Breakout 4: Hedging Your Balance Sheet for the Unknown and Unexpected
Todd Cuppia, Managing Director Balance Sheet Risk Management, Chatham Financial
Jack Plants, CFO & Treasurer, Five Star Bank
Moderated by: Ben Lewis, Managing Director and Global Head of Sales, Chatham Financial
2023 highlighted the importance of preparing your business for what you don’t think will happen. Attend this session to learn from a practitioner and two market experts how hedging strategies prepare banks for unexpected outcomes in rising and falling rate environments and how to get your institution set up for hedging to be ready to execute strategies when the time is right.
Breakout 5: A Multi-Pronged Strategy for Cannabis Banking
William Hufnagel, President & CEO, Dart Bank
Tony Repanich, President & CEO, Shield Compliance, LLC
The emerging cannabis industry is helping banks find new sources of deposits and revenue. For most banks serving the legalized cannabis industry, it starts with deposit and cash management services in their local markets. For some, it leads to lending. Learn how Dart Bank is leveraging its experience and expertise in high-risk banking to execute a multi-state footprint, payment sponsorship and BaaS strategy.
Breakout 6: Data is Non-negotiable: A Tale of Two Banking Trailblazers
Jill Castilla, President & CEO, Citizens Bank of Edmond
Kim Snyder, Founder & CEO, KlariVis
In today’s ever-evolving financial landscape, data is no longer just a tool; it’s a non-negotiable asset reshaping the future of community banking. Join us for a captivating session that delves deep into the dynamic world of community banking, focusing on the pivotal role of data, as witnessed through the experiences of two trailblazers: Kim Snyder, former bank CFO and CEO and founder of KlariVis, and Jill Castilla, President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond and Founder of ROGER, a new digital bank specifically designed to serve new military recruits. Get ready to be inspired as they share their unique insights, recount the challenges they’ve faced and celebrate their triumphs in harnessing the power of data. Their journey will leave you with invaluable lessons on the paramount importance of embracing innovation, collaboration and the transformative potential of data in an industry in constant evolution. Join us for a session that promises to illuminate the path forward for community banking in the data-driven era.
11:25 AM – 12:05 PM
Breakout Sessions
Conversations continue with a second round of morning breakout sessions — participants select one of seven concurrent opportunities to engage with industry leaders. Sessions to be announced.
Breakout 1: The Smart(er) Bank: Fast, Differentiated & Trusted
Quintin Sykes, Partner, Cornerstone Advisors, Inc.
Smart banks do a lot well. Smarter banks take it up a notch in pursuit of hyper-efficiency and stand-out performance. This panel discussion brings several of Cornerstone’s “trouble making banking clients” together. The conversation shines a light on growing deposits at a reasonable cost of funds. Explores new liquidity models. Debates how to prioritize, and orchestrate, change. All to provide practical intelligence to those data-driven, and outcome-focused, participants of AOBA.
Breakout 2: Growing Deposits and Primary Relationships
Dave DeFazio, Partner, StrategyCorps
Checking products are more important than ever to start, grow and maintain deposit relationships. Especially ones that are primary, profitable and engaged enough to cross sell other deposit and loan products. Yet most banks’ checking product features are irrelevant to today’s marketplace, don’t grow revenue and drag down earnings. In this session we share the latest market research on what consumers and business owners want in their checking products; live examples of existing product features that are winning and new features that are changing expectations of today’s banking customers.
Breakout 3: Charting New Financial Frontiers: Equipment Leasing Redefining Banking
Anthony Cracchiolo, President & CEO, U.S. Bank Equipment Finance
Chuck Sulerzyski, President & CEO, Peoples Bancorp Inc. and Peoples Bank
Moderated by: Bob Rinaldi, President, Rinaldi Advisory Services
Unlock profitable horizons with equipment leasing and finance. Learn from two bank leaders who diversified their C&I portfolio with this lower risk option. Hear their real-life experiences including equipment leasing’s positive impacts on spread and ROA. Interact directly with these outstanding community bank executives.
Breakout 4: How Banks Are Using AI to Grow Loan Volume
Dan O’Malley, CEO & Co-founder, Numerated
Every institution now faces the challenge of driving growth in a volatile lending environment. Industry leaders are focused on what they can control – what’s inside the bank. With resources scarce, many are looking to leverage artificial intelligence to reshape how they engage with borrowers. Boards are demanding to know how their banks will implement AI-driven strategies to increase efficiency, manage risk, propel growth and beat the competition. Join a fintech CEO and bank executives as they discuss how to best leverage AI to automate underwriting, auto-generate credit memos, drive engagement and change the overall user experience for lenders and borrowers alike.
Breakout 5: Four Common Forces Leading to Technology Solution Pivots
Tori VanCura Rutland, Chief Growth Officer, HC3
This session delivers an overview of four common forces that cause bankers to invest money, resource time and process change to leave solution providers. The four key questions are: What is my integration’s value to our brand today? Why am I doing the heavy lifting my partner should be doing? What technologies will integrate with what’s needed to take our brand forward? Why are we putting our brand at risk with our current situation?
Breakout 6: Optimizing Public Markets to add Value to Shareholders
Laura Hamilton, Vice President, OTC Markets Group Inc.
The effects of the 2023 global banking market have created more opportunities for US community banks. In this session we discuss how your bank can add value to your shareholders by optimizing the public markets, which serve as an avenue to levering your stock as a currency in future M&A transactions.
Breakout 7: Bank M&A Master Class: Best Practices and Lessons Learned for Maximizing Value and Minimizing Deal Risk
Christopher Olsen, Managing Partner, Olsen Palmer LLC
Attend this session to hear a moderated ‘fireside’ panel discussion with a recent selling bank CEO and a recent acquiring CEO. For prospective sellers, learn best practices for preparing for and executing a sale as well as characteristics that achieve a premium price. For would-be buyers, gain better insights on the seller’s mindset, the deal process, areas of value creation, and key transaction risks.
12:05 PM – 1:05 PM
Networking Lunch
Lunch is served outside as you enjoy networking time with your colleagues in the Arizona weather!
12:05 PM – 1:05 PM
Women in Banking Luncheon
Sponsored by: Mastercard Inc.
Expanding on the Women in Banking Reception held on Saturday, this is an opportunity for women to come together over lunch to share. Both men and women are invited to attend this luncheon.
1:05 PM – 1:10 PM
What Your Peers Think
Emily McCormick, Vice President of Editorial & Research, Bank Director
Hear quick takes from Bank Director’s latest research studies.
1:10 PM – 1:30 PM
Findings from Bank Director’s M&A Research Study
Rick Childs, Partner, Crowe LLP
Emily McCormick, Vice President of Editorial & Research, Bank Director
This session shares insights from our annual M&A research survey, sponsored by Crowe LLP.
1:30 PM – 2:10 PM
Keynote Presentation
Brian Moynihan, Chair of the Board & CEO, Bank of America
Moderated by: Jack Milligan, Editor-at-Large, Bank Director
In honor of our 30th anniversary, Editor-at-Large Jack Milligan talks with the CEO of one of the largest banks in the country, the CEO of Bank of America.
2:25 PM – 3:55 PM
Fintech How To Workshop
Aaron Donaldson, Principal, Technology & Management Consulting, RSM US LLP
Joe Kaczmarek, Partner, National Fintech Leader, RSM US LLP
Brandon Koeser, Senior Manager, Assurance Services, RSM US LLP
Richard Levin, Chair – Fintech & Regulation Practice, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Craig Nazzaro, Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Brad Rustin, Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Speakers To Be Announced, RSM US LLP
Join this workshop to learn where you need to be with technology. This session includes how-to’s around decision-making, integration, market analysis and more. This workshop is exclusive to 45 bank attendees only, allows for one banker per institution, no capital markets titles (this session is NOT for investment bankers of any kind) and runs concurrently with the below breakout sessions.
2:25 PM – 3:05 PM
Breakout Sessions
Participants may select from one of six breakout sessions to attend. Sessions to be announced.
Breakout 1: Future-Proofing Your Bank Through Innovative Compensation Strategies
Flynt Gallagher, President, Newcleus Compensation Advisors
The past three years have seen an upheaval in the ability to attract, retain and motivate talent in an extremely tight labor market. Now, the pendulum may be swinging back “our” way…or not. Is this struggle for talent the new normal? If so, why? And what strategies and forms of compensation our peers and even other markets have adopted to grab the best talent…and keep them. We examine recent trends and what you can do right now to make sure you have the right people in the right place at the right time.
Breakout 2: Building Strong Foundations: Enhancing Commercial Relationships in Today’s Market
Debbie Smart, Senior Product Marketer, Commercial Solutions, Q2
Gita Thollesson, Manager, Strategic Advisory Services, Q2
As banks and credit unions continue to adjust to the new normal of today’s interest rate environment, they must modify strategies and business practices for continued growth and profitability. A focus on building strong, robust and lucrative commercial relationships is at the heart of those strategies for many financial institutions, and cross-selling is more important than ever. What are the must-have offerings and capabilities that make commercial clients willing to go deeper with your FI?
Breakout 3: The Research Analysts’ Perspective on Technology in Banking
David Feaster, Director, Equity Capital Markets, Raymond James Financial, Inc.
This session includes a discussion of technology in banking and how management teams are utilizing technology to both drive growth as well as improve processes and efficiency. We also discuss recent innovations, regulatory issues, investor sentiment, the credit outlook and how technology can impact both profitability and valuation.
Breakout 4: Evolving Risk Management by Pairing Process with Technology
Mike Horrocks, Vice President of Product Management, Baker Hill Solutions, LLC.
Protecting the interests of stakeholders through sound risk management policies and processes is critical for the health of your institution and the success of your customers. In this session discover how to modify risk in a business environment that no one could have predicted by pairing technology with process.
Breakout 5: One Year Later: The Bond Market’s View of Community Banks
Van Hesser, Senior Managing Director, Chief Strategist, KBRA
How much can change in a year? KBRA research has helped open the investment-grade debt markets to community bank issuance. As we navigate the shocking bank failures this year, this session examines the issuing landscape and how credit markets view community banks.
Breakout 6: Specialty Finance – A Mature Industry with Attractive Opportunities for Banks
Gary McNorrill, Head of M&A, Brean Capital, LLC
Osnat Naporano, Head of Syndicate, Brean Capital, LLC
The commercial specialty finance industry has grown into a ~$300 billion segment of the financial services space by providing funding to small and medium sized businesses. This session provides an update on the sector and explores opportunities SpecFin companies can provide banks to expand their borrower universe, obtain attractive yields and diversify their revenue streams.
3:05 PM – 3:25 PM
Refreshment Break
3:25 PM – 4:05 PM
Breakout Sessions
Conversations continue with a second round of afternoon breakout sessions — participants select one of six concurrent opportunities to learn. Sessions to be announced.
Breakout 1: Driving Deposit Growth Through Treasury Management Services
Lauren Bray, Deposit Product Specialist and Counsel, TruStage Compliance Solutions
Amy Ferguson, Sales Support Manager, TruStage Compliance Solutions
Erin Simpson, EVP, Chief Operations Officer, Encore Bank
If you’re not exploring targeted treasury management support for your commercial customers, you could be leaving money on the table. In this session, we discuss the factors to consider when optimizing your treasury management services and how investing in those services can help to draw and retain customers, increase your efficiency, build long-lasting relationships, and of course, grow your deposit base.
Breakout 2: Managing Your Balance Sheet Through a Not Your Average Recession
Joe Kennerson, Managing Director, Darling Consulting Group
Matt Pieniazek, President & CEO, Darling Consulting Group
Amid the fastest Fed tightening cycle in modern banking history, a steeply inverted curve, and margins being squeezed, creating a strategic perspective at ALCO has never been more critical. This session focuses on strategies to navigate through this period of uncertainty and will focus on lending, investments, deposits, wholesale, and hedging initiatives to help shape a strategic ALCO meeting.
Breakout 3: Three Strategies to Accelerate Deposit Growth
Har Rai Khalsa, VP, Product Management, Alkami Technology, Inc.
Mark Leher, Director, Product Management, Alkami Technology, Inc.
In a shifting banking landscape, transitioning from lending to deposits is challenged by neobanks’ tech-edge. This session delves into trust-building, digital onboarding optimization and data-driven growth strategies. Engage in discussions about solidifying banking relationships, fostering business partnerships and strategies to thrive in today’s competitive environment.
Breakout 4: Embedded Payments – The Cost of the Neglected Opportunity
Booshan Rengachari, Founder & CEO, Finzly
Why are banks prioritizing external ecosystems as much as their internal products? The focus of value creation is transitioning towards business ecosystems constructed on platforms. Many banks are adapting to support the platform economy by enabling embedded payments, nurturing verticals and orchestrating financial services. Discover how banks are becoming hidden innovators in embedded payments through APIs for the platform economy.
Breakout 5: Playing the Long Game: Veteran Bankers’ Winning Strategies
Additional Speakers To Be Announced
Eric Sprink, CEO, Coastal Community Bank
Moderated by: Nathan Baumeister, CEO & Co-founder, ZSuite Technologies, Inc.
Over the last 20 years, the industry has been rocked by the 2008-2009 financial crisis, Covid-19 and this year’s dramatic swings. In this engaging discussion, industry veterans reflect on the lessons they’ve learned from the past and the unexpected advantages they’ve uncovered through adversity. Discover how these lessons are being applied in today’s dynamic financial landscape, equipping you with valuable insights to enhance your own financial strategies. Join us for a thought-provoking session that promises to provide a deeper understanding of resilience and adaptability in the world of finance.
4:20 PM – 5:00 PM
Risks to Consider
Luigi De Ghenghi, Partner, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Rishi Khosla, Founder & CEO, OakNorth
Gabe Nachand, Partner, Moss Adams LLP
Moderated by: Naomi Snyder, Editor-in-Chief, Bank Director
This session discusses the notable and newer risks that all banks need to be aware of.
5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Strong Teams Build Strong Banks
Darrin Williams, CEO, Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Additional Speakers To Be Announced
Moderated by: Michelle King, President, Bank Director
This panel session, comprised of bankers and industry experts, discusses how they are focused on building the best team to allow for future growth. What attributes are needed, and how does this type of talent align with your bank’s overall strategy? Join us to hear what our panelists have done to not only build their team to meet today’s goals – but what they are doing to build their team for long-term, future growth
5:45 PM – 6:45 PM
Networking Peer & Guest Reception
Sponsored by: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company