Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired Conference provides senior leadership teams with numerous opportunities to network with peers that share an interest in exploring financial growth opportunities, strategic initiatives and business partnerships. Entering our 30th year, this annual conference is widely regarded as the industry’s premier strategy event for a bank’s CEO, board of directors and their executive team seeking new growth opportunities.

Topical Discussions + Practical Insights
Acquire or Be Acquired sessions focus on key topics, such as:

• Creating Shareholder Value
• Building A Bank For the Future
• The Changing Technology Landscape
• Emerging Growth Trends and Opportunities
• Understanding Your Tech Stack

Over the course of three days, bank officers and directors in the financial industry gain a better understanding of the current state of the economy, explore paths to creating greater shareholder value and focus on how the competitive landscape continues to evolve.

Technology Roadmaps + Partnerships
During the event Bank Director has included technology sessions for those bank executives responsible for the digital strategies of the bank. These sessions take place during our exclusive FinXTech Sessions that you’ll notice throughout the agenda. From ChatGPT and the changing technology landscape to digital growth strategies and contract negotiations, creating the right partner to improving user experiences, Bank Director brings together many of the industry’s standout companies.

Network with Influential People
Acquire or Be Acquired provides senior leadership teams with numerous opportunities to network with peers that share an interest in exploring growth opportunities, strategic business initiatives and beneficial partnerships. Officers and directors from public and private financial institutions, leading fintech professionals, senior partners from law firms, top investment bankers, accounting partners, management consultants and investors comprise the audience in Arizona each and every year.

For more information, please email events@bankdirector.com or call our events department at 877-397-7595.

The rate includes all conference activities, materials, meals and beverages at the event site. The price does not include travel or hotel accommodations.

Conference Rates
Standard Individual Rate: $2,495
Standard Group Rate: $2,295 (For groups of 3 or more from the same financial institution.)

Membership Program Conference Rates
If your bank is a participating program member, please contact 877-397-7595 to find out about special conference rates and/or event passes that may be available to you and your board. For questions or to find out more about Bank Director’s membership program, please email bankservices@bankdirector.com.

Guest Registration
The guest rate of $595 covers entrance to the Sunday lunch and all evening receptions. Guests interested in playing with attendees in the golf tournament can sign up based on space availability for an additional fee of $205. (If a guest would like to attend the sessions, please register them as an attendee. A guest is a spouse, significant other or friend who is not in a financial services occupation. A co-worker (even a spouse co-worker) or an associate within the financial services industry is not considered a guest and should register as an attendee.)

Non-Banker Rate: $4,195
This registration fee applies to attendees who are board advisors/observers, investment bankers, attorneys, accounting firms, and other vendors and service providers. This rate also applies to managing directors of a bank’s investment banking practice. Bank Director reserves the right to verify your company profile and adjust your registration rate if necessary.

Discounted Hotel Rate
The discounted room block at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge is nearly sold out; however, leisure rates are available. Please contact the hotel directly at  (800) 898-4527 or click here to see what is available – and feel free to contact the hotel periodically as we get closer to January 2024 for changing availability. Below is a list of other nearby properties:

Holiday Inn Express and Suites Phoenix North – Scottsdale
4575 East Irma Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85054
1.1 miles away
877-570-9579

Cambria Hotel – Phoenix
4425 East Irma Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85054
1.1 miles away
480-585-6644

SpringHill Suites Scottsdale North
17020 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
3.7 miles away
480-922-8700

Payments & Cancellation
Conference registration includes admittance to all conference activities and the conference materials. Payment will be accepted by check, American Express, Visa, MasterCard or Discover. If paying by check, please make payable to DirectorCorps, Inc. and include the attendee’s name(s) and/or a copy of the registration form and mail to:

Conferences
Bank Director
201 Summit View Drive, Suite 250
Brentwood, TN 37027

Due to commitments and expenses, all cancellations after December 8, 2023 will be subject to a $450 processing fee. We regret that no refunds will be given after January 5, 2024; however, substitute participants are welcomed. DirectorCorps, Inc. assumes no liability for any nonrefundable travel, hotel or related expenses incurred by registrants.To review our in person event waiver, please click HERE.

For more information, please contact our events department at 877-397-7595.

• Saturday, January 27

  5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
  Celebrating Women in Leadership Reception
  Sponsored by: Piper Sandler & Co.
  With so many top executives and board members traveling to this conference on Saturday, this reception provides female executives an opportunity to meet their contemporaries from across the United States. Please note: a separate registration is not needed to attend this reception as it is included in the conference registration.

  5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
  First-Time Attendee Reception
  Sponsored by: Bank Director
  Concurrent to our Women in Leadership Reception, we welcome first-time attendees to our Acquire or Be Acquired Conference. Meet members of the Bank Director leadership team and others attending the conference for the first time. Please note: a separate registration is not needed to attend this reception as it is included in the conference registration.

  5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  Welcoming Reception & Registration
  Sponsored by: Piper Sandler & Co.
  While winter grips much of the country, we’ve found early evening in Arizona to be a welcome change for many joining us. Kick off the conference by catching up with old friends and making new connections.

• Day One | Sunday, January 28

  7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
  Registration & Breakfast

  8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
  Welcome to the 30th Annual AOBA!
  Michelle King, President, Bank Director
  Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director
  Bank Director welcomes business leaders across the United States to this very special event – our 30th annual Acquire or Be Acquired Conference!

  8:10 AM – 8:55 AM
  What Happened and What’s Next – The 2024 State of Banking
  Thomas Michaud, President & CEO, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company
  The conference opens with an overview of where the industry is today and what that means for you and your bank.

  8:55 AM – 9:35 AM
  A Look Back Over the Last 30 Years in Banking
  Al Dominick, Partner, Cornerstone Advisors
  David Sandler, Co-Head & Managing Director, Investment Banking Financial Services Group, Piper Sandler & Co.
  Mandi Simpson, Partner, Crowe LLP
  Moderated by: Jack Milligan, Editor-at-Large, Bank Director
  As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Acquire or Be Acquired, this panel recalls the many changes in banking over the past three decades – and notes the biggest themes that have shaped where we are today.

  9:35 AM – 9:55 AM
  Refreshment Break
  Sponsored by: Encapture
  

  9:55 AM – 10:35 AM
  Breakout Sessions
  Participants have the opportunity to select one of seven breakout sessions to attend. These sessions are strategic and build on this morning’s general session presentations.

  Breakout 1: What the Board Needs to Know in 2024
  Robert Fleetwood, Partner, Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
  Al Laufenburg, Managing Director, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company
  This breakout session continues the “Need to Know” series that has consistently been a popular highlight at this conference for many years. Gain practical insight into what CEOs and directors need to know in 2024 and beyond.

  Breakout 2: Bank M&A Update: Why Capital/Balance Sheet Management Will Be a Key Component of Dealmaking in 2024
  Michael Barry, Senior Managing Director, Head of Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regions, Hovde Group, LLC
  Will Curtiss, Director, Hovde Group, LLC
  This session briefly reviews bank M&A activity in 2023, the key factors which slowed activity during the year, and expectations for bank M&A in 2024, with capital (both organic and externally raised) and balance sheet management being key components to any successful bank M&A strategy.

  Breakout 3: Accounting & Auditing Issues: What Banks Should Know
  Lyle Alexander, Partner, FORVIS
  Ashley Ensley, Partner, FORVIS
  This session shares updates on top accounting and auditing matters specific to the banking industry.

  Breakout 4: How Banks Should Make the Decision to Buy or Sell
  Josh McNulty, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  Beth Whitaker, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  Decisions made even before bankers engage with the other side foretell the likelihood of success. This session discusses various considerations the boards of both sellers and buyers should make in order to play the negotiating game in the most effective manner.

  Breakout 5: The Rocky Road Ahead: Creating Value in Economic and Regulatory Uncertainties
  Jill Castilla, President & CEO, Citizens Bank of Edmond
  Dave Koch, Managing Director, Advisory Services, Abrigo, Inc.
  Roy Young, SVP and Head of Mid Cap & Community Banking, U.S. Bank
  Moderated by: Rob Blackwell, Chief Content Officer & Head of External Affairs, IntraFi
  IntraFi’s Rob Blackwell, moderates a panel of top bank executives and a bank advisor as they discuss the economic challenges on the ground and what changes policymakers are contemplating. How should banks be thinking about interest rates and deposit competition right now? What issues are bankers and policymakers most worried about? How do the market conditions influence value creation?

  Breakout 6: Using Data to Drive Earnings Boost
  Aaron Donaldson, Principal, Technology & Management Consulting, RSM US LLP
  Brandon Koeser, Director, Risk Consulting, RSM US LLP
  Strong, sustainable earnings are key to an effective growth strategy for banks in the current economic environment. Access to the right data allows banks to target the right customers to increase wallet share and meaningfully boost their earnings. Managing data effectively using metrics and dashboard reporting is critical to a successful growth strategy. For many institutions, information can be hard to find or is often insufficient for developing an effective strategy. This session provides an overview of solutions that allow you to effectively capture and monitor data in real-time through the integration of information from multiple sources.

  Breakout 7: Get to Know the Next Generation of Digital Consumers
  Anne Doligale, Vice President, Visa USA Inc.
  Engaging with digital consumers is essential to stay current in today’s market. But who are they? What do they want? And how are their actions accelerating payments innovations? Take a deep dive into Visa’s research of the attitudes, behaviors and expectations of next-generation consumers.

  10:50 AM – 11:30 AM
  Don’t Take Your Eyes Off of The Balance Sheet
  Eric Corrigan, Senior Managing Director, Commerce Street Capital, LLC
  John Roddy, Head of Financial Services Investment Banking, Raymond James Financial, Inc.
  Matt Veneri, Head of Investment Banking and Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
  Moderated by: Jim McAlpin, Board Member, Bank Director
  There is a clear link between balance sheets, earnings and ultimately, valuation. Hear how your bank’s financial statements are affected by various factors – and how you can impact them positively.

  11:30 AM – 12:10 PM
  New Frontiers to Consider
  Robert Azarow, Partner, Arnold & Porter
  David Carlson, Head of Sales, MANTL
  Peter Glyman, Managing Director, Corporate Strategy, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
  Moderated by: Michelle King, President, Bank Director
  Per Bank Director’s 2023 Risk Survey, three-quarters of respondents say their board or leadership team has discussed risks or opportunities related to cryptocurrency or digital assets in the past 18 months. 64% percent say the same of banking as a service (BaaS), and 69% say that of environmental, social and governance issues. Cannabis, on the minds of 58% of respondents, has been more commonly discussed at banks under $5 billion in assets. This session focuses on the most cutting-edge topics out there. Yesterday was ChatGPT; what will January 2024 bring?

  

  10:50 AM – 11:25 AM
  FinXTech Session: Navigating the Changing Technology Landscape
  Joe Ehrhardt, CEO & Founder, Teslar Software
  Clayton Mitchell, Managing Principal, Crowe LLP
  Justin Steffan, Partner, Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
  Moderated by: Kiah Haslett, Banking & Fintech Editor, Bank Director
  How do you navigate the constant changes in technology? What are the must-haves and nice-to-haves as you build your bank’s digital strategy? Learn what you need to know so your bank can remain competitive and grow in today’s current environment.

  11:35 AM – 12:10 PM
  FinXTech Session: How to Best Partner and Manage Your Tech Stack
  Erin Fonté, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  Jeff Nowicki, Vice President of Banking, Treasury Prime
  Patrick Sells, CEO & Co-founder, True Digital
  Moderated by: Lexie Grindstaff, Vice President of Business Development, Bank Director
  During this session, industry leaders dive into how banks can find the right technology partner and how to structure the relationship best so it is a win for both sides. Hear what works, what doesn’t and best practices for vetting a potential partner.

  12:10 PM – 1:20 PM
  Networking Peer & Guest Lunch
  Sponsored by: Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
  

  12:25 PM – 1:05 PM
  Lunch & Learn Sessions
  Lunch & Learn sessions offer participants the chance to learn about a shared topic of interest over lunch.  Six sessions run concurrently, so attendees may select one to attend. Sessions to be announced.

  Lunch & Learn Session 1: Who is Using Your Liquidity and Capital & Are You Getting Paid for It?
  Mac Thompson, President & Founder, White Clay
  Liquidity and capital are becoming scarce resources in this evolving economy. Understanding relationship profitability for each client provides insight into how those clients use liquidity and capital and contribute to shareholder value. The session also includes examples and related action plans.

  Lunch & Learn Session 2:  Leveraging Data to Tell Your Financial Story
  Ken Levey, Managing Director, Empyrean Solutions, LLC
  Bryan Ridgway, Director, Performance Management, Empyrean Solutions, LLC
  The economic environment is demanding more from bank finance teams. They must become experts in several crucial, strategic areas for the bank, including accounting, performance and profitability measurement, risk management, reporting and analytics. This session is designed to help banks evolve their finance area into a key strategic partner and the chief storyteller for the organization, empowering them to respond to emerging concerns as the bank charts its path forward.

  Lunch & Learn Session 3:  Top 10 Ways to Impact Profitability During Economic Uncertainty
  Mike Holt, Partner, Profit Resources Inc.
  High-performing banks throughout the United States continue to improve profitability—despite the unpredictable economy and regulatory burden.  Profitable banks are closely monitor items that can increase non-interest income such as interchange and fee income.  On the expense side, bankers are focusing on things such as system contracts and capacity planning.  This session provides benchmarks and specific details for immediately implementing the top 10 ways to impact income and expenses.  No matter your institution’s profit performance, this session gives you tools for improving and/or sustaining high-performing profitability.

  Lunch & Learn Session 4: Sharing in the Dream: How to Structure Executive Compensation to Facilitate an M&A Event
  Anthony Eppert, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  Brian Marek, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  This session covers issues to consider before a change-in-control transaction is imminent, a shareholder’s perspective, how certain arrangements can provide the executive individual negotiation power with the buyer, the attractiveness to the buyer of certain pay structures and designing plans that maximize the amounts paid to executives.

  Lunch & Learn Session 5: Aligning Bank Board and Executive Leadership in Challenging Market Times
  Dr. Julie Bell, Leadership Advisory, Chartwell Partners
  Sean O’Neal, Partner, Chartwell Partners
  Scott Petty, Partner, Chartwell Partners
  With director and CEO retirement at an all-time high, is your bank proactively seeking leaders and board members with the capabilities aligned to your bank’s strategic plan? This session discusses the key skill sets needed in the board and C-suite to thrive and remain independent. Participants receive Chartwell’s proprietary board skills matrix and succession planning model.

  Lunch & Learn Session 6: Fight the Fed: Hedging to Protect the Balance Sheet
  Terry Earley, CFO, Veritex Community Bank
  Isaac Wheeler, Head of Balance Sheet Strategy, Derivative Path, Inc.
  Moderated by: Chris Slusher, Head of Bank Solutions, Derivative Path, Inc.
  Interest rate volatility has challenged even the most robust depositories over the last several years. This session discusses relevant hedging strategies that help shield the balance sheet from the effects of monetary policy and changing rates.

  1:20 PM – 2:00 PM
  Getting the Highest Value Possible
  Curtis Carpenter, Senior Managing Director, Hovde Group, LLC
  This session explores the primary drivers of value entering 2024 and looks to where banking, specifically community banking, is heading.

  1:20 PM – 1:55 PM
  FinXTech Session: Ensuring the Financial Health & Managing the Risks of Your Fintech Partnership
  Brad Rustin, Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
  Daniel Haisley, EVP of Innovation, Apiture
  Jack Thompson, Head of Financial Services Sales, Americas, SAS Institute, Inc.
  Moderated by: Lexie Grindstaff, Vice President of Business Development, Bank Director
  Before partnering with a fintech, you want to know they are going to be around for the long haul. You want to ensure they are financially healthy and mitigate potential vendor risks. Find out the must-ask-questions to ensure a long-lasting partnership.

  2:15 PM – 2:55 PM
  Breakout Sessions
  Participants can select one of seven concurrent breakout sessions to attend – focused on exploring all of your bank’s many growth options.  Sessions to be announced.

  Breakout 1: Compensation and Its Effect on M&A
  Laura Hay, Partner, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC
  Dan Kaufman, Partner, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC
  The M&A environment creates new compensation challenges as deals take longer, and the number of mergers of equals rises. This session includes topics such as retaining key talent pre-close, setting compensation when merged CEOs continue working for the combined entity, what to do when a deal falls through and combining disparate board compensation structures.

  Breakout 2: How to Achieve 77% YOY Growth: An Omnichannel Account Opening Playbook
  Rudy Beeching, EVP, Managing Director of Retail & Business Banking, Veritex Community Bank
  Nathaniel Harley, CEO & Co-founder, MANTL
  Looking to optimize commercial and retail deposit growth and improve operational efficiency across all banking channels in 2024? Join MANTL and Veritex Community Bank to discuss their playbooks for omnichannel deposit origination. Learn how digitizing their deposit origination across branches, online and call centers simultaneously drove better business outcomes, including supercharged commercial and retail growth.

  Breakout 3: The Return of M&A: Have the Rules of the Game Changed?
  Tom Hayes, Managing Director, D.A. Davidson & Co.
  Chuck Stubbs, Managing Director, D.A. Davidson & Co.
  There are several macro-factors that have adversely impacted bank M&A activity in 2022 and 2023, and the sector is due for a rebound. This session delves into why M&A activity has been muted, why a significant increase is expected and how buyers and sellers can position themselves for success.

  Breakout 4: First AOCI, then Margin Compression and a Liquidity Crunch. Now, Opportunity? YES!
  Gary Svec, Managing Director, Investment Banking, Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC
  This session identifies the dramatic changes that have affected the industry over the past year, looks ahead to what may be coming, identifies huge opportunities now available to mitigate future interest rate risk and takes advantage of incredible options to greatly enhance shareholder value.

  Breakout 5: Lessons Learned From a Cross-Border Acquisition of a Specialty Finance Lender That Became an Operating Subsidiary of a National Bank
  Al Doering, Chief M&A Officer, Stearns Bank N.A.
  Mike Lochmann, Partner, Stinson LLP
  Heather Plumski, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer, Stearns Bank N.A.
  Selena Samale, Of Counsel, Stinson LLP
  Stearns Bank, N.A, purchased a 70% controlling interest in a Delaware corporation engaged in specialty finance lending from a Canadian corporation. It became an operating subsidiary of the bank with increased net interest margins on its U.S. loan portfolio. The panel discusses this cross-border non-bank acquisition’s unusual business, regulatory and tax aspects.

  Breakout 6: Leveraging Innovation: Community Banks’ Roadmap to Small Business Dominance
  Cary Cooper, CEO, Lenders Cooperative
  Carlos Naudon, President & CEO, Ponce Bank
  Ben Wallace, CEO, Summit Technology Group
  Hear from a banker on how they navigated and transformed their small business lending with innovative strategies and technology. Explore fintech collaborations, enhanced data models, streamlined processes and personalized customer experiences that elevate community banks as leaders in small business lending. Discover how innovation can redefine relationships, increase market share and unlock the potential of local economies.

  Breakout 7: AI in Banking
  Daragh Morrissey, Director Artificial Intelligence, Financial Services, Microsoft
  This session covers top use cases, security and responsibility for using AI.

  2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
  Crowe Tabletop Exercise
  Jill Czerwinski, Principal, Crowe LLP
  Tracy Hall, Senior Manager, Business Continuity Management, Crowe LLP
  Stephanie White, Senior Manager, Crowe LLP
  Tabletop Simulations are an effective way to practice crisis response planning and operational recovery capabilities by allowing team members to “experience” a tailored scenario – and the challenges resulting from this scenario – in a relaxed, non-threatening atmosphere. The simulation fosters collaborative conversation, develops critical decision making and surfaces areas for improvement by equipping the response team members to better safeguard the organization while mitigating the financial, reputational, legal and operational impacts resulting from an incident of any kind.

  Please join us for a fictional simulated exercise that will prove to be impactful and insightful to gauging your organization’s readiness!  The Tabletop Simulation is exclusive to 35 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 breakout sessions during this time period.

  2:55 PM – 3:15 PM
  Refreshment Break
  Sponsored by: Mercer Capital
  

  3:15 PM – 3:55 PM
  Breakout Sessions
  Conversations continue with a second round of afternoon breakout sessions — participants select one of seven concurrent opportunities. Sessions to be announced.

  Breakout 1: Creative Solutions for Addressing Deal Certainty in Uncertain Times
  Scott Brown, Partner, Luse Gorman, PC
  Lawrence Spaccasi, Partner, Luse Gorman, PC
  This session focuses on the current regulatory climate concerning M&A, emphasizing changing regulatory standards for approval of transactions, hot-button issues and potential regulatory threats to the successful and timely completion of a transaction. It also discusses the proliferation of more unique or creative solutions employed in the recent M&A context (including by credit unions and investor groups) and the attendant regulatory and diligence issues they raise. The session provides examples of recent unique and non-traditional transactions and features as well as merger agreement provisions that can (and should) be considered when engaging with these non-traditional purchasers to better protect the seller. With the increased regulatory scrutiny of merger transactions, this session explores ways to optimize the diligence process, including balancing a party’s need to ascertain an entity’s regulatory standing while continuing to fulfill its obligations about the treatment of confidential supervisory information.

  Breakout 2: Building and Scaling a Best-In-Class Cannabis Banking Program
  Shannon Cox, Chief Operations Officer, Southwest Capital Bank
  Stacy Litke, VP, Banking Programs, Green Check Verified
  More banks than ever are serving the legal cannabis industry, garnering low-cost deposits, additional fee income and a host of other benefits. But what goes into running and scaling a successful program? In this session, hear directly from one of the leaders in cannabis banking, Southwest Capital Bank, and take away practical insights on how to work safely and effectively with cannabis-related businesses.

  Breakout 3: Growing Small Business Deposits and Income
  Derik Sutton, Chief Marketing Officer, Autobooks
  Today, small business owners, independent workers and non-profits are turning to third-party providers for a variety of financial needs – fragmenting their relationship with the bank. Attend this session to learn about the challenge of competing against third-party providers and about small business customer research that illuminates the opportunity. This session also considers how your bank can easily enable market-ready digital payment acceptance tools directly from your existing online and mobile banking channels within weeks of the conference.

  Breakout 4: Accelerating Bank Modernization: Strategies to Launch Cost-savvy, Digital Offerings in Months, Not Years
  Musi Qureshi, Partner, PwC
  Mike Shipham, Director, PwC
  Discover how to launch cost-savvy digital offerings in a matter of months, not years, with intentional design strategies, industry-leading blueprints, technology accelerators and cutting-edge generative AI (Gen-AI) solutions.

  Breakout 5: History Doesn’t Repeat But It Often Rhymes – Top Takeaways From 2023 and the 2024 Outlook for Community and Regional Banking
  Jill Cetina, Associate Managing Director, Financial Institutional Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
  Megan Fox, Vice President, Senior Analyst, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
  Moody’s Investors Service provides their outlook on the community and regional banking sector, including the impact of interest rates, regulation and macroeconomic risks.  We also summarize top takeaways from 2023 and the 2024 outlook.

  Breakout 6: Delivering a Personalized Digital Banking Experience to Maximize Lifetime Customer Value
  Daniel Haisley, EVP of Innovation, Apiture
  83% of today’s financial consumers are willing to consent to share financial data if it leads to a better customer experience, according to an Accenture report. In light of this statistic, financial institutions are increasingly using relevant data to surface users’ needs, then taking action to deliver the right solutions at the right time. In this session, find out how employing a data strategy can help your bank personalize customer journeys and facilitate better user engagement.

  Breakout 7: From Local Roots to National Reach: How an Award-Winning Bank Expanded in 72 Days
  Jill Castilla, President & CEO, Citizens Bank of Edmond
  Nikhil Lakhanpal, Co-founder, Narmi Inc.
  Join us for a deep dive into the transformative journey of Citizens Bank of Edmond, an Oklahoma-based, single-branch bank that shattered traditional banking norms by going national in just 72 days. Learn how agility, the power of digital account opening technology and a strong brand identity facilitated this leap. As technology takes the forefront, explore the strategies employed by the bank to ensure the human touch and customer experience remains integral.

  4:10 PM – 4:50 PM
  Where We Are Today: Exploring Your Growth Options
  Gary Bronstein, Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
  Kevin Schalk, Partner, Banking and Capital Markets Sector Leader, Baker Tilly US, LLP
  Frank Sorrentino, Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group, Stephens Inc.
  Moderated by: Emily McCormick, Vice President of Editorial & Research, Bank Director
  This panel session explores growth opportunities with a forward view on the current trends and opportunities available to institutions today. As performance expectations continue to shift, look at what banks should think about today with an eye on the future.

  4:10 PM – 4:45 PM
  FinXTech Session: Winning the War on Deposits
  Stephen Bohanon, Co-founder, Chief Strategy & Product Officer, Alkami Technology, Inc.
  Parker Graham, Founder & CEO, Finotta
  Mac Thompson, President & Founder, White Clay
  Moderated by: Kiah Hashlett, Banking & Fintech Editor, Bank Director
  The battle for deposits continues, so how can your bank win the war? This session considers embedded finance strategies, looks at the pros and cons of niche banking, and offers several account opening solutions that provide a customer experience that will not only retain your existing client base but also attract new business to your institution.

  4:50 PM – 6:30 PM
  Networking Peer & Guest Reception
  Sponsored by: MJC Partners LLC, R&T Deposit Solutions and SAS Institute, Inc.

• Day Two | Monday, January 29

  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
  James Beckwith, President & CEO, Five Star Bank
  Corey Chambas, CEO, First Business Financial Services, Inc.
  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: Kiah Haslett, Banking & Fintech Editor, 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, Chief Industry Innovation Officer, nCino
  Moderated by: Lexie Grindstaff, Vice President of Business Development, 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
  Sponsored by: Freedom Capital Markets
  

  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 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. This session reviews the impact taking a loss today vs. holding the bonds to maturity can have on the value of a bank’s equity and also reviews an intermediate strategy referred to as the installment method.

  Breakout 3: Leadership Talent Assessment: A Key to Unlocking Shareholder Value in Mergers
  Michelle Hickox, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, First Financial Bankshares, Inc.
  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. This session shares 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: TBD
  TBD, Agent IQ

  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 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) for a captivating session that delves deep into the dynamic world of community banking, focusing on the pivotal role of data. 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. This session promises to illuminate the path forward for community banking in the data-driven era.

  Breakout 7: 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.

  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
  John Eggemeyer, Chair of the Board, Pacific Western Bank
  Collyn Gilbert, EVP, Chief Strategy & Marketing Office, Valley National Bank
  Moderated by:Quintin Sykes, Partner, Cornerstone Advisors
  Smart banks do a lot well. Smarter banks do even more 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 is 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. This session shares the latest market research on what consumers and business owners want in their checking products as well as gives 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
  Duane Dewey, President & CEO, Trustmark National Bank and Trustmark Corporation
  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
  Jay McLeod, Chief Operations Officer, FOCUS Bank
  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.
  James VanSickle, CEO, Wayne Savings Bancshares, Inc.
  The effects of the 2023 global banking market have created more opportunities for US community banks. In this session learn 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
  Gary Crum, Former CEO, Western States Bank
  Bruce Lee, President & CEO, HTLF
  Moderated by: 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. 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: Bank of America.

  2:25 PM – 3:55 PM
  Fintech How-To Workshop
  From Idea to Impact:  A Guide for Banks to Collaborate with Fintechs to Drive Growth
  Aaron Donaldson, Principal, Technology & Management Consulting, 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 engage in hands-on activities that inform how you can leverage financial technology to enhance customer experience. As regulatory scrutiny increases on fintech partnerships involving lending, Banking as a Service (BaaS), and payment relationships, it also increases with regards to BSA/AML, KYC, regulatory compliance and privacy issues. Attendees of this session learn the best ways for banks to develop and execute a fintech partnership strategy that complies with regulatory expectations while enhancing customer experience. Presenters offer insights about how partnerships are effectively created, best practices for banks’ developing strategies and in the process of on-boarding partnerships and how to scale controls.

  The first part of this program features a joint presentation by speakers from Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and RSM US LLP, who provide an overview and update on the current fintech regulatory environment. The second part features small group discussions focused on where you and your institution are in the process, including: overall regulatory concerns, how to embark on building fintech partnerships, and how to get unstuck when you have regulatory or other operational challenges. These discussions take a deeper dive into the fintech partner process for banks, focusing on regulatory and technology related considerations, whether you are just drafting a strategy, executing a strategy or actively managing multiple partner relationships.

  When registering for this workshop, please select one of three options that best describes where your bank is in terms of a fintech strategy: (1) Developing a fintech strategy; (2) Executing a fintech strategy; or (3) Actively managing multiple fintech partner relationships. You will be broken up into groups based on how you answer this question for the second part of the workshop.

  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…or not. Is this struggle for talent the new normal? If so, why? And what strategies and forms of compensation have your peers and even other markets have adopted to grab the best talent…and keep them? In this session examine recent trends and uncover what you can do right now to make sure you have the right people in the right place at the right time.

  Breakout 2: 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.

  Breakout 3:  The Research Analyst’s 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 and improve processes and efficiency. It also covers 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
  So much can change in a year. KBRA research has helped open the investment-grade debt markets to community bank issuance. Given the shocking bank failures last year, this session examines the issuing landscape and how credit markets view community banks.

  Breakout 6: 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
  Katherine Weislogel, EVP, Head of Treasury & Payment Solutions, Synovus Bank
  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?

  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. This session discusses 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, the asset-liability committee’s (ALCO) creating a strategic perspective at ALCO has never been more critical. This session focuses on strategies to navigate 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:  Navigating the Future:  Bank Strategic Planning Amidst Evolving Challenges
  and Shifting Regulatory Focus
  Erica Crain, Financial Services Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
  Susan Sabo, Managing Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
  2023 came with heightened attention on liquidity as well as increased focus on digital strategies and commercial real estate concentrations. Thi session discusses some of the recent industry and regulatory themes and how they should be incorporated into a solid strategic plan for your bank.

  Breakout 5: Playing the Long Game: Veteran Bankers’ Winning Strategies
  Frank Sorrentino, Chair of the Board & CEO, ConnectOne Bank
  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. This thought-provoking session promises to provide a deeper understanding of resilience and adaptability in the world of finance.

  Breakout 6:  Embedded Payments – The Cost of the Neglected Opportunity
  Shawn Main, EVP, Chief Business Architect, Vantage Bank
  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.

  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
  Tommy Nicholas, CEO, Alloy
  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
  Lisa Grennon, Managing Director, Global Corporate and Investment Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  Clayton Legear, President & CEO, Merchants & Marine Bancorp
  Darrin Williams, CEO, Southern Bancorp, Inc.
  Moderated by: Jenn Docherty, Co-founder, CEO & Founding Director, Bank on Women, Inc. and Mika Moser, CEO, At C Level, LLC
  This panel session, comprising bankers and industry experts, discusses how it is 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? Come hear what the panelists have done to not only build their team to meet today’s goals, but also 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

• Day Three | Tuesday, January 30

  7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
  Breakfast

  8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
  Day Three Welcome
  Michelle King, President, Bank Director
  Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director
  Today, we focus on perspectives that have not already been shared on the first two days of the conference – and look into forces outside of our industry that may have deep implications.

  8:10 AM – 8:40 AM
  Moment of Opportunity: Driving Your Business Forward
  Kevin Hart, CEO & Founder, Green Check Verified
  Jeffery Kendall, CEO & Chair of the Board, Nymbus
  Pierre Naudé, CEO & Chair of the Board, nCino
  Moderated by: Michelle King, President, Bank Director
  This session focuses on opportunities based on the current operating environment. Hear from industry leaders as they discuss and debate the power of data to drive your business forward. Participants learn about the latest trends and strategies in data analysis and how to incorporate this into their long-term growth plan.

  8:40 AM – 9:10 AM
  Navigating Uncertainty: Enhancing Shareholder Value Through Strategic Dealmaking
  Daniel Goerlich, Partner, PwC
  Michael Oliveri, Partner, PwC
  Nisha Sheth, Partner, PwC
  In this session, we explore proven strategies for navigating the complexities of uncertain times and demonstrate how organizations can drive shareholder value through strategic deal making.

  9:10 AM – 9:40 AM
  Enhancing Financial Partnerships: Exploring Collaboration Between Banks, Lenders & Healthcare Professionals
  Bryan Bean, EVP, Corporate Banking, Pinnacle Financial Partners
  Albert Crawford, Chair of the Board, CEO & Co-Founder, BHG Financial
  Moderated by: Jack Milligan, Editor-at-Large, Bank Director
  This panel discussion sheds light on the valuable role banks and lenders play in supporting healthcare professionals and the broader health industry. Every community has abundant opportunities for financial institutions to collaborate and assist healthcare clients in achieving their goals. This panel delves into how banks and lenders can effectively work with healthcare professionals, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.

  9:40 AM – 10:00 AM
  Refreshment Break

  10:00 AM – 10:40 AM
  Breakout Sessions
  Conversations conclude with a final round of breakout sessions — participants select one of six concurrent opportunities to learn. Sessions to be announced.

  Breakout 1: The Due Diligence You’re NOT Doing: The Role of Branding in Ensuring M&A Success
  Bethany Lewis, Senior Director, Sales Strategy & Operations, Adrenaline
  In M&A, branding can be a liability or an asset in aligning legacy banks and positioning the new organization for growth. This breakout delivers the due diligence necessary to avoid reputational, legal, or operational risk with real stories of banks that leveraged branding early in the M&A process. Ensure your M&A strategy is in the best position to succeed.

  Breakout 2:  Think Like an Investment Manager Instead of a Lender:  Optimizing Your Loan Portfolio for Long Term Performance
  Speaker To Be Announced, Community Capital Technology, Inc.
  Constructing a loan portfolio that performs through business cycles requires that lenders think and act more like investment managers. All lenders are at risk of strategic missteps which are often driven by over-expansion (in at least one of three key areas: geography, industry, and/or product,) and can be magnified by a misperception of overall risk vs. return. By maintaining a clear view on industry trends and risk-adjusted yield, in conjunction with the discipline to act quickly and decisively to sell out of non-strategic loan positions, lenders can be better positioned to re-cycle capital in support of growth strategies and create more consistently positive long-term economic benefit. Join this panel of bank leaders as they discuss their institution’s current perspectives and strategies for positioning and optimizing their loan portfolios heading into 2024 and beyond.

  Breakout 3: Tightening Bank Regulation – The Pendulum Swings: What it Means for Bank Creditworthiness
  Christopher Wolfe, Managing Director, North American Banks, Fitch Ratings, Inc.
  Fitch Ratings provides its views on looming tightening of bank regulation as the regulatory pendulum swings back. How do likely higher capital requirements and inclusion of more banks into long-term debt requirements affect bank creditworthiness? The session also provides a backdrop on Fitch’s sector outlook for U.S. banks.

  Breakout 4: So, You Want to Sell – How to Increase Your Value as a Target
  Sarah Billington, Associate, Howard & Howard
  Dennis Merkley, Member, Howard & Howard
  Buyers and sellers need to know what deserves a premium price. This session discusses compliance issues, regulatory issues, cleaning up corporate records and cleaning up loan portfolios to increase value and justify a premium price, or not.

  Breakout 5: Outlook for U.S. Banks As Higher Rates Test the Mettle of CRE
  Nathan Stovall, Director of FIG Research, S&P Global Market Intelligence
  Higher interest rates have created liquidity pressures but the effect on credit quality has yet to be seen. Even as banks build reserves, investors are worried that losses, particularly on commercial real estate (CRE) loans, could exceed banks’ expectations. Hear banks’ response to ongoing liquidity pressures and what pricing in the public markets suggests about different categories in the CRE market.

  10:55 AM – 11:25 AM
  Tying It All Together
  Troy Bradley, Chief Technology Officer, CSI
  Daragh Morrissey, Director Artificial Intelligence, Financial Services, Microsoft
  Moderated by: Kiah Haslett, Banking & Fintech Editor, Bank Director
  During this final session of the 30th annual AOBA Conference, hear from two industry leaders as they discuss and debate next steps financial institutions should take to create the best opportunities for growth through technology. What impact do they foresee from regulators, the future of AI in banking and areas leaders should continue to focus on as we head into 2024.

  11:25 AM – 11:30 AM
  Parting Thoughts
  Michelle King, President, Bank Director
  Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director

  1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
  Yoga
  Relax and unwind with this hour-long yoga session at the tranquil Revive Spa grounds. This expert-led program is FREE to registered conference attendees and their guests. Reserve your spot today!

  1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  L. William Seidman Annual Acquire or Be Acquired Golf Tournament
  Sponsored by:  Dickinson Wright PLLC and FHLBank Atlanta
  Enjoy the afternoon playing golf with your peers. While the tournament is FREE to registered conference attendees, space is limited. Reserve your spot today!

  5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
  Closing Peer & Guest Reception
  Sponsored by:  Dickinson Wright PLLC and FHLBank Atlanta
  Attendees and their guests join in the fun to see who is this year’s winner of the L. William Seidman Golf Tournament!

Award-winning AAA 4-Diamond JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa welcomes guests to its beautiful 316 acres in the Sonoran Desert. This luxury resort will take you to a place where luxury, personal services, invigorating recreation and excellent dining are in abundance. This premier resort also impresses with the award-winning Revive Spa and championship Wildfire Golf Club, home to the LPGA Founders Cup. Relax and enjoy the company of friends and family indoors or outside on one of many patios with inviting fire-pits overlooking the resort’s waterways. Among the leading North Phoenix resorts and resorts near TPC Scottsdale, the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is your one-stop vacation haven.

All registered attendees of the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference and their guests have access to the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge amenities.

This acclaimed Phoenix, Arizona property features:

• A Poolside Bar
• Tennis Courts
• Championship Wildfire Golf Club
• Award-winning Revive Spa
• A full-service Salon and Fitness Center

Discounted Hotel Rate
The discounted room block at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge is nearly sold out; however, leisure rates are available. Please contact the hotel directly at (800) 898-4527 or click here to see what is available – and feel free to contact the hotel periodically as we get closer to January 2024 for changing availability. Below is a list of other nearby properties:

Holiday Inn Express and Suites Phoenix North – Scottsdale
4575 East Irma Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85054
1.1 miles away
877-570-9579

Cambria Hotel – Phoenix
4425 East Irma Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85054
1.1 miles away
480-585-6644

SpringHill Suites Scottsdale North
17020 North Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
3.7 miles away
480-922-8700

• Who should attend the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference?

  With over 1,800 industry leaders joining us in 2023, this annual event is created specifically for those executives leading U.S. financial institutions, specifically Chief Executive Officers, Chair of the Board, Board Members, Presidents, Chief Operating Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Risk Officers, Chief Compliance Officers, Chief Technology Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, Heads of Retail, Heads of Lending, Heads of Strategy and Senior Management of financial institutions.

• Why should I attend the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference?

  Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired Conference has been widely regarded as the financial industry’s premier bank growth and strategy event since 1994. Both bankers and financial executives have attended the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference for the past 30 years to get advice from knowledgeable speakers through no-nonsense interactive sessions that help them explore a variety of growth options. Year after year, this conference addresses the most critical and timely issues facing banks.

• How much does the in person conference cost, and what does this fee cover?

  The standard individual registration rate for bankers is $2,495. This fee includes all conference activities, materials, meals and beverages at the event site. This price does not include travel or hotel accommodations.

• Where can I register for the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference?

  You may register online or call our events department at 877-397-7595.

• Where can I find more hotel information?

  The discounted room block at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge is nearly sold out; however, leisure rates are available. Please contact the hotel directly at (800) 898-4527 or click here to see what is available – and feel free to contact the hotel periodically as we get closer to January 2024 for changing availability. Below is a list of other nearby properties:

  Holiday Inn Express and Suites Phoenix North – Scottsdale
  4575 East Irma Lane
  Phoenix, AZ 85054
  1.1 miles away
  877-570-9579

  Cambria Hotel – Phoenix
  4425 East Irma Lane
  Phoenix, AZ 85054
  1.1 miles away
  480-585-6644

  SpringHill Suites Scottsdale North
  17020 North Scottsdale Road
  Scottsdale, AZ 85255
  3.7 miles away
  480-922-8700

  Hyatt Place Scottsdale – North
  18513 North Scottsdale Road 

  Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
  4.2 miles away
  480-590-8100

  Courtyard Scottsdale North
  17010 N Scottsdale Rd
  Scottsdale, AZ 85255
  5.2 miles away
  480-922-8400

• What if I need to cancel my in-person reservation at the conference?

  Due to commitments and expenses, all cancellations after December 8, 2023 will be subject to a $450 processing fee. We regret that no refunds will be given after January 5, 2024; however, substitute participants are welcomed. DirectorCorps, Inc. assumes no liability for any nonrefundable travel, hotel or related expenses incurred by registrants. For more information regarding refunds, to register, concerns and/or program cancellation policies, please email events@bankdirector.com or call our events department at 877-397-7595.

• Is there a guest program?

  Yes. The guest rate of $595 covers Sunday lunch and all receptions. If a guest would like to attend the sessions, please register them as an attendee. A guest is a spouse, significant other or friend who is not in a financial services occupation. A co-worker (even a spouse co-worker) or an associate within the financial services industry is not considered a guest and should register as an attendee.

• How can I sign up for the golf tournament on Tuesday, January 30?

  The golf tournament is currently full. If you’d like to be put on the waitlist, please contact our events department by calling 877-397-7595 or emailing events@bankdirector.com.

• Is CPE credit available for this conference?

  DirectorCorps, Inc., the parent company of Bank Director, is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. Visit their information page for CPE learning objectives, program levels, prerequisites, recommended credits and complaint resolutions.

  All of Bank Director’s education programs are classified as “Basic” program level with no pre-requisites or advance preparation required for participation in these events. All events fall under “Group-Live” delivery method. At the event, attendees will be required to keep a time sheet, and attendance at sessions will be monitored in order for attendees to receive the appropriate number of credits and a certificate of completion following the event. Please contact Bank Director at events@bankdirector.com for more information regarding this program and on the number of credits awarded for this event.

  For more information, please email events@bankdirector.com or call our events department at 877-397-7595.

• Beware of Fraudulent Emails & Phone Calls

  Bank Director has received notification that scammers using the company name Convention Housing Experts LLC have been calling conference sponsors offering discounted hotel rooms and requesting they book rooms directly through them for the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference (AOBA). These communications are spam and are not affiliated with Bank Director in any way. Please do not respond to their calls.

  Please only book your AOBA hotel room using information directly from Bank Director. You can find our hotel room block details here. Bank Director does not outsource hotel booking to any third-party companies.

  Bank Director never shares attendee contact information. If you are unsure if an email or phone call is legitimately from Bank Director, please contact our events department by calling 877-397-7595 or emailing events@bankdirector.com.