• Saturday January 25

  5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
  Celebrating Women in Leadership Reception
  With so many top executives and board members traveling to this conference on Saturday, this reception allows female executives 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
  Concurrent with 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
  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 26

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

  8:00 AM – 8:05 AM
  Day One Opening Remarks: Exploring Your Growth Options
  Michelle King, President, Bank Director
  Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director
  AOBA remains the meeting ground for the banking industry’s key leaders to engage with each other and learn how to grow and compete in today’s market.  To open this year’s event, we highlight how and why the conference agenda explores financial growth opportunities and strategic planning ideas… BEYOND M&A.

  8:05 AM – 8:55 AM
  The 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
  What to Expect From Washington
  Changes are on the horizon.  What does that mean for your bank and its future?  Hear from a panel of experts what to expect from Washington in 2025.
  

  9:35 AM – 10:10 AM
  Growth From Your Balance Sheet
  A panel of bank CEOs share how they have used their balance sheet to inspire and find growth.

  

  9:00 AM – 9:35 AM
  FinXTech Session:  Transforming Your Bank for the Future
  During this session, we explore how to get greater depth of wallet; how to expand your total “addressable” market; and how to develop new ways to go to market.  This session provides a perspective on how different financial institutions have placed their bets on new lines of business.

  9:45 AM – 10:20 AM
  FinXTech Session: Meeting Your Small Business Clients Where They Are
  The small business market continues to be a huge opportunity for banks. What can your bank do to take advantage of this space, and help clients expand their relationship with your institution?

  10:10 AM – 10:30 AM
  Refreshment Break

  10:30 AM – 11:10 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. Based on feedback from past attendees, there will be designated session(s) for banks under $1Bn in assets and for those above $1Bn in assets. Sessions to be announced.

  

  10:30 AM – 11:10 AM
  FinXTech Session: Are You in the Payments Game? 
  Technology continues to transform the industry, and the payments landscape is no exception. Whether it is the increased demand for contactless and embedded options or a diminishing reliance on analog processes, payments are changing. This session covers the information you need to know to stay up-to-date and competitive amidst the changing payments landscape.

  11:25 AM – 12:00 PM
  FinXTech Session: The New Frontier of Data Sourcing & Integration
  Banks have a wealth of client data, but how is it best utilized to not only help the bank expand its existing relationships but also provide a better customer experience? During this discussion, we dive into the opportunities to best integrate your bank’s data in your digital strategy.
  

  11:25 AM – 12:05 PM
  Creating a Strategic Plan Focused on Growth
  What has worked in the past may not support one’s future plans. New competitors are continually changing the business of financial services. Since bank executives and board members need to prioritize the issues and initiatives that will make a difference to their banks, this session lays out the new strategic imperatives for CEOs and boards to consider.

  12:05 PM – 1:15 PM
  Networking Peer & Guest Lunch

  12:20 PM – 1:00 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.

  1:15 PM – 1:55 PM
  Creating Your Highest Value
  How can you create the highest value for your bank – and its shareholders?  During this session, we look at how current market conditions, recent transaction trends and future pricing expectations might impact the value of your bank.

  

  1:15 PM – 1:50 PM
  FinXTech Session: Embracing AI
  Artificial intelligence in the financial world is not new, but it is changing.  With its ability to expedite operational tasks, assist in client credit decisions and improve the efficiency of financial crimes monitoring, AI may be a viable investment for your financial institution.  This session explores the many options for embracing this technology.

  2:10 PM – 2:50 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. Based on feedback from past attendees, there will be designated session(s) for banks under $1Bn in assets and for those above $1Bn in assets. Sessions to be announced.

  

  2:10 PM – 2:50 PM
  FinXTech Session: The Risk of Not Doing Something
  As your financial institution focuses on the future, decisions need to be made on where to invest time and money.  But with the many options you could choose, what is best for your organization?  Hear from leaders in the space on where you might want to invest and why.

  2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
  M&A Simulation
  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 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.
  

  2:50 PM – 3:10 PM
  Refreshment Break

  3:10 PM – 3:50 PM
  FinXTech Session: Why the Cloud?
  In this session, we discuss the benefits of moving core banking systems to the cloud and ways the cloud is giving institutions a leg up in today’s competitive landscape.

  3:10 PM – 3:50 PM
  Breakout Sessions
  Conversations continue with a second round of afternoon breakout sessions — participants select one of seven concurrent opportunities.  Based on feedback from past attendees, there will be designated session(s) for banks under $1Bn in assets and for those above $1Bn in assets. Sessions to be announced.

  

  4:05 PM – 4:40 PM
  FinXTech Session:  Growing Deposits for Long-Term Sustainability
  According to BankDirector’s 2024 Risk Survey, released March 25, 2024, more than half (59%) of respondents say they have experienced some deposit loss, with minimal to moderate effects on the bank’s funding base, as a result of rising interest rates. Another 9% have experienced significant impacts on their funding base. During this discussion we explore best practices for growing and maintaining deposits for the long-term.
  

  4:05 PM – 4:40 PM
  Banking Is Risky Business
  Banking is a risk-mitigation business.  Learn about the new risks facing banks and their boards today and how financial institutions can best manage them.

  4:45 PM – 6:30 PM
  Networking Peer & Guest Reception

• Day Two | Monday January 27

  7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
  Breakfast

  8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
  Day Two Opening Remarks: New Horizons
  Michelle King, President, Bank Director
  Laura Schield, Chief Operating Officer, Bank Director
  As leadership teams consider entrepreneurial opportunities to grow deposits, relationships and reputations, we shine a light on five high-performing businesses operating outside of the financial sector. Some have jumped on retail trends; others focus on consumer spending habits.  The common thread is that all have grown their business in ways that should inspire participants at this year’s AOBA to assess how they are positioned to grow, compete and enhance their institution’s franchise value.

  8:10 AM – 8:50 AM
  The Best of RankingBanking
  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
  Results from Bank Director’s 2024 Technology Survey
  Hear the findings from Bank Director’s latest Technology Survey – and what they mean to you and your bank.

  9:10 AM – 9:30 AM
  State of Technology
  Hear from a mover and shaker in the banking industry on what banks should do right now.

  9:30 AM – 10:10 AM
  Lessons From the Latest Acquisitions
  Hear what worked and what didn’t from experts featured in this panel session.

  

  9:40 AM – 10:15 AM
  FinXTech Session:  Wealth Management Made Easy
  Addressing the needs of your most affluent clients is typically a very consultative process that aligns your bank services with your clients personalized strategy. Given this highly specialized area of the bank, banks should consider what technology is available to assist in offering wealth management services (or enhanceing your existing services), and is it something you should consider adding to your bank’s product offerings?
  

   

  10:10 AM – 10:30 AM
  Refreshment Break

   

  
  10:30 AM – 11:10 AM
  FinXTech Session:  Let’s Be Real About Integration
  Finding the right technology partner is hard, but integrating the technology can be even harder. What questions should be asked prior to integration? Who from your team should be brought to the table? And how do you ensure there is a cultural alignment between your team and your new vendor’s team? Setting the right expectations in advance could make all the difference in the world for both sides.
  

   

  10:30 AM – 11:10 AM

  Breakout Sessions (select one)
  Participants have the opportunity to select one of seven breakout sessions to attend.   Based on feedback from past attendees, there will be designated session(s) for banks under $1Bn in assets and for those above $1Bn in assets. Sessions to be announced.

  

  10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
  FinXTech Session: Fintech Workshop
  Join this workshop to learn how banks work best with fintechs. This session includes the how-to’s around decision-making, integration, market analysis and more. This workshop is exclusive to 36 bank attendees only, and allows for one bank representative per institution. This session is NOT for investment bank/capital markets leaders of any kind.

   

  

  11:25 AM – 12:05 PM
  FinXTech Session:  Cyber Security & Fraud Prevention
  Ninety percent of bank leaders would be open to using artificial intelligence technologies for fraud prevention and alerts, and 81% would use AI for cyberattack prevention and detection, according to BankDirector’s 2024 Risk Survey. During this session we dive into what bank’s can do today to guard against a cyber or fraud intrusion.
  

  11:25 AM – 12:05 PM
  Breakout Sessions (select one)
  Conversations continue with a second round of morning breakout sessions — participants select one of seven concurrent opportunities to engage with industry leaders.  Based on feedback from past attendees, there will be designated session(s) for banks under $1Bn in assets and for those above $1Bn in assets. Sessions to be announced. 

  12:05 PM – 1:05 PM
  Networking Lunch

  12:05 PM – 1:05 PM
  Women in Banking Luncheon
  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
  Strong Board. Strong Bank.
  Jackie Wall, Vice President of Bank Services, Bank Director
  Creating a strong board and strong bank is no easy task – and you can’t have one without the other. Bank Director’s Vice President of Bank Services shares key indicators and lessons learned from banks of all sizes, types and locations.

  1:10 PM – 1:30 PM
  Findings From Bank Director’s M&A Research Study
  What will 2025 hold for M&A activity? Bank leaders’ enthusiasm for M&A appears muted going into 2024, but an appetite for sticky, low-cost deposits could motivate some financial institutions to make a deal in the year ahead. Bank Director’s 2024 Bank M&A Survey, sponsored by Crowe LLP, finds that 35% of bank executives and directors believe they are likely to acquire another institution by the end of 2024, down from 39% in 2023 and 48% in 2022. Eighty-five percent point to an attractive deposit base as a top attribute of an acquisition target in today’s environment, compared with 58% who said as much a year ago. That was followed by a complementary culture (58%), efficiency gains (55%) and locations in growing markets (48%).

  1:30 PM – 2:10 PM
  Keynote Presentation

  2:25 PM – 3:05 PM
  Breakout Sessions
  Participants may select from one of six breakout sessions to attend.  Based on feedback from past attendees, there will be designated session(s) for banks under $1Bn in assets and for those above $1Bn in assets. Sessions to be announced.

  3:05 PM – 3:25 PM
  Refreshment Break

  3:25 PM – 4:05 PM
  Breakout Sessions
  Participants may select from one of six breakout sessions to attend.  Based on feedback from past attendees, there will be designated session(s) for banks under $1Bn in assets and for those above $1Bn in assets. Sessions to be announced.

  4:20 PM – 5:00 PM
  Point/Counterpoint Debate
  Back by popular demand, this session pits investment bankers and lawyers against each other to debate the most controversial issues in banking. You don’t want to miss this heated – and informative – session!

  5:00 PM – 5:40 PM
  What Investments Should Banks Consider?
  A panel of leading investors discuss what makes a bank so extraordinary they would want to put money into it.  This session also features what the audience should know before investing in a technology fund or specific company.

  5:40 PM – 6:40 PM
  Networking Peer & Guest Reception
  Sponsored by: Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company

• Day Three | Tuesday January 28

  7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
  Breakfast

  8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
  Day Three Opening Remarks: Taking New Chances
  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
  What Does Your Brand Say About You?
  How do you build a brand that works for your bank? Unlock the power of your brand by hearing strategies and tactics that work.

  8:40 AM – 9:10 AM

  Recruiting & Retaining the Best Talent
  Finding talent continues to challenge all businesses – but especially financial institutions. During this session, we dive into best practices, new ideas and lessons learned for creating the best teams and hiring the best talent.
  

  9:10 AM – 9:40 AM
  What’s on the Horizon
  While M&A is one method for growth, there are many other opportunities your bank could capitalize on to grow.  During this session, a panel of industry experts dives into strategies you should consider.

  9:40 AM – 10:00 AM
  Refreshment Break

  10:00 AM – 10:40 AM
  Breakout Sessions (select one)
  Conversations conclude with a final round of breakout sessions — participants select one of six concurrent opportunities to learn.   Based on feedback from past attendees, there will be designated session(s) for banks under $1Bn in assets and for those above $1Bn in assets. Sessions to be announced.

  10:55 AM – 11:25 AM
  Lessons From the Past & Advice for the Future
  As we conclude the 31st annual AOBA Conference, hear from experts in the industry as they share the lessons they have learned and their advice for moving forward.

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

  1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
  Let’s Play Pickleball
  Enjoy the afternoon playing pickleball with your peers.  Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

  1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  L. William Seidman Annual Acquire or Be Acquired Golf Tournament
  Enjoy the afternoon playing golf with your peers.  Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

  5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
  Closing Peer & Guest Reception
  Attendees and their guests join in the fun to see who are the winners of the L. William Seidman Golf Tournament and the Pickleball 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 abundant. 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.

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

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

Discounted Hotel Rate
The discounted room block at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge is sold out; however, leisure rates may still be available. Please contact the hotel directly at 800-898-4527, or check this link for updated availability throughout the year. Should you wish to make room reservations now, below is a list of other nearby properties:

Marriott’s Canyon Villas
5220 East Marriott Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85054
480-629-3200

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
7575 East Princess Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
3.9 miles away
480-585-4848

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

Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix Desert View at Mayo Clinic
5665 East Mayo Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85054
1.6 miles away
480-563-1500

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 2024, 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?

  Since 1995, the Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired Conference has been widely regarded as the financial industry’s premier bank growth and strategy event. Bankers and financial executives have attended the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference for 30 plus years to get advice from knowledgeable speakers through no-nonsense interactive sessions that help them explore various growth options. This conference addresses the most critical and timely issues facing banks year after year.

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

  The standard individual registration rate for bankers is $2,595. This fee includes all conference sessions, 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.

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

  Due to commitments and expenses, all cancellations after December 6, 2024, will be subject to a $450 processing fee. We regret that no refunds will be given after January 6, 2025; however, substitute participants are welcome. 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 at the JW Marriott. If a guest would like to attend the sessions, please register them as attendees. All guests must have a name badge to be admitted to these events. 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.

  The guest program fee does not include participation in Tuesday’s golf or pickleball tournaments. Guests interested in playing with attendees in the golf tournament can sign up based on space availability. The additional fee for guests to play golf is $205 and the additional fee to play pickleball is $50. Both of these fees include a boxed lunch; however, it does not include rental clubs or other expenses.

• How can I sign up for the golf tournament on Tuesday, January 31?

  The golf tournament fee is $150 for all registered conference attendees. Pre-registration is required for participation. Rental clubs and shoes are available to participants at their expense through the Wildfire Golf Club. The cost is $80 plus tax for rental clubs and rental shoes cost $35 plus tax. Please indicate your club and shoe needs when registering for the conference online. To register for the golf tournament, call our events department at 877-397-7595 or email events@bankdirector.com.

• Is there an alternate activity for attendees and guests not interested in the golf tournament?

  Registered guests interested in playing pickleball with attendees may sign up based on space availability. The additional fee for guests to play pickleball is $50.

• 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.

• What is the policy for audio & video recordings at the conference?

  Audio and/or video recordings of the presentations made at this conference are expressly forbidden unless advance written consent has been obtained from both Bank Director and the presenter(s) to be recorded. Bank Director may conduct audio and/or video recordings during a session. Bank Director owns the rights to all such recordings.

• What is your suitcasing policy?

  Suitcasing is the act of soliciting business by non-exhibiting companies during the event or in the other public spaces, including another company’s booth, exhibit hall or a hotel lobby. It is Bank Director’s event management’s objective to do everything legally possible to protect its exhibitors and bank attendees from suitcasing.

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