Strategic Management

On this episode of “This Month in Banking,” we focus on the integration and practical applications of AI from the community banking perspective with insights from Andy Schornack, President of Security Bank and Trust. Andy discusses how Security Bank and Trust has already implemented AI through Copilot, which they have cleverly named ‘Rosie,’ to assist retail bankers with policy and procedure queries, significantly reducing the need for managerial intervention. This AI tool, integrated within the Microsoft platform, enhances efficiency by providing quick access to information and linking directly to relevant policies. Andy emphasizes the importance of training staff to adapt to new technologies and highlights the cost-effectiveness and time-saving benefits of AI in daily operations.

Our guest is Barry Sloane – Chairman and CEO of Newtek Bank.
This podcast episode of “This Month in Banking” features an interview with Barry Sloane, Chairman and CEO of Newtek Bank, discussing the company’s impressive financial performance, including a 6.20% ROA and 50% ROE. Sloane attributes this success to Newtek’s non-traditional banking activities, low expense ratios due to a lack of physical branches and traditional bankers, and investments in risk-adjusted assets with higher returns. The conversation also delves into Newtek’s journey transitioning into a bank holding company, with Sloane frankly addressing the market’s initial skepticism towards their unconventional model. He explains the strategic rationale behind acquiring a bank, emphasizing the value proposition offered to small and medium-sized business clients through their business portal, which provides tools and resources beyond traditional banking services.

Our guest is Michael Beird, Author of Cannabis Banking: Legal Framework and Practical Solutions for Cultivating Compliance.

Welcome to today’s episode of This Month in Banking, where we explore the evolving landscape of community financial institutions. Today, we’re diving into a rapidly emerging and complex area: cannabis banking. We’ll be joined by Michael Beird, an expert in the field, to unpack the opportunities and challenges this industry presents for community financial institutions. We’ll start by hearing about Michael’s unique career journey before tackling the potential for core deposit growth and fee income within the cannabis sector.

Our guest is Matt West, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Xenios.

Welcome to today’s episode of This Month in Banking! In this episode, we’ll be exploring how community financial institutions are navigating two of their biggest challenges: securing core deposit growth and generating non-interest income. We’ll discuss innovative solutions like BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service), cryptocurrency, and Fintech partnerships.

Our guest is Nathan Stovall, Director of the Financial Institutions Research Team for S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Welcome to the podcast! I’m Tara Wean; along with my colleague, Ben Crowley, we will be sharing the hosting duties after Sharon Lorman’s tremendous run. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the world of community financial institutions with a leading expert in the field. We’ll delve into the biggest challenges facing these institutions, and discuss how data, technology, and regulatory changes are shaping their future.

Our guest is Anne Balcer, Senior Executive Vice president, Chief of Government Relations and Public Policy for the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA).

In this episode, we explore the future of bank regulation with a focus on which pending regulations, rules, and guidance are most likely to change under the new administration. Our expert guest will discuss differences in regulatory approaches between the Trump and Biden administrations and what we can expect moving forward.

Our guest is Clay Adams, President and CEO of Mascoma Bank.

Many banks continue to depend on outdated, non-cloud-based legacy software for managing customer data. In response, Mascoma Bank developed Stratum, its own in-house middleware data hub platform, with the intention of offering this technology to other banks. Stratum allows financial institutions to manage data across disparate platforms and allows an iterative approach to core conversion. Each fintech platform can be integrated sequentially and customer account data can be migrated over time into a new core system.