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Presented by StrangeBrew Coffeehouse, Cannon Ford of Starkville, Community Bank, Pip Printing and Signs of Ridgeland, EyeCare Professionals, Harvey's, TraxPlus, Maroon & Company, and Howard Technology Solutions - As preseason camp winds down, State now shifts focus to game week.
Presented by StrangeBrew Coffeehouse, Cannon Ford of Starkville, Community Bank, Pip Printing and Signs of Ridgeland, EyeCare Professionals, the Starkville CVB, Maroon & Company, TraxPlus, and Howard Technology Solutions - Preseason camp update; NCAA court cases from the week; Basketball with an addition.
Presented by StrangeBrew Coffeehouse, Cannon Ford of Starkville, TraxPlus, Pip Printing and Signs of Ridgeland, EyeCare Professionals, the Starkville CVB, Maroon & Company, Community Bank, and Howard Technology Solutions - The offense continues to make strides as the season draws closer.
CoinDesk's The Policy Protocol hosts Rebecca Rettig and Renato Mariotti open on the stalled CLARITY Act and how crypto's newness in DC stacks up against TradFi's decades-old relationships. They also dig into two hot topics: Erebor raising $1.5 billion at a valuation near $9.5 billion, and FlightAware's short-lived trademark lawsuit against prediction market Kalshi. Then they sit down with Brooke Ybarra, Head of Innovation at the American Bankers Association, who breaks down the yield compromise on payment stablecoins, makes the ABA's case that stablecoin growth could pull deposits away from community banks and shrink local lending, and explains how banks of all sizes are already experimenting with tokenized money and tokenized deposits. Plus, Rebecca and Renato debrief on the bipartisan holdouts and name SEC Chair Paul Atkins as their Person of the Week. NOTE (Aug. 14, 09:00 ET): this episode was recorded before the SEC canceled the open meeting originally scheduled for Friday.-This episode is brought to you by RealFi, a smarter stablecoin, backed by real-world assets. Find out more at realfi.co.-To view the ABA's recommended changes to legislative text of the Clarity Act, please see their Joint State Association Letter to the Senate: https://www.aba.com/advocacy/policy-analysis/Joint-Letter-to-the-Senate-on-the-Clarity-Act - Chapters/Timecodes:00:00 Welcome to The Policy Protocol01:12 CLARITY Stalls Before the August Recess03:03 Crypto vs. TradFi: A New Entrant in DC05:18 Why Clarity Levels the Playing Field06:20 Hot Topic: Erebor's $1.5B Bank Raise08:38 Hot Topic: FlightAware Sues Kalshi12:06 Brooke Ybarra of the ABA Joins the Show12:38 The Yield Compromise and Interest-Like Payments14:59 The Deposit Flight Debate17:22 How Banks Are Innovating with Tokenized Money19:49 What Happens If CLARITY Doesn't Pass22:45 Person of the Week: SEC Chair Paul Atkins
Today, we sit down with banking industry veteran Jim Marous. Jim joins Caleb Stevens to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing community banks: preparing for the future without being constrained by the past. They explore leadership transitions, AI adoption, deposit growth, and why digital resilience may become the defining factor separating future winners from everyone else. Jim also shares practical insights on customer relationships, data-driven growth, and how banks can use modern tools to deliver the personalized experiences customers increasingly expect. The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC
Do community banks and credit unions risk becoming invisible as AI, data aggregation, and new payment networks reshape how consumers manage money? Tyfone CEO and Co-founder Siva Narendra touches on those themes as he discusses a five-part white paper series he's authored. The good news is that with all the threats community banks face, there is hope they can properly adopt new technologies to boost their relevance.
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris examines the difference between "portfolio managers" and "bond collectors." He also discusses how to tell the difference, and how it's the most important step you can take to effective investment management. In this episode: Market update (2:00) Portfolio managers vs. bond collectors (4:18) What makes your institution's investments a portfolio? How a portfolio works as a system How bond collections happen The accumulation process & the "drift" 3-question portfolio management gut check Creating a portfolio management framework with help from Nelson Capital Advisors (Learn More) (24:24) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA Connect with Nelson Capital Advisors Interested in discussing how these concepts apply to your institution? I'd welcome the conversation. Email: Chris@NelsonCapitalAdvisors.com Phone: 207-420-2442 Website: NelsonCapitalAdvisors.com About Nelson Capital Advisors Nelson Capital Advisors is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specializing in serving community banks and credit unions. We provide investment advisory services, portfolio management consulting, investment policy development, and fixed-income strategy guidance. Bond Investment Mentor LLC and Nelson Capital Advisors are commonly owned entities. For detailed information about Nelson Capital Advisors' services, fees, and potential conflicts of interest, please review our Form ADV Part 2A brochure. Important Disclaimer The content in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment advice for your specific situation. For advice tailored to your institution's needs, please contact Nelson Capital Advisors directly.
Innovation is no longer a future goal—it's a necessity for survival and growth. Justin Dunmyer of ICBA joins us to discuss the strategies community banks need to embrace continuous innovation, prioritize initiatives with the greatest impact, foster a culture of change, and deliver measurable results. Discover how forward-thinking institutions are transforming challenges into opportunities and positioning themselves for long-term success.Send us Fan MailPresented by Remedy ConsultingFor more information on BankTalk:BankTalk WebsiteSubscribe to BankTalk NewsRemedy Consulting WebsiteRemedy LinkedInTo speak on the BankTalk Podcast, please email us.
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis said Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman will deliver the keynote at the 2026 Community Banking Research Conference. Bowman has served on the Board of Governors since 2018 in the seat reserved for a member with community banking experience and previously served as Kansas State Bank Commissioner. Her recent remarks have focused on tailoring regulation for smaller institutions, supervisory transparency, and the credit effects of capital and liquidity proposals. The conference regularly features research on deposit betas, interest rate risk, and liquidity management following the 2023 banking turmoil. Sessions also address third party risk management and fintech partnerships, along with operational issues tied to FedNow adoption. Stakeholders will watch for signals on capital refinements, call report simplification, Community Reinvestment Act timelines, and supervisory priorities that will shape lending and bank vendor decisions.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Presented by StrangeBrew Coffeehouse, Cannon Ford of Starkville, TraxPlus, Pip Printing and Signs of Ridgeland, EyeCare Professionals, the Starkville CVB, Maroon & Company, Community Bank, and Howard Technology Solutions - How the first month of the season will set the tone for 2026.
Presented by Community Bank, StrangeBrew Coffeehouse, and Maroon & Company - A look at the quarterback room after QB1.
Two U.S. banks are already gone in 2026 — Metropolitan Capital Bank in Chicago and Community Bank & Trust in Georgia — and federal regulators are not calling these isolated incidents. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve are both issuing stark warnings about rising credit stress across the financial system, and they're pointing at the same pressure point: commercial real estate loans coming due in a high-rate environment with no viable exit.The mechanism is straightforward once you see it. Commercial real estate doesn't run on 30-year mortgages. Buildings purchased between 2016 and 2019 at low rates are now hitting refinance windows with offices running half empty and interest rates nowhere near where they need to be. When the math doesn't pencil out, the loan goes bad. When enough loans go bad, the bank follows. Sean walks through how Metropolitan Capital was unwound through a Detroit acquirer and how the LaGrange failure tracked the same pattern — and why regulators are no longer willing to call them coincidences.Downtown cores hollowed out by remote work are the kindling. Seattle is running 40% office vacancy. The cap rates don't support the debt. The two bank failures we've seen are early signals, not outliers — and this is the same opening chapter the S&L crisis and the Great Recession both started with before everyone decided it was a big deal. The closures are going to cluster.Subscribe to @reasonablenews and hit the notification bell — Sean will be tracking this as it develops, and you'll want to be ahead of it when the next one drops.#SanAntonio #MinimumWage #TexasPoliticsGO PREMIUM WITH REASONABLE+ FOR UNCENSORED ACCESS
Presented by StrangeBrew Coffeehouse, Cannon Ford of Starkville, Pip Printing and Signs of Ridgeland, Community Bank, Howard Technology Solutions, EyeCare Professionals, Maroon & Co, and the Starkville CVB. - The Bulldogs should have plenty of threats in the receiver room this season.
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris discusses investment portfolio duration management and why it matters for community financial institutions. He also shares a four-step process to help you manage investment duration systematically. In this episode: Market & Fed update (2:15) Changing Fed communications (4:29) Managing portfolio duration (10:19) The two definitions of duration Why managing investment duration matters Setting duration targets & portfolio management techniques Helping institutions with investment strategy development (Learn More) (32:54) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA Connect with Nelson Capital Advisors Interested in discussing how these concepts apply to your institution? I'd welcome the conversation. Email: Chris@NelsonCapitalAdvisors.com Phone: 207-420-2442 Website: NelsonCapitalAdvisors.com About Nelson Capital Advisors Nelson Capital Advisors is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specializing in serving community banks and credit unions. We provide investment advisory services, portfolio management consulting, investment policy development, and fixed-income strategy guidance. Bond Investment Mentor LLC and Nelson Capital Advisors are commonly owned entities. For detailed information about Nelson Capital Advisors' services, fees, and potential conflicts of interest, please review our Form ADV Part 2A brochure. Important Disclaimer The content in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment advice for your specific situation. For advice tailored to your institution's needs, please contact Nelson Capital Advisors directly.
Dr. Jeffrey Edwards, founder and chief risk strategist of FFERM Technologies, joins host KJ to challenge the financial industry's decades-old reliance on likelihood and impact heat maps for risk management. He traces that methodology back to a 1984 Department of Defense weapons framework that was never designed for financial services, and explains why it leaves institutions blind to risk contagion, compounding, and black swan events. The episode makes a compelling case that the next major financial collapse is not unpredictable. It is just being measured with the wrong ruler. Key Takeaways: 4:58 — Where did the financial industry's risk management framework actually come from? 14:28 — What happens when two separate risk events collide at the same time? 15:32 – When should an institution stop relying on the heat map as its primary risk tool? 23:19 — How does FFERM Technologies transform a risk score into something actually useful? Quote of the Show (13:09):"Math can guide you down the wrong path if you're asking and looking at it the wrong way." – Dr. Jeffrey Edwards Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome. Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval Ways to connect with Dr. Jeffrey Edwards:LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/drjeffreyedwardsCompany Website: https://www.ffermtech.com/site How to get more Disruption/Interruption: Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=disruption+%2F+interuuptionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Presented by StrangeBrew Coffeehouse, Cannon Ford of Starkville, Community Bank, Pip Printing and Signs of Ridgeland, EyeCare Professionals, Maroon & Co, and Howard Technology Solutions - State had a couple signees drafted yesterday, and will anxiously wait through the remainder of the draft to see if any other future Bulldogs have their name called.
Today we sit down with Scott Cocanougher, CEO of First Community Bank in Shelbyville, Tennessee and Randy Goggans, founder of the company BankerBounty. Together we discuss the keys to creating change inside your organization and how to create an effective referral program. Click Here to Book a Free Strategy Call. The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris discusses the importance of a periodic strategic check-up for your institution's investment portfolio. He also shares six key checkpoints to help you evaluate the portfolio's current position. In this episode: Market & Fed update (2:08) Update: FASB amendment to allow hedging HTM securities (6:44) A Mid-Year Strategic Portfolio Check-Up (10:23) Why a periodic check-up matters 6 key checkpoints to evaluate Free Download: Strategic Portfolio Check-Up Guide (29:52) (DOWNLOAD) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA Important Disclaimer The content in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment advice for your specific situation. For advice tailored to your institution's needs, please contact Nelson Capital Advisors directly.
Presented by Community Bank, Pip Printing and Signs of Ridgeland, and Maroon & Co - State continues the momentum in baseball recruiting. Kamario Taylor shines at Manning Passing Academy.
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris explores what bond defeasance is, how it works, and how it affects you as an investor. He also discusses how to identify and analyze defeased securities. In this episode: Market & Fed update (1:34) Understanding Defeasance (9:19) How defeasance works Municipal bonds & defeasance Commercial MBS & defeasance Analyzing defeased securities Why I do what I do (29:17) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA Connect with Nelson Capital Advisors Interested in discussing how these concepts apply to your institution? I'd welcome the conversation. Email: Chris@NelsonCapitalAdvisors.com Phone: 207-420-2442 Website: NelsonCapitalAdvisors.com About Nelson Capital Advisors Nelson Capital Advisors is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, specializing in serving community banks and credit unions. We provide investment advisory services, portfolio management consulting, investment policy development, and fixed-income strategy guidance. Bond Investment Mentor LLC and Nelson Capital Advisors are commonly owned entities. For detailed information about Nelson Capital Advisors' services, fees, and potential conflicts of interest, please review our Form ADV Part 2A brochure. Important Disclaimer The content in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment advice for your specific situation. For advice tailored to your institution's needs, please contact Nelson Capital Advisors directly.
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris breaks down callable step-up agency bonds. He explains how these agency bonds work and how these investments could deliver less than you expect. Chris also provides a framework for analyzing step-ups using Bloomberg screens and deciding whether they actually make sense for your institution's portfolio. In this episode: Market & Fed update (1:43) Listener question: Discount MBS investments & a yield quirk (8:28) Understanding callable agencies (13:40) Callable step-up agency basics How to evaluate them (Download: Pre-Purchase Due Diligence Checklists) The challenges of call and coupon interaction Developing a step-up investment approach Boost your investment fundamentals with Bond Basics (Learn More) (26:55) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA
In banking, boring wins, according to veteran bank investor Joe Stieven. The CEO of Stieven Capital Advisors discussed what drives value and how community banks will remain relevant over the next decade at S&P Global Market Intelligence's annual community bankers conference. The investor said his 12-word philosophy has guided decades of capital allocation through COVID, rate cycles, Silicon Valley's collapse, and now tariffs and geopolitical shock. Stieven says all banks should ask those 12 words, "How does this impact our earnings and tangible book value per share," when contemplating any strategy. The investor also discussed why he sees overhead discipline as a way of life, how AI is reshaping the sector, and what the M&A landscape looks like from his chair.
In this episode of This Month in Banking, presented by Wolf & Company, we're joined by Ed Barry, CEO of Capital Bancorp, to explore how one community bank built a distinctive growth model by expanding into specialized, nontraditional lines of business. Since joining in 2012, Ed has led Capital Bank's transformation from a $300 million institution into a $3.5 billion diversified platform spanning commercial lending, mortgage banking, credit cards, and fee‑based service businesses. The conversation highlights how an FDIC‑assisted acquisition unexpectedly led to the creation of a national credit card platform, and how that business—alongside other niche verticals—helped drive strong performance, deposit growth, and diversified revenue streams. Ed also shares insights on identifying acquisitions that add true capabilities, building and scaling new business lines with the right mix of talent and technology, and maintaining alignment between strategy, culture, and risk. The discussion touches on renewable energy lending, SBA servicing, and how community banks can compete effectively by focusing on targeted niches rather than trying to be everything to everyone. For bank executives, board members, and strategy leaders, this episode offers a practical look at how differentiation, discipline, and innovation can drive long‑term growth in an increasingly competitive industry. Guest Ed Barry CEO, Capital Bancorp / Capital Bank N.A.
In this episode of Better Merch…Better Marketing, Jade and Kirby talk about sustainability and purpose-driven marketing, Spotify's recent logo change and why users reacted so strongly, and a few trending merch products they just cannot get behind. They also spotlight the FusionBeat Multifunction Earbuds as the Product of the Week and give a shoutout to Jessica Bowers from Community Bank on her promotion to Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris explores callable agency bonds and examines what you're actually trading away when you buy these securities. He walks through how callable bonds work, the three main call structures you'll encounter, and the portfolio-level implications of giving up control to the issuer. You'll also learn which Bloomberg screens to use when analyzing callables and how to think strategically about whether these securities belong in your portfolio. In this episode: Fed & Market Update (2:23) Proposed FHLB/FRB liquidity stress solution (9:02) Understanding callable agencies (11:40) Callable agency basics Types of call structures The yield/control trade-off Bloomberg screens for callable agency analysis The value of one-on-one mentoring (Learn More) (32:55) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA
Ryan Bailey spent 20 years at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, TD Bank, Fifth Third, and USAA. Then he took over Cambridge Savings Bank, a 190-year-old, $7 billion mutual community bank in Massachusetts. In this Executive Leadership Series episode of Banking Transformed, recorded live at the Financial Brand Forum, Jim Marous and Ryan get into how community banks actually win against the giants. They cover the strategy behind Ivy Bank, Cambridge Savings' national digital deposit brand, and why Ryan believes half of the smaller banks in the country won't be here in 10 years. They also dig into closing the analytics gap with a JPMorgan Chase, using AI to improve customer experience instead of just cutting cost, bringing legacy employees along on a fast digital agenda, and what USAA taught Ryan about loyalty. Ryan closes with one Monday morning move every community bank CEO can act on right away. In this episode: • Why scale no longer guarantees dominance • Gathering deposits nationally, lending locally with Ivy Bank • Ryan's prediction on community bank consolidation • Closing the data gap without an enterprise budget • The Monday morning move every CEO should make #BankingTransformed #CommunityBanking #DigitalTransformation #Fintech #BankingPodcast #FinancialBrandForum #IvyBank #CambridgeSavingsBank
Aaron is back from vacation and ready to recap the Community Bank 150 at Thunder Road!
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris discusses the importance of establishing a solid investment pre-purchase due diligence process. He shares a four-question framework to help build a system that works both before and after the investment purchase. In this episode: Fed & Market Update (2:08) Visa Class B repurchase offer (Visa announcement) (13:01) Your Pre-Purchase Due Diligence Process (18:08) Free download: Pre-Purchase Due Diligence Checklists (32:55) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA
Send us Fan MailWhere is capital actually going right now? In this episode, $1B+ investors share what they are actively looking for—from community bank acquisitions and RIAs to commercial real estate, technology platforms, and growth-stage opportunities.If you're raising capital or sourcing deals, this episode gives you a clear picture of current investor demand and how to position your opportunity to match it. Understanding what investors want today is one of the fastest ways to improve your fundraising success.If you want to connect with serious investors, build better partnerships, and access real deal flow—join us inside the Family Office Club.Our investor club offers 30 nationwide events a year, 10,000 registered investors, and 40 proprietary AI tools designed to help you raise capital faster and more effectively.
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris breaks down bank subordinated debt as community banks face a wave of refinancing offers. Learn what makes sub-debt riskier than typical bonds, the policy foundation required before investing, and how to perform independent credit analysis on these securities. In this episode: Market & Rate Update (1:32) Follow-Up Investments/Liquidity Discussion on LinkedIn (7:51) Investing in Bank Sub-Debt (12:22) Coming in May - The Community Bank Performance Institute (39:31) (LEARN MORE) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA
Len explains that the OCC issued a December 18, 2025 proposal to create a “Simplified Plan Process for Community Banks” to make the CRA strategic plan option easier, but he believes its real value extends beyond banks using strategic plans because it reveals how regulators think about “Satisfactory” and “Outstanding” performance under normal CRA standards. The proposal distinguishes between “custom” bank-specific goals (which Len says offers little practical guidance) and “elective” goals, which are quantifiable targets drawn from approved plans and OCC supervisory experience. Len highlights that the most useful—and historically murky— CRA test is Community Development. The OCC's proposal provides explicit benchmarks for CD lending, investing, combined lending/investing, and CD services, using ratios tied to Tier 1 capital or total assets (including notably lower investment thresholds when a bank relies heavily on donations, acknowledging their significance). He notes the proposal also introduces measurable expectations for CD service hours per employee, while offering little new insight on traditional lending tests. Although the OCC states elective goals are not “safe harbors” and not formal benchmarks outside the simplified process, Len argues they align with what regulators historically expect and can help CRA officers set internal performance targets; this is where you would provide a link to the 67 tests, performance standards and ratings. https://geodatavision.com/content/occ-proposed-elective-goals-for-cra-strategic-planning/ Brought to you by GeoDataVision and M&M Consulting
This past week, we put on a webinar about Practical AI for Community Banks. The engagement from the industry was amazing and it definitely won't be the last one we do. This episode is the AI summary of the webinar that I thought was absolutely amazing itself. If you want to view the webinar and get the handouts, check out https://barretbanking.org/practical-ai-for-community-banks/
Welcome to Bond Investment Mentor! In this episode, Chris explores why strategic cash flow management should be your number one liquidity tool for managing the investment portfolio. Learn how to move from reactive scrambling to proactive liquidity planning, while protecting portfolio income and performance. In this episode: Federal Reserve Update (1:13) FASB Comments on Hedging HTM Securities (7:12) Cash Flow Is King (12:45) Free 3-Day Investment Managers Playbook Series (28:46) (LEARN MORE) If you have questions about anything covered in this episode, please email me at Chris @ BondInvestmentMentor.com. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? Please share this episode and podcast with them! You will find more articles, tips, and resources about fixed-income investing and portfolio management at BondInvestmentMentor.com. Check it out! Let's Connect via Social Media! LinkedIn: Christopher Nelson, CFA
Community banks widely recognize the value of diversity in the boardroom, yet many institutions still rely on the same limited recruiting networks when searching for new directors. On the latest episode of Travillian Next, Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with Jennifer Docherty, Senior FIG & Capital Markets Strategist at Performance Trust Capital Partners and Co-Founder of Bank on Women, to unpack why boardrooms remain so homogenous and what banks can do differently.Jennifer explains the structural dynamics that shape how directors are recruited and why meaningful performance gains begin to appear once boards reach a “critical mass” of women. The conversation also explores how community banks can modernize board succession planning, build stronger leadership pipelines, and expand their candidate pools through sponsorship and organizations like Bank on Women. Together, they outline practical steps banks can take to strengthen governance while positioning themselves for the next generation of leadership.
My latest guest is Chris Black, CEO of Thread Bank, a Nashville-based community bank that has been purpose-built around embedded banking. Chris came to banking by way of a career as an Air Force pilot, followed by time on Wall Street analyzing banks during the financial crisis, before eventually making his way into community banking in Nashville. He partnered with fintech investor Joe Maxwell of Fintop Capital to recapitalize a small Tennessee bank and transform it into an embedded banking platform focused on vertical software companies serving small businesses.In our conversation, Chris talks about how Thread navigated the BaaS regulatory storm of 2023 and 2024, what they look for in fintech partners, and how their fiduciary-first philosophy was already in place long before regulators came calling. We also discuss the wave of fintechs now seeking bank charters, the future of community banking in America, and what Thread has on the horizon with the launch of embedded lending and merchant acquiring.In this podcast you will learn:Lessons Chris learned during his time in the Air Force.How the idea for Thread Bank came together.How they took the acquired bank and made it ready for embedded banking.When they took on their first fintech partner.What they are looking for in a fintech partner.Where Chris sees the biggest opportunity for Thread.How Thread navigated the BaaS regulatory hurricane of 2023 and 2024.Why the shift in regulatory focus with the Trump Administration has not changed their thinking.What Chris thinks about all the fintechs that are now acquiring bank charters.What it takes for a new fintech to be onboarded with Thread.The process when a fintech wants to do something that Thread does not think is reasonable.The key to a thriving community bank sector over the next decade.What exciting developments are coming down the pipe.Connect with Fintech One-on-One: Tweet me @PeterRenton Connect with me on LinkedIn Find previous Fintech One-on-One episodes
In this episode of He Said, She Said: Razor Branding™ Podcast, Jaci and Michael sit down with Ann Barilleaux, SVP Marketing Director for JD Bank, Louisiana's Community Bank™, to unpack what it really takes to market a bank—where compliance is non-negotiable and trust is everything. Ann shares how marketing in a regulated industry forces you to think differently: every message, sign, and disclaimer matters—down to FDIC rule changes that impact branch signage and product communication. But the bigger challenge? Banking is complicated for consumers, and you have to simplify without overpromising. The conversation dives into the reality that community banking is relationship banking—and why that becomes the true differentiator when products are largely similar across competitors. Ann explains how JD Bank tailors branding and campaigns by market (rural vs. metro), including a standout Cajun French campaign that connected deeply in specific communities—while acknowledging that what works in one region won't translate to Baton Rouge. You'll also hear how JD Bank balances traditional media, digital targeting (including geofencing), grassroots community involvement, and strategic sponsorships—without spreading a small team too thin. Ann shares how they think about community giving with intention (not “a little bit everywhere”), how they track impact beyond analytics, and what it looks like to protect reputation and calm “we're being sold” rumors by staying visible, consistent, and deeply local.
In this episode, Harsha Goli from Magnolia Financial discusses the launch of their Bitcoin-enabled banking services across the US, navigating regulatory challenges, and the importance of partnerships with banks. He emphasizes the need for better user experiences in Bitcoin transactions, the role of price oracles, and the implications of the Clarity Act on Bitcoin development. The conversation also touches on the tension between traditional banks and the crypto industry, the future of community banks, and innovations in Bitcoin technology. Harsha shares insights on potential use cases for Magnolia's services and the challenges of bridging the gap in Bitcoin adoption, while also addressing privacy concerns in Bitcoin transactions.Takeaways:
Community banks play a critical—yet often underappreciated—role in economic development. In this episode of Develop This!, the #1 podcast for economic development professionals, host Dennis Fraise sits down with Matt Morris, President and CEO of Connection Bank in Fort Madison, Iowa, to explore how community banking fuels local economies, supports small businesses, and strengthens rural communities. Matt shares his career journey from working at large financial institutions to leading a community bank and explains why relationship-based banking remains essential to sustainable economic development. Together, Dennis and Matt unpack how community banks serve as trusted partners for entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and local leaders—often stepping in where larger institutions cannot or will not. Key Takeaways Community banks support their communities in diverse and meaningful ways Strong relationships are the foundation of community banking Economic development depends on healthy, engaged local financial institutions Community banks often fill critical gaps for small and rural businesses Trust is essential to effective banking relationships Community banks are deeply involved in local economic development efforts Technology has changed how banks operate—but not the need for relationships Non-traditional competitors present new challenges for community banks Developing the next generation of leaders is key to community growth Better storytelling can improve understanding of the community bank model
Community banks are no longer on the sidelines of digital assets.Keith Daly of Travillian speaks with Caitlin Long, Founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, and Shawn Main of Vantage Bank Texas about how tokenized deposits, stablecoins, and interoperable payment rails are becoming real banking infrastructure.They break down the GENIUS Act, atomic settlement, and a new bank-led consortium designed to give community banks a compliant, practical path into digital asset payments. From cross-border transactions to logistics and restaurant payouts, the episode shows how settlement speed, transparency, and customer expectations are reshaping competition.If you work in community banking, fintech, payments, or digital assets, this episode explains what is changing, why it matters, and how banks can stay relevant.
The average rate on the 30-year Mortgage Loan has fallen below 6%, we look at investments in Homebuilders and Community Banks that may benefit from the downward trend in rates. We review the highest dividend paying stocks in the S&P 500 right now.
Julieann Thurlow, CEO of Reading Cooperative Bank, talks about the opportunities and challenges for community banks this year. She discusses the economic conditions, how community banks can innovate and where she'd like to see changes by policymakers.
Bank Strategy: Community vs. National Banks Hosts - Tara Wean, Vice President, The Kafafian Group, Inc. Jeff Marsico, President, The Kafafian Group, Inc. Ben Crowley, Managing Director, The Kafafian Group, Inc. Guests - Andrew Baker, Chief Strategy Officer, F&M Bank
Community and regional banks operate in an environment of perpetual tension. They need to grow deposits and drive lending profitability while managing operating costs that threaten to overwhelm smaller institutions. They must also prevent increasingly sophisticated fraud while delivering customer experiences that match Amazon and Netflix. And they need to do all of this while building technology foundations that won't become obsolete before the implementation is complete. At FIS's Emerald 2025 conference in Orlando, Peter Boyer, head of banking at FIS, and Craig Focardi, principal analyst at Celent, discussed how financial institutions are navigating these competing demands. Focardi and Boyer discuss how modernization is now a continuous process of adaptation, and that the institutions most likely to succeed will focus on enabling agility rather than chasing specific technologies. "If you really take a step back and think about regional and community banking, there's a couple headwinds or tailwinds, that are driving how banks are thinking about the market," Boyer explained. "One is deposit growth and profitability growth through lending. Every bank right now is thinking, how do I grow? What is my sweet spot in my segment? Thing two is operating costs. How do they continue to drive a more efficient bank? AI is a big topic on that particular solution. And thing three is fraud. How do you protect the banking ecosystem? You put those three together and you've got a meaningful amount of where the energy is in the market today."
Today we sit down with Ron Shevlin of Cornerstone Advisors. He tells us all about the forces that are "squeezing" community banks out of existence. Ron also shares what to focus on so your bank can thrive and succeed in the longterm. Check out our Ebook on loan hedging here! The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC
Value: After Hours is a podcast about value investing, Fintwit, and all things finance and investment by investors Tobias Carlisle, and Jake Taylor. Soldier of Fortune: Warren Buffett, Sun Tzu and the Ancient Art of Risk-Taking (Kindle)We are live every Tuesday at 1.30pm E / 10.30am P.See our latest episodes at https://acquirersmultiple.com/podcastAbout Jake Jake's Twitter: https://twitter.com/farnamjake1Jake's book: The Rebel Allocator https://amzn.to/2sgip3lABOUT THE PODCASTHi, I'm Tobias Carlisle. I launched The Acquirers Podcast to discuss the process of finding undervalued stocks, deep value investing, hedge funds, activism, buyouts, and special situations.We uncover the tactics and strategies for finding good investments, managing risk, dealing with bad luck, and maximizing success.SEE LATEST EPISODEShttps://acquirersmultiple.com/podcast/SEE OUR FREE DEEP VALUE STOCK SCREENER https://acquirersmultiple.com/screener/FOLLOW TOBIASWebsite: https://acquirersmultiple.com/Firm: https://acquirersfunds.com/ Twitter: ttps://twitter.com/GreenbackdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobycarlisleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tobiascarlisleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobias_carlisleABOUT TOBIAS CARLISLETobias Carlisle is the founder of The Acquirer's Multiple®, and Acquirers Funds®. He is best known as the author of the #1 new release in Amazon's Business and Finance The Acquirer's Multiple: How the Billionaire Contrarians of Deep Value Beat the Market, the Amazon best-sellers Deep Value: Why Activists Investors and Other Contrarians Battle for Control of Losing Corporations (2014) (https://amzn.to/2VwvAGF), Quantitative Value: A Practitioner's Guide to Automating Intelligent Investment and Eliminating Behavioral Errors (2012) (https://amzn.to/2SDDxrN), and Concentrated Investing: Strategies of the World's Greatest Concentrated Value Investors (2016) (https://amzn.to/2SEEjVn). He has extensive experience in investment management, business valuation, public company corporate governance, and corporate law.Prior to founding the forerunner to Acquirers Funds in 2010, Tobias was an analyst at an activist hedge fund, general counsel of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, and a corporate advisory lawyer. As a lawyer specializing in mergers and acquisitions he has advised on transactions across a variety of industries in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Singapore, Bermuda, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Guam. He is a graduate of the University of Queensland in Australia with degrees in Law (2001) and Business (Management) (1999).
The former bank regulator who invented deposit networks just revealed why SVB's collapse was inevitable—and why the solution that could have saved them is finally being rebuilt. Gene Ludwig ran the OCC during the Clinton administration, created a half-trillion-dollar market solving a problem his Aunt Betty faced riding buses between banks, then watched his invention fail to save Silicon Valley Bank because the technology, economics, and incentives were fundamentally broken. Now he's partnered with Paolo and ModernFi to build what could become America's eighth systemically important financial utility: a bank-owned consortium that's signing 25 institutions per week and racing to protect the 4.8 trillion in uninsured deposits that make the next crisis inevitable. Resources:Follow Gene on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-ludwig/Follow Paolo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolombertolotti/Follow David on X: https://x.com/dhaber Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Podcast on SpotifyListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
As the government shutdown drags on, the Treasury Department fired the entire staff of the CDFI Fund, a program with substantial bipartisan support. Dennis Ammann, CEO of People's Bank, a CDFI in Mississippi, and Jeannine Jacokes, CEO of the Community Development Bankers Association, discuss the impact on CDFIs nationwide and why it has alarmed lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
In this episode of One Vision, we welcome Wayne Miller, EVP, Chief Innovation Officer at ICBA, for an insightful conversation on the importance of community banks and evolution of fintech partnerships. Wayne shares his personal journey into the financial services industry and his passion for improving financial lives. The discussion touches on the challenges and opportunities in a digitally evolving landscape, including the roles of technology, AI, and payments. Tune in to hear Wayne's thoughts on the future of banking and his perspective on the biggest shifts in community banking.00:00 Introduction01:42 Reflecting on the Past Decade03:25 The Spirit of Community Banking05:30 The Art of Matchmaking in FinTech06:22 Evolution of Bank-FinTech Partnerships14:42 The Role of AI and Technology in Banking22:37 Future of Payments and Financial Services28:59 Community Banks and Financial Wellness32:30 Predictions and Reflections for the Future
In this episode, Caleb sits down with J.R. Lay—entrepreneur, bestselling author, and founder of Level Up Business—to explore how community banks can deepen relationships and drive growth through authentic communication. They discuss the power of personal branding, the role of video and content in building trust, and why helping first is the key to long-term success. J.R. also shares his “Five Cs” framework for connecting with entrepreneurs and creating meaningful community impact. If you're a bank leader looking to grow your influence and relevance, this episode is for you. The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC
More than two dozen bills dedicated to Making Community Banks Great Again have passed House Financial Services Committee. Panel Chair French Hill handicaps which will have the most impact and what is most likely to be enacted. He also discusses the latest on the crypto market structure bill, how regulators can help banks in the fight against fraud, where the payments sector will be in five years, why he wants to end the Fed's dual mandate, the prospects for housing legislation and unfinished business after the fall of SVB in 2023.