Today on the show, Al and Steve reunite in the Arizona desert to unpack the themes they have been hearing at banking conferences and boardroom meetings nationwide. Two big standouts: the practical use cases of A.I. (yes, there are some) and the surge in M&A activity. Plus, they dig into the generational shift in banking where younger consumers play the field in which financial providers they use.

Chapters:
[00:00] Back in the Desert — Kicking Off Plugged In
[00:41] Coast to Coast: Travels and Boardroom Insights
[03:09] The AI Hype Curve — Entering the Trough of Disillusionment
[05:22] Real AI Wins: Chatbots, Fraud Detection & Efficiency Gains
[07:24] The CFO Reality Check — Why AI Might Cost More
[08:50] Finding Your Voice with ChatGPT
[10:16] The Next Generation of Banking: Gen Z & Liquidity Shifts
[12:54] Creating Capacity and Strengthening Franchise Value
[14:08] The M&A Wave: Big Brands, Big Bets, and Faster Deals
[18:15] Speed, Purpose, and the Future of Banking

Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in