AI Agents are quickly becoming the biggest competitive edge for community banks to win and serve small business customers.

Chris and Dan sat down with the co-founders of Daylit, Jared Shulman (CEO) and Jerry Shu (CTO), to break down what AI agents actually are, how they work, and why banks should be thinking about building an AI Agent portfolio to stand out in the highly competitive SMB market.

Daylit (formerly Lendica) is the leading AI Agent for accounts receivable for SMBs, and they share deep insight into how businesses think, how they adopt new tools, and what they will expect from their financial partners in the next few years.

If you've been hearing the buzz about AI agents, and thinking about how they fit into your bank's AI strategy, this is a must-listen.

In this episode:

• What AI Agents really are, and what makes them different from just an LLM
• How AI Agents give SMBs enterprise-level financial intelligence, without the enterprise-level budget
• How community banks can use AI-enabled services to attract, retain, and grow SMB customers
• Why embedded fintechs and non-banks are quietly becoming competitors – and how to differentiate
• Practical ways banks can partner with AI technology vendors, without taking on additional regulatory or credit risk

Links & Resources

• Launch Event! Daylit is releasing the newest version of their AI AR Agent on December 2, 2025 at 6pm ET. Register here: https://luma.com/me4l88i0

· Daylit: daylit.com

· Follow Daylit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thedaylit/

· Follow Daylit on X: https://x.com/daylit_ai

· Follow Daylit on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lendica

· Book: Zero to One

· Follow Jared on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shulman-jared/

· Follow Jerry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-shu-8502591b/

Connect with Chris & Dan

· Website: bankmarketingshow.com

· Email: [email protected]

· Companion Newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com or https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bank-marketing-minute-7240439067794948098

What happens when a 120-year-old community bank decides to take a bold leap forward? Randy Dorn, President of My Kind of Bank (formerly First National Bank of Henning), joins Chris and Dan to share the story behind their rebrand — from internal debates to a powerful cultural transformation that united staff and energized customers.

Randy reveals how a name change became more than a marketing move — it became a statement of purpose. This episode dives deep into how community banks can modernize without losing their soul, and how to turn a rebrand into a growth engine that drives engagement, loyalty, and pride.

Main Topics Covered:

• Why "doing nothing" is riskier than rebranding

• How My Kind of Bank turned a marketing idea into a brand identity

• The internal culture shift that made the brand stick

• Turning employees into local heroes (and why it works better than celebrity ads)

• Using digital marketing, SEO audits, and referral programs to turn a new brand into measurable growth

• How to approach board conversations about risk, tradition, and change

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Randy's email: [email protected]

• My Kind of Bank: mykindofbank.com

• Website: bankmarketingshow.com

• Sign up for our newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com

• Contact Chris and Dan: [email protected]

Compliance and marketing don't have to be enemies, especially in the age of AI. In this episode, Charles LeFevre, Director of Compliance Operations at Kadince (and self-proclaimed "Taylor Swift of Compliance"), joins us to break down how these two sides can work together to move faster, stay compliant, and even have a little fun doing it.

You'll hear how AI is reshaping the marketer–compliance relationship, and where there are opportunities for smarter collaboration, fewer bottlenecks, and better outcomes for everyone.

In this episode:

• Why "best practices" can actually kill creativity
• How to build realistic AI usage policies that empower your team
• The right balance between guardrails and innovation when using AI
• How smaller banks can use AI to leap ahead of big institutions
• Charles's three-lines-of-defense model for marketing + compliance collaboration

Links & Resources:

Charles's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talktochuck/

🌐 bankmarketingshow.com

📰 Sign up for our newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com

📩 Contact Chris and Dan: [email protected]

If your 2026 plan looks like 2025's...you may not be adapting to all the technology- and user behavior-driven changes that have happened this year.

In this episode, Chris and Dan chat about all these changes, and lay out a simple checklist to use as your 2026 strategy comes together - including adjusting budgets, getting found with GEO and SEO, and speaking directly to customer problems.

Key topics:

- Why you should audit your digital visibility as the first input to your strategic plan

- How allocating budget should be different than last year

- Building initiatives around specific customer problems/niches

Links and resources:

- Website: bankmarketingshow.com

- Newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com

- Contact Chris and Dan: [email protected]

Is SEO really dead—or is AI search just the new shiny object? In this episode, Chris and Dan break down the buzz around Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and what it actually means for community banks. (spoiler: SEO isn't going anywhere, but banks that act now have a huge opportunity to get ahead while everyone else is still watching from the sidelines)

What we cover in this episode:

• Why "SEO is dead" headlines are misleading—and what's really happening

• How SEO and GEO overlap and where they differ

• Why customer reviews and human "proof" matter more than ever in AI search

• How to structure your content for conversational, AI-driven results

• Quick, practical steps any community bank can start on today

• Why now is the easiest time to outrun your competition in search

Links & Resources:

• Website: bankmarketingshow.com

• Sign up for our newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com

• Contact Chris and Dan: [email protected]

There's lots of hype in the marketplace about how AI is taking over – and while the promise is that AI can help personalize customer experiences at scale, community banks are worried that it will actually make customer service feel more generic and less personal.

This week, Chris and Dan talk with Sharveen Kumar, former NVIDIA-backed founder and ex-marketing leader at Amex, about the opportunity for banks to use AI to gain more personal touch with AI. By using AI in the right ways, it takes the mundane, repeatable tasks off your plate and actually creates more opportunities for you to do what you do best: build customer relationships.

Main Topics Covered

· Personalization is the differentiator: banks have rare, long-term 1:1 relationships—most banks focus on protecting and scaling that edge.

· Start with data, not tools: CRM usage, clean legacy data, and connected sources are the foundation for any AI win.

· Beware shiny objects: many enterprise AI POCs fail; map processes and decide where AI should (and shouldn't) play.

· Where AI actually helps: automate the 30–40% "one-liner" service requests so teams can focus on deeper conversations.

· Practical workflow moves: capture conversation notes, let AI surface opportunities, and free humans for high-value outreach.

· Tiered experiences without losing the human touch: segment service levels thoughtfully, then invest saved time into relationship banking.

Books Mentioned

· On the Road — Jack Kerouac

· Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art — James Nestor

Guest Bio

Sharveen is a former NVIDIA-backed AI startup founder, now pioneering multi-agent solutions for finance and technology enterprises. He previously led marketing at global powerhouses including Singapore Airlines, American Express, LinkedIn, and The Trade Desk. Beyond building companies, Sharveen invests in emerging ventures and mentors the next generation of professionals.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharveenkumarl/

Links & Resources

Website: bankmarketingshow.com

Sign up for our newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com

Contact Chris and Dan: [email protected]

EP 93: Use AI to Build a 90-Day Content Calendar (in Real Time)

In this second hands-on demo (see Ep 89: AI Starter Kit for the first one), Dan shares his screen to walk through a real example: how a custom GPT can take just three real customer questions and instantly generate 90 days of social posts, blog topics, and image suggestions—all formatted and ready to use.

If you've been using ChatGPT or another LLM, but haven't started building repeatable processes yet, this episode will get you started. Here, we talk about content creation - but there's so much more you can do with custom GPTs.

***Haven't subscribed to our YouTube channel yet? This is a great episode to watch there!***

What We Cover:

- Why good prompts still matter (even with automation)

- How to build a reusable, branded custom GPT - Generating a full 90-day content calendar from 3 questions

- Downloadable CSVs, stock images, and blog ideas—all prepped for execution

- Tips for keeping your content local, human, and brand-consistent

- Bonus: how to turn this into a repeatable quarterly process

Want access to the exact GPT we used in this episode? Email us at [email protected] with subject line "Content Calendar GPT" and we'll send you the link.

Links & Resources:

· Website: bankmarketingshow.com

· Sign up for the companion newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com

· Contact Chris and Dan: [email protected]

AI isn't just for the big players—it might be your small bank's biggest advantage.

In this episode, Chris and Dan interview Justin Stayrook, Chief Growth Officer at EYEMAGINE, about how AI is transforming operations for lean marketing teams in community banks and credit unions. From cutting project timelines to boosting output without increasing staff, Justin shares why now is the time to act.

What we cover:

· Why AI adoption is moving faster than any technology shift before it

· How small marketing teams can outperform larger competitors with AI tools

· Quality vs. speed: why AI can actually improve both

· The "AI as an operating system" approach to business processes

· Why your agency partners should have a clear AI plan—and how to start that conversation

· Real examples of community financial institutions using AI to lead innovation

About Justin

Justin Stayrook is a growth-focused executive and AI strategist who helps companies scale profitably in the age of GenAI. With a track record of driving transformation from early-stage ventures to large enterprises, Justin blends deep experience in private equity, customer experience, and digital commerce. As Chief Growth Officer at EYEMAGINE and founder of Joint Journeys, he advises firms on how to modernize their go-to-market strategy, optimize operations, and compete with intelligence. His leadership has shaped partnerships and earned him recognition for innovation and revenue growth.

Links & Resources:

Justin's Email: [email protected]

Justin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinstayrook/

Book: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Website: bankmarketingshow.com

Sign up for our newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com

Contact Chris and Dan: [email protected]

Can your employees become your most powerful marketing tool?

In this episode, we sit down with Autumn Jose, AVP and Brand Marketing Coordinator of Civista Bank to talk about how she turned a simple idea into a thriving employee advocacy program—and what it takes to grow a brand from the inside out. Autumn shares how she created Civista's "Social Stars" initiative to drive social media engagement for the brand, what worked (and didn't), and how banks of any size can replicate it.

What we cover in this episode:

· Why traditional marketing no longer cuts it—and what's replaced it

· The origin story of Civista Bank's "Social Stars" program

· How to empower employees to become brand ambassadors on social media

· Tools and processes to keep compliance teams happy

· The surprising ROI and engagement metrics they've seen

· Tips for scaling employee advocacy across branch locations

This is a must-listen for anyone looking to grow their bank's social media engagement.

Links & Resources:

Autumn's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/autumnjose/

Favorite Book: Be Where Your Feet Are, by Scott O'Neil

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Your-Feet-Are-Principles/dp/1250769876

Website: bankmarketingshow.com

Sign up for our newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com

Contact Chris and Dan: [email protected]

The Power of Connection with Neil Stevens

Connection – with your team, your bank, your customers, and your own self - is the key to great leadership and to creating a truly engaged team. It starts at the top. Your bank's leadership needs to feel confident in and connected with the values, vision, and mission of your institution. When this happens, and you hire people whose personal visions are already aligned with yours, you start building a great company culture, too.

In this episode, Dan Novalis, Chris Bates, and Neil Stevens discuss what goes into connected teams. Neil shares his LEAD methodology for creating stronger connections: Love, Equip, Affirm, and Develop others. Being a better and connected leader starts with prioritizing yourself and your emotional and mental health. When you treat yourself right, you can encourage a better performance from your team.

Topics Include:

● Why connection is so important for bankers

● How to develop a company culture that makes sense for your organization

● Why you need strong leadership to lead your company culture

● Why leaders need to prioritize themselves and their emotional/mental health

● How to encourage better performance in your team

Neil Stevens is an accomplished banker, speaker, community leader, brand strategist, and fitness enthusiast. As President & CEO of Oconee State Bank in Watkinsville, Georgia, his visionary perspective inspires growth, drives direction, and helps clear obstacles for team members to achieve their personal and professional goals. Happiest when surrounded by his family, Neil's passion is to create a positive impact on others through servant leadership.

Resources Mentioned:

● Website: https://www.oconeestatebank.com/

● The Remarkable Foundation: https://www.oconeestatebank.com/the-remarkable-foundation

● Make Your Remarkable Podcast: https://www.oconeestatebank.com/business/makeyourremarkable

● Book: Love Works by Joel Manby: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Works-Timeless-Principles-Effective/dp/0310359740/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1689791648&sr=8-1

● Book: Good to Great by Jim Collins https://www.amazon.com/Good-to-Great-Jim-Collins-audiobook/dp/B003VXI5MS

● Book: The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath https://www.amazon.com/The-Power-of-Moments-audiobook/dp/B074TZFTDG/

● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-stevens-8a5b0514/

● Email: [email protected]