This special episode brings together a powerhouse panel of industry experts to tackle the existential challenges facing community financial institutions (CFIs) today. In a banking environment shaped by market pressures, rapid technology disruption, evolving regulations, and shifting customer expectations, survival is far from guaranteed.

Moderator Curt Hecker, CEO & Executive Chairman of PCBB, leads a dynamic conversation with Gary Steven Findley, Esq., President of Gary Steven Findley & Associates; Aaron Donaldson, Financial Institutions Consulting Co-leader and Principal with RSM; and John Pietrzak, President and CEO of Devrai Capital. Together, they share practical strategies CFI leaders can put to work immediately — covering capital planning, board effectiveness, technology adoption, AI readiness, and more.

These insights are not just future-focused — they address what every CFI executive and director should act on now to ensure long-term relevance and resilience. This episode intentionally runs longer than usual, reflecting the depth and urgency of the topics discussed. To make it easy for listeners to dive in, chapters have been included for quick navigation. Listeners can choose the segments most relevant to their role or revisit critical advice.

The length, structure, and caliber of voices in this discussion make it an invaluable resource for anyone committed to shaping the future of community banking.

MODERATOR:

In this episode of Banking Out Loud, host Sonia Portwood and Curt Hecker, industry veteran and CEO of PCBB, unravel the essentials of strategic planning for community financial institutions (CFIs). Discover how senior leaders and boards can leverage digital transformation, AI, and compliance best practices to drive growth, enhance customer experience, and stay competitive amidst rapid industry change. The conversation highlights actionable strategies, technology modernization, project management, risk mitigation, emerging fintech partnerships, and market trends shaping community banking in 2026. Tune in for expert insights and proven approaches to future-proof your CFI.

Guest:

Download this episode's companion PDF for takeaways and tips on Strategic Planning. DOWNLOAD

Check out this PCBB BID article for even more Strategic Planning insight from Curt Hecker. READ ARTICLE

As the cannabis industry grows, community financial institutions face a pivotal decision — should they step into the Marijuana-Related Banking (MRB) space? In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of MRB, breaking down the risks, rewards, and regulatory complexities of taking on cannabis-related business customers.

Join us as we dive into the conversations CFIs are having with regulators about MRB, the potential impact of legislative changes like the SAFE Banking Act, and real-world insights from financial institutions already offering MRB services. We’ll also discuss reputation management, compliance strategies, and what it takes to run a successful MRB program.

If your institution is weighing the pros and cons of MRB, this episode will give you the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about this rapidly evolving sector.

Resources:

GUESTS:

Tony Repanich

Aviva Lipkin

Banking Out Loud host Nancy Ozawa discusses relationship banking, its benefits, and strategies for success with guest Justin Armstrong, Co-CEO of UBank, and PCBB’s Northeast Regional Manager, Mike Foreman. The group delves into how prioritizing customer relationships over transactions radically transformed UBank’s approach to banking.

Justin Armstrong

In this episode, Kathy Lonowski, former regulator with the FDIC, explores the keys to success for community financial institutions. Lonowski shares insights on the importance of proactive risk management, strong communication, and effective data use in decision-making. She explains why involving regulators early in risk discussions is crucial and highlights the significance of corporate governance and stakeholder trust in ensuring long-term success.

Lonowski also touches on the role of middle management in addressing issues and stresses the importance of due diligence when launching new products. She wraps up with a practical look at how regulatory bodies coordinate and why preemptive reporting can prevent bigger issues down the line.

In this insightful episode, we dive into the unique challenges and opportunities of mid-level managers. Scott Mautz, accomplished author, keynote speaker, and trainer leverages his decades of management experience at Proctor & Gamble (P&G), along with data and actionable tips and strategies, to help middle managers thrive in hierarchy, differentiate themselves, and influence “up, down, and across the organization.” 

Resources Mentioned:

Guest:

AI is expected to be as big a disruptor as the internet was. In this episode, we're joined by Kendra Ramirez, CEO of KR Digital Agency and an expert in AI. Together, we explore the far-reaching impacts of AI across industries, focusing on the banking sector and generative AI.

Guest:

In this episode of Banking Out Loud, Fiserv payments experts Paul Sullivan and Justin Jackson join PCBB’s payments expert Sheila Noll to discuss the rapidly evolving faster payments landscape. Their conversation touches on the importance of strategic thinking and collaboration with partners, while also driving home the need to view faster payments as an opportunity to better serve customers and differentiate your institution. They also discuss other considerations, such as the value of data-rich transactions enabled by ISO 20022 and the potential for new use cases and business models as faster payments continue to develop.

Guests:

Justin Jackson

Paul Sullivan

In this episode of Banking Out Loud, host Nancy Ozawa discusses the value of performance reviews and how to effectively prepare for them with Laurie Battaglia, CEO of Aligned at Work. Laurie emphasizes the need for employees and managers to discuss the format and frequency of reviews that will be most helpful. She also provides tips for employees on how to prepare for performance discussions, the role of managers in creating a positive culture of feedback and growth, and the importance of open communication, curiosity, and continuous improvement in the performance review process.

Guest:

In this episode of Banking Out Loud, US Secret Service agent Stephen Dougherty joins hosts Sonia Portwood and Nancy Ozawa to discuss cybercrime and the Secret Service’s mission to protect and secure the US financial and economic infrastructure. Stephen shares examples of types of cybercrime, including business email compromise schemes, romance scams, work-from-home scams and deep fakes, and explains how technology tools, including AI, have made these schemes more sophisticated than ever. He also provides tips on when and to which law enforcement or relevant authority suspicious activity should be reported to.

Hosts:

Nancy Ozawa

Guest:

Resources:

• US Secret Service Field Offices: https://www.secretservice.gov/contact/field-offices

• The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center: https://www.fsisac.com/

• Preparing for a Cyber Incident: https://www.secretservice.gov/investigation/Preparing-for-a-Cyber-Incident