Fitech Forum

The fight to save community banking is real and it’s necessary. Whether you’re a bank looking for data, seeking ideas on how to harness technology, struggling to move forward into the future or just wanting a safe & confidential space to collaborate with other community bankers, Bankers Helping Bankers is here to help. In this episode Matthew Smith, Director of Innovation Initiatives at IBAT will share more about this up-and-coming resource and how best to utilize their services to fit your needs.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-e-smith-488a975e/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankers-helping-bankers/

Digital innovation, what is it? By definition, it’s the practice of implementing modern digital technology to solve business problems by optimizing processes, improving customer experiences, & delivering new business models. What does this mean for our banks? To compete in today’s environment, it’s imperative to look towards the future at services & solutions that will enhance your current offerings by harnessing the power of other companies who are experts in those fields & can help you execute strategies. Tyler & Chris have done just that, take a listen to their shared experiences.

Tyler Sisneros

Century Bank

Chris Davis

RiverBank

It’s no secret that nonprofit organizations are fully dependent on fundraising & charitable giving. As Bridget Daly, of GiveCentral, shares, gone are the days of gifting by check. While COVID may have thrown a wrench in gifting briefly, new & improved ways of receiving donations have surfaced. Ease of giving & use of a sophisticated system are paramount as donors want to feel a one-stop-shop experience. As a financial institution who serves these nonprofits, both as customers and as donors, it’s important to have access to affordable & flexible options that will benefit these organizations.

Bridget Daly

GiveCentral

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Community banking & community involvement tend to go hand-in-hand. But for Becky Goldberg, she takes being involved in her community to the next level. The passion Becky has for supporting local businesses and truly being part of her community is a reflection of having positive role models and strong mentorships. This is just one of the many reasons why we love our community banks & appreciate all of the time & effort they put into championing for their communities and allowing & encouraging their employees to get involved & BE local.

Becky Goldberg

Horizon Community Bank

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Small businesses everywhere are looking for avenues that will make running their companies easy. As a financial institution, why are you allowing non-bank competitors to serve the needs of your customers? In Episode 10, Derik Sutton shares his experience helping institutions meet their customers where there are by offering a solution that their business customers not only need but makes life easier for them. Listen in to discover how your institution can better assist small businesses with resources like integrated payments and embedded banking all while protecting & growing those valued relationships & attracting new ones.

Derik Sutton

Autobooks

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Strategic planning is something every bank should be doing on an annual basis, but according to our guest in Episode 9, Bert Purdy, it shouldn’t just be about the numbers. A community bank's mission is to help their customer's dreams come true. Part of how they achieve that is by having a strong company culture with a clear vision that starts at the top & flows throughout the entire team.

Profit is not a purpose, it’s a result. By empowering your employees, giving them a voice, and getting them to buy into the ‘why’, the more successful a strong strategic plan will be.

Bert Purdy

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Simon Sinek – Start with Why

Partnership. An overused term these days? Sometimes, maybe. But to Gordon Roberts & Southside Bank, they trust and rely on a true vendor partnership. Join us in Episode 8 as Gordon discusses what partnership means to him and the bank and why it’s so important. It’s more than just a contract. It’s having a relationship with an industry expert, knowledgeable in their field, up-to-date on market trends & technology, a company who can bring solutions and flexibility to the table, and most importantly, a company whose core values align with those of the bank. Community banking is unique and requires non-cookie cutter solutions and the ability to color outside the lines.

Southside Bank

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Work-life balance is not a new concept and something that many of us likely struggle with. If you, or someone you know, has struggled with the added stress of working from home, home-schooling your children, or feeling overworked in today’s environment, you’ll certainly want to join us for this timely & informative podcast. 

Too often we are looking for ways to do more and be more, but the key is to be more of who you really are, not who others expect you to be. In Episode 7, Life Coach Denise Purdy will share advice on how to be more present & focused with less stress and how to gain a feeling of peace & happiness in your daily routine.

Denise Purdy

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Insight Timer

Financial literacy is such an important topic and one that many community banks offer to their communities in some fashion. For Lucas Sawyer and Worthington National Bank, this started with a simple ask to have a booth at a local community college workshop and has grown into part of a full financial education class offering.

Join us in Episode 6 as we learn more about the evolution of Lucas’ involvement & creation of Tarrant County College’s financial literacy session and how you may want to consider starting your own program or partnering with a local organization.

Tarrant County College

Worthington National Bank

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Community involvement is just one of the many areas where community banks and their employees shine. Our guests Susana Salamun & Brook Sims are outstanding examples of servant leadership & volunteerism from the heart all while being fully supported by their banks.

Listen in as they each share some of the organizations they’re involved in, what their bank's philosophy is on community involvement, and noteworthy advice on how to shape a program of your own. You may also find out more, or even make a donation, through the links provided to each of the programs mentioned in this episode.

Child and Migrant Services; Palisade, Colorado 

Latino Community Foundation of Colorado  

English in Action; Carbondale, Colorado 

Midwest Foodbank – Texas Division

Rainbow Days

Texas Women’s Foundation – Village Giving Circle

Alpine Bank

First United Bank

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