In the highly anticipated season 5 opener, the guys are joined by Claudia Sahm, Chief Economist at New Century Advisors and architect of the famous “Sahm Rule.” Claudia provides her thoughts on the resilience of the US economy, key elements to be aware of on the unemployment and inflation fronts, Fed rate expectations and whether we are at risk of a policy error, and why she remains cautiously optimistic for 2026.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

In the final episode of the season, Vin and Zach jump into a discussion on the recent Fed Meeting and the outlook for rates in 2026.  The guys also probe how various rate outlooks could impact deposit and loan strategy, as well as thoughts on recent Q4 ALCO meetings, budgets, and positive industry margin trends.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Vin, Zach, and DCG colleague Mike Mitchell are joined by Dan Yates, CEO and Co-Founder of Endeavor Bank located in Southern California. Dan shares lessons learned from training programs early on in his career and how he parlayed that education into the formation of two de novo banks. He speaks about Endeavor Bank's focus on "Consultative Banking," and how the bank's partnership with small- and medium-sized businesses is mutually beneficial. He also discusses Endeavor Bank's adherence to the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and how that framework permeates through all facets of the organization. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Dan talks about leaving a lasting legacy in his communities and filling the void left by larger bank consolidations.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Cole Watson, CFO of Hoosier Hills Credit Union (IN), joins Vin, Zach, and DCG colleague Mike Mitchell for a terrific episode 10 of season 4. The guys dig into Cole’s background as he transitioned into the banking world post-GFC, the importance of having a “curious mind,”  initiating strategic actions at ALCO, and how FIs should embrace culture shifts as deposit gathering becomes more and more important.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

DCG Deposit Consultant Bill Guthrie joins Vin and Zach on a Fed Decision Day to dust off the deposit falling rate playbook and dive into funding strategies. The trio explores industry deposit trends and what they mean for community institutions, NMD and CD balance and rate expectations, the importance of harnessing your own data, and how to make sure your institution is not “flying blind” if more rate cuts unfold.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

In our eighth episode of the season, Clay Adams, President & CEO of Mascoma Bank (NH), joins Vin, Zach, and Joe Kennerson. The guys dig into Clay’s background in the private sector and on the Mascoma Board before emerging as the bank’s CEO, Peter Drucker and Daniel Pink, the role of AI and stablecoins in banking’s future, and how Mascoma Bank created its own SaaS platform (“Stratum”) designed to modernize the technological environment of financial institutions.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

In this episode, Hal Horvat, President & CEO of Centreville Bank ($3B mutual savings bank in Rhode Island), joins Vin, Zach and DCG colleague Justin Bakst. The foursome delves into why Hal never intended to have a career in banking, relationship-focused loan and deposit growth, making a nearly 200-year-old bank an "employer of choice," and how Centerville successfully partnered with professional soccer team Rhode Island Football Club.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Chris Low, Chief Economist at FHN Financial, rejoins the guys for a live appearance from DCG’s 41st Annual Balance Sheet & Model Risk Management Conference in Boston. In this comprehensive conversation, Chris expounds on the impact of tariffs and the nation’s debt on long-term interest rates, the Sahm Rule and unemployment expectations, housing market trends along with bank lending and credit implications, and answers the question of whether we have seen Jerome Powell’s last rate cut.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

In this episode, the guys are joined by JP Lapointe, Chief Financial Officer of Needham Bank ($5B institution in the Boston metropolitan area), and DCG colleague Jeff Reynolds. The four dig into JP’s career progression from Wolf and Company to Northeast Bank to his current role at Needham. JP also expands on the nuances of working for a "specialty asset" business, why banking cannabis is not for the "faint of heart," Needham’s recent IPO and the "perfect time to go public," and why their customers have direct access to the CEO's personal cell phone.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

In this special episode, Darling Consulting Group President & CEO Matt Pieniazek joins for a C-suite-focused “fireside chat” to share his insights and perspectives on managing earnings and balance sheet risks in this highly volatile and uncertain environment. Matt reflects on key realities, challenges, and opportunities, and also addresses some very relevant current strategies for managing an institution’s risks in general – and lending and deposit customers in particular.

For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.