More than just chatbots, artificial intelligence in banking promises to change how the industry tackles its most fundamental tasks and pain points, from serving customers to streamlining troublesome paperwork and processes. But what’s taking shape today that sets the stage for a bold tomorrow? Ruth Polachek, the CEO and founder of Fincheck and a BAI Beacon speaker, offers her views on A.I. present and future.

Where does Chicago stand within the worldwide fintech community and what are its major contributions? Michael Busch, the president of Burling Bank and Lisa Curran, the co-founder of the non-profit industry group FinTEx provide an informed glimpse into what’s going on in Chicago’s fintech scene.

Bank branches, while on the decline, will continue to serve as an integral part of multi-channel strategy for financial institutions. To that end, innovation and inspiration will play out on many levels as banks attempt to keep their branches relevant. Jonathan Rowe of nCino takes a deep dive into best in technology and user friendliness that branches will offer in the near future and beyond.

More than ever, a social media presence for banks means more than mounting a Facebook page or sending out generic Twitter messages. Melissa Musgrove of Regions Bank shares how her institution leverages social media to address service inquiries, handle complaints quickly and win new customers. She also stresses the need for replacing sales pitches via social media with meaningful information and advice.

Whatever fintech meant just a generation ago, or even a few years ago, its breadth and scope have widened to a point where it embraces a stunning range of applications. Scott Robinson, the founder and VP of San Francisco-based Plug and Play Fintech, takes us through the innovation landscape to highlight the very best of fintech prior to his appearance at BAI Beacon.

The BAI Global Innovation Awards program has fielded thousands of submissions over its seven-year history. It's given BAI president and CEO Debbie Bianucci insight as to what true banking innovation looks like. While fintech may be an innovation driver, it's far from the only one. On this podcast, Bianucci discusses the many facets of banking innovation, from human capital to societal impact.

When banks get involved in improving the financial wellness of their prospective and current clients, everybody wins. How can banks help those who struggle to achieve financial stability and assure customer loyalty? On this podcast episode, Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey, co-founder and CEO of SpringFour, outlines how consumers can reach meaningful goals and how banks can help them get there.

Even as hackers and malware make international headlines, banks have resources to keep the bad guys at bay--some of them as simple, yet powerful, as keeping fresh data backups under lock and key. Sean Cassidy, the co-founder and chief technology officer of DefenseStorm, walks us through what banks can do to stay a step ahead of cyber threats.

Fintech is no longer a matter of anti-bank disruption, and sometimes it takes a former entrepreneur in the space to best communicate that message. Andres Wolberg-Stok, who serves as Citi Fintech's global head of policy, shares how his bank makes high-tech work for in-house teams and customers alike.

Financial wellness has come to public consciousness as consumers look for better ways to take control of their finances. But what can banks and financial institutions do to ensure a successful journey? Jennifer Tescher, the founder and CEO of the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI), outlines the big wins possible when banks and consumers work in tandem to realize financial wellness goals.