Bank M&A isn’t about speed anymore. It’s about preparation.In this episode of the Travillian Next podcast, investment bankers from Janney Montgomery Scott and D.A. Davidson break down how bank M&A has become a long game shaped by diligence, culture, regulation, and timing.Travillian’s Brian Love and Andrew Liesch sit down with Dan Flaherty (Janney) and Gene Katz (D.A. Davidson) to discuss how M&A conversations now happen years before a deal is signed, why diligence has become confirmatory rather than exploratory, and how cultural fit, succession planning, and regulatory strategy increasingly determine whether deals succeed or fail.The conversation also explores the role of credit unions as bank buyers, how fintech and private investors fit into today’s M&A landscape, and why boards are thinking beyond short-term stock reactions when evaluating acquisitions. For bank executives, directors, and investors trying to understand where consolidation is headed, this discussion offers a realistic, on-the-ground view of what’s actually driving deals today.Topics covered include:• The evolution of bank M&A diligence• Why culture is now a core deal risk• Regulatory tone and approval timelines• Succession planning and talent-driven transactions• Credit unions, fintech buyers, and market dynamics• What investment bankers expect for bank M&A in 2026

Consumers are shifting from traditional search engines to AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, which is fundamentally changing how financial products appear and get evaluated.

Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, reconnects with Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, to explore one of the biggest shifts uncovered in Fintel Connect’s annual survey: the rise of consumers using Large Language Models like ChatGPT and Gemini to research financial products. This move away from traditional search engines is already reshaping affiliate marketing, prompting Fintel Connect to examine how different AI models source recommendations and how financial institutions can stay visible in a growing no-click environment.

Hosted by Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, this strategic conversation features Nikhil Lakhanpal, Co-founder of Narmi, and Chris Tremont, Chief Digital Officer at Grasshopper Bank. They detail the launch of the first Model Context Protocol (MCP) banking integration, explaining how this technology enables AI platforms to perform CFO-level financial analysis for small business clients securely.

Learn why bank leadership must embrace a decisive AI strategy or risk the rising cost of complacency in the future of finance.

This episode brings together host Andrew Liesch, Head of Bank Strategy at Travillian, and Stephen Scouten, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Piper Sandler, for one of the most grounded conversations you’ll hear on bank performance heading into 2026. Scouten lays out why management teams feel more optimistic than they have in years, why valuations remain stubbornly low, and what rate cuts, deposit costs, CRE fears, and a wide-open M&A window mean for the industry.

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Disclosures for universe of: Stephen Scouten

1. I or a household member has a financial interest in the securities of the following companies: none

2. I or a household member is an officer, director, or advisory board member of the following companies: none

3. I have received compensation within the past 12 months from the following companies: none

4. Piper Sandler beneficially owns 1% or more of a class of the following companies: none

5. Piper Sandler has had a client relationship or has received compensation for investment banking services from the following companies within the past 12 months: AMTB, AUB, COSO, FCNCA, PNFP, RNST, SBCF, SFNC, SNV, SSB, UBSI, USCB

6. Piper Sandler expects to receive or intends to seek compensation for investment banking services from the following companies in the next 3 months: FCNCA, PNFP, SBCF, SFNC, SNV, USCB

7. Piper Sandler was a managing underwriter of a public offering of, or a dealer manager of a tender offer for, the securities of the following companies within the past 12 months: COSO, FCNCA, SFNC, SSB, USCB

8. Piper Sandler has had a client relationship and has received compensation for non-investment banking securities related products or services in the past 12 months for the following companies: ABCB, AMTB, AUB, BKU, CADE, FBNC, FCNCA, HBCP, HOMB, HWC, ISTR, OBK, OZK, PB, SBCF, SFBS, SNV, SSB, STEL, TRMK, UBSI, UCB

9. Piper Sandler has had a client relationship and has received compensation for non-securities services in the past 12 months for the following companies: none

10. Piper Sandler is a registered market maker for the following companies: ABCB, AMTB, AUB, BKU, CADE, COSO, FBNC, FCNCA, HBCP, HOMB, HWC, ISTR, OBK, OZK, PB, PNFP, RNST, SBCF, SFBS, SFNC, SFST, SMBK, SPFI, SSB, STEL, TCBI, TRMK, UBSI, UCB, USCB

11. Piper Sandler will buy and sell securities on a principal basis for the following companies: FBK, HTH, SNV

In Building Brotherly Love: Ira Robbins, CEO of Valley National Bank, and Brent Beardall, CEO of WaFd Bank, moderators Brian Love (Head of Banking & Fintech, Travillian) and Andrew Liesch (Head of Bank Strategy, Travillian), and keynote speakers, Ira Robbins (Chairman and CEO, Valley National Bank) and Brent Beardall (President, CEO, and Vice Chairman, WaFd Bank) dive into American banking and the importance of unity, purpose, and innovation in a consolidating industry.

This candid NEXT Forum conversation explores how community and regional banks can stay competitive amid the dominance of the largest institutions. Topics include deposit insurance reform, the need for a diversified banking system, empowering employees through culture and purpose, challenges in commercial real estate, and the future of M&A as technology investment drives scale. Both leaders emphasize that success in banking comes from collaboration, inclusivity, and serving the communities that need it most.

As privately held banks look for smarter ways to manage shareholder relations, My Private Shares is helping them do it without losing control.In this episode of Travillian Next, Andrew Liesch, Head of Bank Strategy at Travillian, sits down with John Antolik, CEO of My Private Shares; Sam Ishee, CFO of Florida Capital Bank; and Andy Borrmann, CFO of Lincoln Savings Bank.Together, they explore how digital shareholder management is transforming how private institutions handle liquidity, communication, and ownership transitions. From streamlining transactions and compliance to supporting succession planning and leadership retention, the conversation offers a practical look at how community banks can stay private while still modernizing for the future.

In this Travillian Next  Trailblazers episode, the founders of Acceleron Bank Information share how they’re helping community banks reclaim lost ground in international payments — a business long dominated by megabanks and fintechs. They reveal why cross-border payments are a critical battleground for community institutions looking to protect deposits, drive fee income, and stay relevant in a globalized economy.

Host Keith Daly sits down with Damon Magnuski, Andrew Dillard, and Sarah Beth Felix for a candid discussion on innovation, compliance, and risk-taking. From core integration with Fiserv to navigating stablecoin disruption, this conversation is a roadmap for how community banks can modernize payments and compete globally.

Community banks are facing a technology tipping point. In this NEXT Forum panel, leaders on the front lines of digital transformation break down what’s real, what’s hype, and where banks must invest now to stay competitive.Technology Phanatics: Innovation in Banking features:• Moderator — Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian• Ryan Hildebrand, EVP & Chief Innovation Officer, Bankwell• Jeremy R. Mandell, Co-Chair, Financial Services Group, Morrison Foerster• Nathaniel Harley, Chief Revenue Officer, Alkami Technology & Founder/President, MANTLThey dig into:• AI that actually improves efficiency (not just hype)• Real-time fraud detection as fraud losses hit $10B+ annually• Emerging payment rails and tech stacks driving faster onboarding• How niche segmentation and digital account opening unlock new deposits• The ROI community banks need to prove to boards and regulators• Why culture and talent will determine who wins the next wave of innovationWhether you’re a CEO, CIO, CFO, or director, this conversation will help you make smarter technology bets and avoid getting left behind as customer expectations accelerate.

Moderated by Matthew Resch (Ambassador Financial Group) and Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, this NEXT Forum fireside features Curtis Myers, CEO & Chairman of Fulton Bank, on navigating today’s banking climate: deposit strategy, scalable community banking, talent development, and the real-world M&A calculus regional banks face while protecting local identity.

In the opening session of NEXT Forum 2025, “Banking in 2025: A Declaration of Independence,” top bank leaders discuss how community banks are adapting to regulatory shifts, M&A opportunities, interest rate volatility, and emerging technologies like AI and fintech partnerships. The panel explores efficiency, liquidity, credit quality, and talent strategies shaping the future of independent banking.