Curiosity, mentorship, and sushi…three things that might not seem connected, until you meet Lee Easton.

In this episode of Travillian Next Trailblazers, host Keith Daly, Principal - Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Lee Easton, Founder of iDENTIFY, to talk about how a childhood mentor and a love for solving complex problems led Lee into the heart of one of banking’s biggest challenges: data.

From building a unified data hub for community banks to navigating the industry’s slow shift to the cloud, Lee shares the ups, downs, and the driving force behind it all—genuine care for the people he serves. Whether you're a founder, a banker, or just someone who enjoys hearing how innovation actually happens, this one’s worth a listen!

In the latest episode of Travillian Next, Keith Daly, Principal of Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Caleb Stevens, Vice President - Marketing Manager of Capital Markets & Correspondent Banking at SouthState Bank, to discuss a topic often overlooked in the banking industry—marketing—and its crucial role in community banking. Together, they explore how community banks can leverage modern marketing strategies to stay competitive, from digital marketing to aligning sales and marketing teams.

In Part 2 of this Travillian Next conversation, we build on the lessons learned from Silvergate Bank’s rise and fall to explore how stablecoins and tokenized deposits could reshape the banking industry.

What you'll learn in this conversation:

• How Silvergate’s experience informs the potential risks and rewards of digital assets in banking
• What stablecoins and tokenized deposits mean for banks and payments systems
• Why banks need to adapt now to stay competitive in the world of digital finance
• How BitGo’s MD Ben Reynolds (former President of Silvergate Bank) and Michael Perito, Travillian’s Head of Bank Strategy, break down what comes next for the industry

This conversation is a must-watch for anyone in banking or fintech who wants to understand the future of digital assets, payments, and what banks must do to remain relevant.

What you’ll learn in this conversation:

In part 1 of this two-part series, we sit down with Ben Reynolds, Managing Partner and Head of Stablecoins at BitGo (Former President and Chief Strategy Officer at Silvergate Bank) and Michael Perito, Head of Bank Strategy at Travillian, taking a journey back in time to the early days of Silvergate Bank. A look back at Silvergate’s growth in crypto, its attempts at launching a global stablecoin, and its eventual wind-down, left many important lessons learned around novel banking activities which should help build a stronger foundation for innovation in the future.

Don’t miss Part 2 next week, with a deeper focus on the recent revival of crypto banking activities, and the significant possible disruption from stablecoins and tokenized deposits in the banking sector—subscribe to our mailing list for exclusive early access.

“This business is still people-driven.”

In this episode of Travillian Next, Travillian’s Michael Perito, Head of Bank Strategy, and Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech, sit down with Bob White, 1st Colonial Community Bank CEO, for a no-nonsense look at what’s shaping the banking industry today. From the battle for top commercial banking talent to the evolving role of technology, the conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities facing financial institutions.

Bob shares what he looks for when hiring, why internal training programs matter, and how mergers can be a smart talent play. Plus, they tackle deposit gathering, operational risk, and the future of branch banking.

Welcome back for episode 2 of Travillian Next Trailblazers! In this episode, host Keith Daly, Principal - Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Kalyani Ramadurgam, CEO and Co-Founder of Kobalt Labs, to explore her transition from AI researcher at Stanford University to fintech entrepreneur.

Join Keith and Kalyani as they discuss how Kobalt Labs is using AI to streamline compliance, the pivotal role of customer feedback in shaping the platform, and the unexpected challenges that led to major pivots. Kalyani also shares insights from engaging with 200+ compliance officers and her vision for the future of fintech and community banking.

In this episode of Travillian Next, Travillian host Keith Daly, Principal - Banking & Fintech Search, and Gene Yoshida, an Independent Risk and Compliance Consultant who advises Banks and Fintechs, dive into the fast-moving world of stablecoins and what they mean for banks and fintechs. With regulation still taking shape, can community banks afford to sit this one out?

Gene breaks down where stablecoins are headed, why risk management is non-negotiable, and how digital asset firms are eyeing partnerships with traditional banks. If you want to understand the future of money movement, this one’s worth a listen.

MidWestOne Bank is a $6.2 billion in assets community bank with a footprint spanning from Denver to Minnesota to its home base in Iowa. As the bank's technology needs evolved, it became clear that the bank had outgrown its existing talent structure. But when is the right time to bring in a CIO—and how do you find the right leader to drive meaningful change?

In this conversation, hosted by Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, MOFG leaders share their journey from recognizing the need for a CIO to executing an executive search that led them to the right fit. Join MidWestOne's Chief Executive Officer, Chip Reeves, and new Chief Information Officer, Paul Ho-Sing-Loy, as they discuss the challenges of hiring at the executive level, why they chose to work with a recruiter, and what set their final candidate apart. Also, hear from the recruiter at Travillian, Patrick Cooney, who found Paul and helped him get excited about an opportunity that would see him relocate from New Jersey to Iowa.

For banks facing similar growing pains, this conversation offers key takeaways on knowing when to expand your leadership team—and how to make the right hire when you do.

Introducing Travillian Next Trailblazers: The Story Behind the Journey! The Trailblazer Series will dive deeper into the personal story of fintech founders, detailing how they started & grew their company in the face of rejection, resistance, and constant challenges. The life of an entrepreneur can be thrilling, disappointing, risky, rewarding, fulfilling, and of course stressful. The Trailblazer series will focus on the peaks and valleys of the journey with insights and advice for the listeners.

In our first episode, host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Nikhil Lakhanpal, co-founder of Narmi, to explore what it really takes to build a game-changing fintech company. From shaking up the status quo in banking to navigating the chaos of COVID-19, Nikhil shares his journey—full of challenges, innovation, and lessons for aspiring founders.

Don’t miss this deep dive into the entrepreneurial mindset, the future of digital banking, and the unexpected hurdles along the way. Listen now!

In one of our final Travillian Next episodes of 2024, join our Head of Bank Strategy, Michael Perito, for this can’t-miss conversation with one of the original architects of Banking-as-a-Service, the “Godfather” Brad Hanson. Brad’s career in banking and payments is vast, beginning at BankFirst, which later became The Bancorp, Inc. (TBBK), where he started a mortgage division and later a payment card division that became one of the largest in the country. He also was a key architect of building out a similar BaaS platform at Meta Financial Group, now Pathward Financial (CASH), where he lastly served as President and Chief Executive Officer.