Travillian Next

Welcome back for Part 2!

In Part 2, John Maxfield, the Founder of Maxfield on Banks and Senior Banking Specialist at The Motley Fool is joined by special guest, Jim Reuter, Board of Directors at FirstBank Colorado.

The conversation features discussions on leadership, succession planning, banking performance, innovation, and talent development. Jim Reuter shares his journey from teller to CEO, emphasizing the importance of humility, integrity, and continuous learning in leadership.

Key strategies for managing a bank, incorporating younger talent, and balancing innovation with conservative practices are explored. Additionally, the episode offers insights into the value of diverse experiences, the role of entertainment in education, and the impact of the pandemic on the banking industry.

Get ready for a lively and informative conversation with these industry experts!

Join us for Part 1 of a Travillian Next special featuring John Maxfield, the Founder of Maxfield on Banks. Maxfield on Banks is a well-regarded substack where John shares his expertise to help others master the principles of exceptional banking. John brings a wealth of experience from his roles at Bank Director, the Wilmers Integrity Prize, and The Motley Fool, where he currently serves as the Senior Banking Specialist.

The conversation explores the unique dynamics of the banking industry and the exceptional leaders within it, emphasizing the importance of resiliency, commitment to fiduciary duty, and the ability to learn and grow as key elements of effective leadership in banking. John dives into the importance of the ability to learn, grow, and be reprogrammed for leaders in the banking industry, noting that exceptional leaders often emerge from modest backgrounds or have experienced hardship early in life.

…and that's not all! This is just the beginning—be sure to watch until the end to build anticipation for the exciting guest coming in part two next week!

Hint: The mystery guest - a recently retired CEO - is an old friend of John's, has appeared on stage with him at AOBA, and just finished a stellar 37-year tenure at his bank.

Name That Bank! A show for bank geeks, made by bank geeks...

Join us for an exclusive premiere of the Travillian-hosted game show—NAME! THAT! BANK! —featuring contestants Mandi Simpson, Partner at Crowe and Chris Mihok, Managing Director at KBW, who both have extensive networks with Southeastern US institutions, which is this week's focus region.

How Does It Work?

This game draws inspiration from the classic "Name That Tune," but with a twist: instead of tunes, it's all about naming banks! Brian Love, the charismatic host and Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, presents a series of clues to the contestants, pitting them against each other to guess the bank correctly.

Expect plenty of laughs, friendly competition, and insightful commentary along the way. It's a short but fun episode that you won't want to miss! Can you guess all five banks?

In this Travillian Next episode, Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory at Travillian, and James Stevens, Partner and Co-lead of Financial Institutions Group at Troutman Pepper, discuss effective board governance and board evolution in the banking industry. They highlight the key functions of a board, such as establishing purpose and strategy, selecting and evaluating management, determining risk appetite, ensuring compliance, and serving as ambassadors for the bank.

With the evolving landscape, the demands on board oversight have increased significantly, making board engagement in risk management and compliance crucial, especially in today's regulatory environment. They highlight how boards can be strategic assets for banks, offering valuable insights into enhancing board governance and dynamics in this Bank Board Insights series.

In this episode of Travillian Next, Zane Smith, Chief Banking Officer at American Bank, discusses the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) industry and stresses banks' need for in-house expertise. He advocates for a shift towards banks assuming responsibility for risk and compliance, rather than relying on middleware providers. Smith also addresses talent needs in the BaaS space, emphasizing strategic planning for growth. He highlights the importance of banks innovating within safety and soundness frameworks, urging a return to basics.

Travillian Host: Keith Daly, Head of Tech & Innovation

Key Takeaways

Attorney Michael Bell and Past Chairman of the Independent Bankers of America, Brad Bolton, have separately disagreed in the press about their views on credit union purchasing community banks. Bell has been a CU legal advisor on almost every deal announced since 2008. Bolton has been very critical of these transactions as the ICBA believes they have unfair advantages, namely around their tax exemption. In their very first appearance together, Brad and Mike engage in a congenial debate – which uncovered more agreements than disagreements.

We cover hot topics related to these unique mergers, including:

Keith Daly, Head of Tech and Innovation at Travillian, sits down with Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American FinTech Council (AFC), to delve into the challenges and opportunities within the banking & fintech industries. Phil has been in the top seat at AFC for a little over a year now and has traveled countless miles to many state houses to advocate for his members and their customers. Phil’s passion for the job is visible and he loves the mission of the AFC.

Join us for the latest episode of Travillian Next, where Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, dives into the hot topic of credit unions acquiring community banks.

In this discussion, Brian sits down with Jeffrey Cardone, Partner and Attorney at Luse Gorman, PC, and Michael Bell, Partner at Honigman LLP, to explore the dynamics of these acquisitions. They shed light on the roles played by all parties involved and the hurdles they encounter along the way.

But that’s not all – they also zoom out to examine the broader landscape of mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector. From succession planning to regulatory challenges, they unpack the complexities driving M&A activity.

Don’t miss out on this deep dive into the future of banking mergers!

Join Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors, and Brian Love, Head of Banking and Fintech at Travillian, as they navigate the critical challenge of talent acquisition in the banking industry.

When Lincoln Savings Bank and its Chairwoman, Sally Hollis, began their CEO search in the summer of 2023, they embarked on a journey to find someone who could blend the past, present, and future of the organization. With assistance from Travillian, Sean Willett was tapped to be the bank's new CEO.  In this candid conversation with Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, Sean and Sally reflect on: