Travillian Next

Are you ready to redefine talent acquisition and unleash the power within your organization?

Step into the world of banking, where the pursuit of talent consumes the thoughts of all. It's a constant quest to find exceptional individuals, to hold onto those vital team members, and to nurture the rise of future leaders. In the heart of North Dakota, at Choice Bank, Samantha Berg serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer, tackling these substantial challenges with unwavering confidence and an innovative approach.

Join us on this episode of Travillian Next as Berg takes us on a journey through Choice Bank's triumph in the talent war, revealing their secret weapon—an unwavering embrace of "uncomfortability" in their culture and an audacious hiring process that defies the boundaries of their size.

In this conversation, Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, and Berg delve into the ever-shifting landscape of hiring trends, exploring the coveted skill sets that define the very essence of hot talent.

In his Travillian Next debut, Dimitris Malisianos, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search, engages with two recognized influencers and advocates of payments, innovation, and fintech: Jason Mikula, Publisher of Fintech Business Weekly and Managing Director of 312 Global Strategies BV and Panagiotis Kriaris, Commercial Director, and Head of Business Development at Unzer.

Their discussion focuses primarily on cross-border payments, which are essential in international trade, investments, and remittance. Although there are advancements being made, the pace of progress varies depending on the country. Additionally, further challenges arise around regulation, risk management, fees, currency fluctuations, and processing time.

Kriaris and Mikula also discuss Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and how they may change the traditional way of banking to better enable real-time transactions worldwide, eliminating delays, fees and intermediate banks involved.

Alexander Rolfe, a former FDIC Official and current Managing Director at JCSmithAdvisors, recently joined Travillian’s Head of Banking & Fintech, Brian Love, and Head of Strategic Advisory, Indra Elangovan, to discuss the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. Drawing on his experience as a bank examiner, Rolfe provides valuable insights into the regulatory environment and the risk landscape of banking, as well as potential impacts on banks from FDIC insurance and deposit flows. He also offers his thoughts on the future talent and skill requirements for the banking industry.

SouthState’s John Corbett is among the most respected CEOs in the banking industry today.  In this discussion with Travillian’s Head of Banking and Fintech, Brian Love and GenOpp Capital Management’s CIO, Joe Fenech, Corbett recounts the story of his career, growing a de novo community bank in central Florida two decades ago to the southeast regional force that SouthState Bank is today.  Along the way, we gain insight into a managerial style that prioritizes innovative and creative thinking, teamwork, the importance of culture, the value of humility, “thinking big” while “acting small”, and how to manage through a crisis and create opportunity, a particularly relevant topic in the current environment.  See below for a video index, outlining the topics discussed by our moderators and featured guest.

The turmoil in the banking system over the past month will certainly lead to new legislation & regulatory oversight.  It is crucial to have advocates in Washington to ensure your story and preferences are heard, especially for smaller firms such as fintechs and BaaS Community Banks.   

Phil Goldfeder took over as CEO of the American Fintech Council less than a month ago and was thrown right into the fire.  Phil has a unique and impressive background to handle such a volatile time in the markets.  He has been on the government side, working for both Michael Bloomberg and Chuck Schumer as well as a member of the New York State Assembly for over 5 years.  He has also been on the banking side, working for a pioneer BaaS Bank, Cross River, as SVP Global Public affairs for almost 6 years before taking over at the AFC.   Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Phil to discuss the current regulatory environment, and how the American Fintech Council can help promote responsible innovation and inclusivity within financial technology services.  

00:16 | Intro

04:07 | The future of regulatory agencies with BaaS banks, community banks and fintechs

10:05 | What makes a fintech focused bank great?

12:42 | Opportunity for fintech banks

14:51 | Leadership

16:00 | Outlooks for the future

17:50 | Benefits/Advise for BaaS banks

Continuing with Travillian Next's video series highlighting the nation’s highest-valued publicly traded banks, Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, and Joe Fenech, Chief Investment Officer at GenOpp Capital Management, speak to Stock Yards Bank & Trust CEO, Ja Hillebrand and Lake City Bank CEO, David Findlay.

Recorded just prior to recent events impacting the banking industry, this insightful discussion touches on the consistent, disciplined approach employed by each bank, enabling them to thrive through the business and economic cycle. As our nation’s banks navigate through an increasingly challenging operating environment, this is a timely discussion with two of the sector’s very best and most well-respected operators.

To watch part one with Community Bank System’s Mark Tryniski and ServisFirst Bancshares’ Tom Broughton, please click here.

Chapters:

00:16 | Introduction

16:01 | Entrenchment in markets; Metro vs. Non-Metro Markets

32:56 | Culture / Talent

48:22 | Liquidity 

52:08 | Asset Quality 

1:05:58 | Where is Banking Headed/Competitors You Respect

1:11:01 | Conclusion

From the lens of an astute and forward-thinking balance sheet strategist, the root cause of the crisis goes beyond interest rate risk. This observation comes from none other than Scott Hildenbrand, Chief Balance Sheet Strategist at Piper Sandler, who engaged in an electrifying discussion with Travillian's Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech, and Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory.

Andy Borrmann is a truly strategic CFO, having come from a non-traditional upbringing (in investment banking and sell-side analysis) before finding a home as a CFO in community banking, at Southcrest Bank and Colony Bank.  Andy sat with Brian Love, Head of Banking & FIntech at Travillian, to talk through the evolution of the CFO role since the 2008-09 financial collapse and how the role continues to evolve, especially given the backdrop of the liability-induced bank failures of SVB and SBNY.

With the credible perspective very few possess, Hernan Hernandez sheds light on this past weekend’s wild events which shockingly led to Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failing. Joined by Travillian hosts, Brian Love and Indra Elangovan, Hernan tries to piece together what the FDIC may have missed and gives gives a behind-the-scenes view of the fair auction, bidding process and how this event may change banking sector fundamentals like deposit flows and liquidity risks.  Also tune in to hear Hernan’s hot takes on potential changes to the FDIC’s insurance policy.

Video Index

0:20 | Intro and What Was Missed

12:09 | Auction Process/Changes to Banking Fundamentals

14:30 | Potential Changes to FDIC’s Insurance Policy

Hernan Hernandez - Background Snapshot:

Hernan started at the FDIC in Los Angeles, CA in 1990 as a Commissioned Bank Examiner – Capital Markets Specialist, primarily monitoring West Coast banks of $100M to $50B in assets. He then joined Comerica Bancorp, as First Vice President and Manager of Finance for the bank’s Western Division. There, he managed a 15-person staff in charge of budgeting, strategic planning, forecasting earnings, measuring and analyzing divisional performance, asset/liability hedging strategies, and customer profitability management. Hernan was the key strategic analyst in the Comerica/Imperial merger that recognized $785 million gain on the $1.3 billion transaction (2.4x TBV). He moved to City National Bank, Los Angeles, CA, in 2004 as Senior Vice President and Manager – Financial Planning, Corporate Development, Strategy and Special Projects, directly reporting to the CEO and Board of Directors. Hernan was an important part of the executive strategic team that grew the bank from $12 billion to over $90 billion. He managed the team in charge of strategy and merger and acquisitions (including equity partnerships and direct investments in fintech ventures) and led the Strategic Project Management Group which consists of 23 colleagues managing regulatory, efficiency and productivity projects throughout the organization. Hernan is now an FIG investment banker, primarily covering community and regional banks on the West Coast.

With the credible perspective very few possess, Hernan Hernandez sheds light on this past weekend’s wild events which shockingly led to Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failing. He gives a behind-the-scenes view of the fair auction, bidding process and how this event may change banking sector fundamentals like deposit flows and liquidity risks.  Also tune in to hear Hernan’s hot takes on potential changes to the FDIC’s insurance policy.

Hernan Hernandez – Background Snapshot:

Hernan started at the FDIC in Los Angeles, CA in 1990 as a Commissioned Bank Examiner – Capital Markets Specialist, primarily monitoring West Coast banks of $100M to $50B in assets.  He joined Comerica Bancorp for six plus years, as First Vice President and Manager of Finance for the bank’s Western Division. There, he managed a 15 person staff in charge of budgeting, strategic planning, forecasting earnings, measuring and analyzing divisional performance, asset/liability hedging strategies, and customer profitability management. Among a host of accomplishments, Hernan was the key strategic analyst in the Comerica/Imperial merger that recognized $785 million gain on the $1.3 billion transaction (2.4x TBV). Hernan moved to City National Bank, Los Angeles, CA, in 2004 as Senior Vice President and Manager – Financial Planning, Corporate Development, Strategy and Special Projects, directly reporting to the CEO and Board of Directors. Hernan was an important part of the executive strategic team that grew the bank from $12 billion to over $90 billion. He managed the team in charge of strategy and merger and acquisitions (including equity partnerships and direct investments in fintech ventures) and led the Strategic Project Management Group that consists of 23 colleagues managing regulatory, efficiency and productivity projects throughout the organization. Hernan’s reach extended to almost every corner of the bank. A sampling of accomplishments include, leading the successful acquisition of 5 banks (4 of which were failed institutions utilizing the FDIC loss share program), 4 business lines, 1 leasing company, and 3 fintech SaaS companies, totaling over $5 billion in assets, raising $1.3 billion in common, preferred, sub debt, and senior debt capital instruments, acting as lead senior officer on the sale of the bank to Royal Bank of Canada (Highlights; $5.4 billion transaction, 2.6x TBV, P/E multiple of 22x), and developing systems/processes used for DFAST Stress Testing (Balances Sheet, PPNR, Aggregation, Submission) while maintaining close relationships with Fed, OCC and FDIC regulators. Hernan is now an FIG investment banker, primarily covering community and regional banks on the West Coast.