Travillian Next

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.

Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, and Melissa Rawl, Director of Product Marketing at Live Oak Bank, to explore the findings from the 2025–2026 Financial Industry Affiliate Marketing Report.

The discussion covers how affiliate marketing drives growth for banks, shifts in consumer demand, he rise of lending products, AI’s role in shaping search, and practical advice for executives considering this channel.00:20 – 03:03 | Setting the Stage: What Is Affiliate Marketing?03:03 – 05:16 | Live Oak’s Expansion and Digital Advantage05:16 – 07:44 | Key Findings from Fintel Connect’s 2025 Report07:44 – 10:13 | Market Insights, Data, and AI’s Role10:13 – 13:14 | Navigating Economic Uncertainty & Product Strategy13:14 – 17:12 | Product Development and Consumer Expectations17:12 – 20:57 | Advice for Bank Leaders Entering Affiliate Marketing20:57 – 22:38 | Where to Find the Report

Host Amber Buker, Chief Research Officer at Travillian, sits down with Rick Geloff, EVP of Bank of North Dakota, to discuss how the only state-owned bank in the U.S. is tackling fintech disruption head-on.Geloff’s role was created to focus on strategic initiatives, including stablecoin, embedded finance, and deposit diversification, all while supporting North Dakota’s community banks. From building a culture of innovation to preparing boards for risk discussions, this conversation offers bankers practical takeaways on navigating emerging technologies without losing sight of mission and community.00:00 – 01:09 | Introduction01:09 – 03:36 | Why Innovation Matters03:36 – 05:01 | Stablecoins and New Payment Rails05:01 – 07:07 | How to Prioritize Innovations07:07 – 09:03 | Three Core Filters for Bank of North Dakota09:03 – 11:16 | Use Cases and Peer Collaboration11:16 – 13:44 | Partnerships and Board Concerns13:44 – 16:24 | Risk Mitigation and Education16:24 – 17:46 | AI and Back-Office Efficiencies17:46 – 20:18 | Leadership Journey

Host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Zach Boyda, Treasurer at CFG Bank, and Adam Mustafa, CEO and Co-Founder of Invictus Group. Together, they discuss the evolution of stress tests from a regulatory requirement into a proactive tool for capital planning, growth, and strategy. The conversation covers CFG Bank’s journey from $1 billion to $5.5 billion in assets, the role of tailored stress testing in managing healthcare and CRE concentrations, and how banks of all sizes can use capital planning to justify independence and optimize shareholder returns.

Travillian Next host Amber Buker, Chief Strategy Officer at Travillian, sits down with David Robinson, Director of Fintech and Embedded Banking at Academy Bank, to uncover how a family-owned community bank became one of the fastest movers in embedded banking.

From record-breaking onboarding with Treasury Prime to building a fintech partner profile that balances growth with risk, David shares practical lessons for banks and fintechs alike. Whether you’re exploring embedded partnerships or looking to scale responsibly, this conversation delivers real takeaways for fintech leaders.

00:21 | Academy Bank’s Fintech Story02:00 | Standing Up the Embedded Banking Practice03:20 | API Infrastructure & Agility03:53 | Decision-Making at a Family-Owned Bank05:17 | Building a Partner Profile07:01 | Close Collaboration with Fintech Partners07:56 | Deal Flow & Market Reality09:39 | Applying a Bank’s Risk Lens to Fintech11:41 | Advice for Other Banks Entering Embedded Banking12:59 | Vertical Opportunities & Future Focus14:02 | White-Label & Investment Potential15:32 | Lessons from Year One16:55 | Where to Connect with Academy Bank

Host Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Lori Bettinger, President of BancAlliance, and Steve Lundgren, CEO of Denali State Bank, to explore how community banks are navigating growth, competition, and changing interest rate environments. Lori also shares what makes BancAlliance’s network valuable for members across the country.

Lori will be moderating “Jazz Up Your Balance Sheet Management” at the upcoming NEXT Forum, October 8-9 at The Union League of Philadelphia, adding even more context to today’s discussion.

What if your savings account was so secure that even your account number couldn’t be used to steal from you? That’s the kind of question Austin Capital Bank is answering; Not by thinking like a traditional bank, but by operating more like a tech company.

In her debut interview on Travillian Next, Amber Buker, Chief of Research at Travillian, sits down with Erik Beguin, Founder and CEO of Austin Capital Bank, to dig into the launch of their latest innovation: Fort Knox, a high-security savings account engineered to be fraud-resistant by design. Instead of competing in the high-yield arms race, Erik and his team are creating a whole new category, one that prioritizes safety over speed and uses product design to outsmart fraudsters. Backed by a 50-person engineering team and built to withstand quantum-era threats, this conversation rewrites what a “community bank” even means.