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:

Moderators:

Travillian Next is excited to announce our latest episode with Klaros Group’s Co-Founders, Konrad and Michele Alt, for an in-depth discussion on the regulatory landscape anticipated for 2024 within banking, fintech, and their governing boards. With extensive expertise in the financial services sector as legal professionals, regulators, advisors, and more, Konrad and Michele bring a wealth of knowledge to the table.

Travillian hosts Patrick Cooney, Lead GRC Search Consultant, and Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory, come together with Konrad and Michele to delve into a range of topics within their expertise. These include future state regulatory awareness, talent considerations across all GRC functionalities, assessing Board composition, and understanding the dynamics of fintech-bank partnerships.

Guests:

In the latest Travillian Next episode, Travillian hosts Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech, and Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory, sat down with Ted Rosinus, Managing Director at Stephens for a thought-provoking discussion. Ted shares M&A insights from the intersection of investment banking and his banking background. Explore the latest deal trends, outlooks, M&A process, and the strategic utilization of M&A for a competitive edge. Gain valuable perspectives on talent strategies, succession planning, and PE trends through the M&A Lens.

3:56 Top Priorities for Banks in M&A

7:24 Outlook for Banking M&A in 2024 and Beyond

10:55 Incorporating Capital Market Capabilities in M&A

13:30 Impact of M&A on Talent Strategy

22:26 Private Equity Investments

28:45 Current Concerns of Community Bank Boards

30:58 Factors Affecting the Length of the M&A Process

33:45 Favorite Movie

In the latest Travillian Next episode, Travillian hosts Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech, and Indra Elangovan, Head of Strategic Advisory, sat down with Ted Rosinus, Managing Director at Stephens for a thought-provoking discussion. Ted shares M&A insights from the intersection of investment banking and his banking background. Explore the latest deal trends, outlooks, M&A process, and the strategic utilization of M&A for a competitive edge. Gain valuable perspectives on talent strategies, succession planning, and PE trends through the M&A Lens.

3:56 Top Priorities for Banks in M&A

7:24 Outlook for Banking M&A in 2024 and Beyond

10:55 Incorporating Capital Market Capabilities in M&A

13:30 Impact of M&A on Talent Strategy 

22:26 Private Equity Investments

28:45 Current Concerns of Community Bank Boards

30:58 Factors Affecting the Length of the M&A Process

33:45 Favorite Movie

Join us for a compelling discussion hosted by Indra Elangovan, Travillian’s Head of Strategic Advisory, on bank board expertise, featuring a panel of experts sharing their perspectives on regulatory dynamics, risk management, cybersecurity, AI and offering invaluable advice to elevate your board to new heights during this transformative era in banking.

2023 was a tumultuous year in the banking industry to say the least. Unexpected events early in the year forced bank executives to change course and focus on foundational issues such as liquidity and balance sheet management. However, strategic plans for digital upgrades and technology innovation are still mission critical issues.

In this Travillian Next episode, Keith Daly, Principal – Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, sits down with Paul Davis, Director of Market Intelligence at Strategic Resource Management and Founder/CEO of the Bank Slate LLC. Paul has decades of experience analyzing and studying trends in community banking and his insights are invaluable for banking and fintech executives across the country. Keith and Paul discuss the year that was and try to predict the coming challenges and opportunities for banks and their tech partners in 2024.

Introducing the latest episode of Travillian Next, featuring Dimitris Malisianos, Principal – Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, and Simone Lagomarsino, President and CEO at Luther Burbank Savings Bank. Acquire invaluable perspectives into Simone's journey to leadership and explore the intricacies of Luther Burbank Savings Bank's Success story.

Introducing the latest episode of Travillian Next, featuring Dimitris Malisianos, Principal – Banking & Fintech Search at Travillian, and Simone Lagomarsino, President and CEO at Luther Burbank Savings Bank. Acquire invaluable perspectives into Simone's journey to leadership and explore the intricacies of Luther Burbank Savings Bank's Success story.

The saying goes, “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” This has been a major struggle for community banks over the years regarding tapping into the massive amount of customer data they have in their systems. In the digital age, it has become even more critical to have timely data and a deep understanding of your customers and business trends.

In our latest Travillian Next episode, Charles Potts, EVP and Chief Innovation Officer at ICBA, joined our host, Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, , for a lively chat and some entertaining banter about tech's impact on banking efficiency.

This was a fun one with tons of "bank geek" banter, talk of flying cars and the hard-hitting facts! Use the guide below to read more about the topics discussed or use the time stamps next to the header to jump to which part interests you most.

(02:13) Technology's Role in Banking Efficiency

Brian and Charles dove into the tech-driven evolution of banking operations. Charles stressed tech isn't about replacing bank talent but supercharging their skills. It's about changing the hiring game and upgrading operations. Brian shared examples of simple bots being used to automate tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more valuable work. Charles added that technology allows sales process to handle more volume, enabling officers to see more prospects and loans. Bottom line: Max out tech for max efficiency in banking ops.

(10:34) Community Banks Embracing Technology

Charles and Brian dug into tech's pandemic impact on banks. Charles highlighted a shift from manual labor to the adoption of RPA and machine learning, revolutionizing loan processing efficiency. Brian connected the dots, emphasizing the direct link between streamlined back-office operations and heightened frontline productivity. Their conversation featured success stories from Kimberly Kirk, Chief Operations Officer, Queensborough National Bank and Jay Tuli, President & Director, Leader Bank.

(15:10) Innovation and Succession Planning in Banks

Brian and Charles discussed the pivotal connection between innovation and succession planning in banks, expressing concerns about potential talent loss like Kim and Jake, fearing a hit to innovative vision. They emphasized the need for a clear leader successor and integrating innovation into the organization's culture beyond a specific department, recognizing the importance of attracting younger, innovation-minded talent. Charles illustrated this with an example of creatively combining existing products and services for improved outcomes.

(22:35) Data's Rising Impact on Banking

Charles emphasized the increasing importance of data in the banking industry, envisioning a future where hiring priorities will favor those proficient in data analysis and strategic alignment. He noted universities' response to this trend by expanding their data analytics curricula. In response to Brian's query about potential paths to the CEO role, Charles confirmed that positions like Chief Technology Officer or Chief Data Officer could indeed pave the way. Emphasizing the critical role of data in banking success, Charles acknowledged the challenges of data volume, speed, and precision. He advocated for enhanced data analytics tools and a stronger strategic approach to boost operational efficiency. Brian agreed, adding that future industry leaders will likely emerge from diverse backgrounds and skillsets.