Community banks can’t afford to wait.In this Travillian Next episode, Keith Daly, Principal, Banking & Fintech Search, sits down with Allan Rayson, Founder of Finov8r and former Encore Bank CTO, to talk about what’s actually holding banks back from adopting AI.Allan brings a clear, on-the-ground perspective of what’s happening inside bank C-suites right now and what’s missing. From core tech limitations to cultural resistance, this episode lays out the real stuff that determines whether a bank is just surviving or truly evolving.

(00:00) Intro – Less Than 100 Banks Are Truly Engaged with AI

(00:36) Meet Allan Rayson – Career Background + Finov8r Origin

(01:58) Consulting Focus – Why Banks Are Calling Him Now

(03:34) What Banks Are Asking: Use Cases + Monetizing Tech

(06:06) The Elephant in the Room: AI’s Impact on Employment

(09:06) Why Mass Layoffs in Banking Are Unlikely

(10:30) How AI Will Reshape Bank Organizational Structure

(13:03) AI Call Center Use Case: Credit Unions vs. Banks

(15:08) Where Banks Are Starting with AI – Jog, Not Sprint

(17:19) Use Case Deep Dive – SBA Policy Interpretation

(19:20) Inside vs. Outside the Bank: AI Vendor Strategy

(21:02) Will Banks Hire Chief AI Officers?

(22:05) Why Community Bank C-Suites Need Modernizing

(23:22) Tech Mentality vs. Traditional Banking – Product Mindset

(24:45) Building Tech Muscle Memory in Banks

(26:05) AI Today Is Like the Internet in 1995

(27:09) Treasury Onboarding: Another AI Agent Opportunity

(28:34) What Makes a Bank Future-Proof (and What Doesn’t)

(30:15) Final Thoughts – Core Systems Will Make or Break You

(32:02) Call to Action – Start Somewhere