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Strategy
09/17/2025

RankingBanking: How Top Performers Play to Their Strengths

What do many of the high performing banks in Bank Director’s 2025 RankingBanking study have in common? They scale operations via technology investments, maintain robust margins and focus on customer relationships, according to Kara Baldwin, a partner with Crowe. Many of this year’s highest performing banks are under $10 billion in assets and therefore do not have the enhanced regulatory scrutiny that comes with crossing that asset threshold, she says. Top performers also understand what they do well, and they focus on enhancing those strengths.

Topics discussed include:

  • Building Local Relationships
  • Expanding Capabilities
  • Prioritizing Talent Acquisition

Click here to read the complete RankingBanking study, sponsored by Crowe.

WRITTEN BY

Kara Baldwin

Partner

Kara Baldwin is a partner at Crowe LLP and currently leads the financial services audit practice.  She has more than 20 years of experience serving financial institutions.  Ms. Baldwin works with publicly held banks, private banks and bank holding companies ranging in size from $50 million to nearly $20 billion in assets.  She has assisted clients in executing numerous business combinations over the years, with a focus on the accounting, auditing and reporting of these transactions including SEC reporting requirements.  Ms. Baldwin serves on various committees of the Center for Audit Quality, is active in the accounting advisory group at Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and is a frequent speaker with the Indiana Bankers Association.