Acquire or Be Acquired

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Welcome Day One
Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Laura Schield, President & COO, Bank Director
Bank Director welcomes you to the most important gathering in banking!  For more than three decades, Acquire or Be Acquired has brought together the industry’s most influential CEOs, board members, and senior leaders for conversations that shape strategy, drive growth, and define the future of financial institutions across the country.  

8:10 AM – 9:05 AM
General Session:  The State of Banking
Thomas Michaud, President & CEO, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company
Banking is being reshaped in real time. Where does the industry stand, and what forces define its next chapter? This signature session cuts through the noise to deliver a clear, comprehensive read on the industry: the fundamentals, competitive dynamics, macroeconomic backdrop and regulatory developments shaping banking right now. It frames the questions that matter most and sets the stage for the days ahead.

9:05 AM – 9:45 AM
General Session: The Economic & Regulatory Forces Reshaping Banking
Mark Kanaly, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
Brian Leibfried, Head of Client Insights, Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC
Mandi Simpson, Partner, Crowe Advisory
Moderated by:  Jim McAlpin, Board Member, Bank Director
In today’s environment, the decisions being made in Washington are having a direct and material impact on how banks operate, compete and grow, and staying ahead of those forces requires more than awareness. In this panel discussion, industry experts cut through the noise to deliver a clear-eyed look at the economic and regulatory dynamics that matter most for bank leaders right now, what they mean for the road ahead and how institutions of every size can position themselves to navigate what is coming with confidence.

9:45 AM – 10:25 AM
General Session: Navigating the Next Era of Banking
Sean Desmond, President & CEO, nCino
Ashley Ensley, Partner, National Financial Services Sector Leader, Forvis Mazars
Meg Tahyer, Partner, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Moderated by:  Naomi Snyder, Editor-in-Chief, Bank Director
As the financial landscape accelerates toward 2030, this forward-looking session explores the transformative forces reshaping our industry, from advanced AI integration and open banking to evolving regulatory frameworks. Discover actionable strategies to modernize legacy systems, attract next-generation talent, and position your institution for sustainable growth. Join us to learn how proactive bank leaders turn tomorrow’s technological disruptions into today’s ultimate competitive advantage.

10:25 AM – 10:45 AM
Refreshment Break

10:45 AM – 11:25 AM
Breakout Sessions
Participants can choose one of seven breakout sessions to attend. Sessions to be announced.

Breakout 1: Ownership Options and Tax Matters for the Closely Held Bank
Peter Weinstock, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Closely held banks experience challenges with raising capital, shareholder liquidity and board and ownership succession. This presentation discusses alternative strategies for such banks to maximize shareholder value, definitively decide S versus C as well as to create paths for ownership continuity.

Breakout 2: What the Board Needs to Know in 2027
Robert Fleetwood, Partner & Co-Chair of Financial Institutions Group, Barack Ferrazzano
Al Laufenberg, Managing Director, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company
A perennial favorite at Acquire or Be Acquired, the “Need to Know” series returns with another essential installment for bank leaders. This breakout session cuts straight to what matters most while delivering the critical insights, emerging trends and forward-looking perspective that CEOs and directors need to lead effectively in 2027 and beyond.

Breakout 3: Strategic Capital Allocation in an Era of Consolidation
Matthew Reader Forgotson, Managing Director, Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC
Since 1990, 65% of FDIC-insured banks have disappeared. Attendees of this session will examine the cause and a potential solution: a disciplined decision-making process that respects multiple scenarios and incorporates the passage of time. The result is a Level Playing Field for all capital allocation decisions, ranging from organic loan growth to M&A. Those willing to embrace a more complete analytical view can protect and potentially even accelerate their missions.

Breakout 4: Bank Integration Strategy in Any Approval Climate
Moderated by: Rahul Chandarana, EY-Parthenon Americas Banking & Capital Markets Sector Leader – Partner, EY
Acquirers can’t control approval timing, but they can control readiness. Whether the window opens fast or stalls, value goes to those prepared before the green light. This session covers how to move fast without losing value and stay disciplined when you can’t: advance planning, parallel workstreams, clean rooms, clear decision rights, locked capacity and AI.

Breakout 5: Measuring Shareholder Value Accretion for M&A and Share Repurchases
Jason O’Donnell, Director, Capital Markets, Hovde Group, LLC
This presentation discusses a new methodology for defining the intrinsic value of a conventional banking institution called Core Value. The discussion centers on the concept’s derivation and related applications for calculating the shareholder accretion/dilution of M&A, share repurchases and other transactions.

Breakout 6: The Future of Bank Credit: A Transformative Reckoning
Jeffrey Berg, Executive Director, Financial Institutions, Moody’s Ratings
Christopher Hartman, Assistant Vice President, Financial Institutions, Moody’s Ratings
Banks are confronting a profound shift in their operating environment. This session examines how market volatility, policy changes, artificial intelligence, digital assets and growing competition from non-bank lenders are reshaping credit fundamentals across the sector.

11:40 AM – 12:20 PM
General Session: The Competitive Landscape of the Future
Speaker To Be Announced, Cornerstone Advisors
Jordan McKee, Director, Fintech Research, S&P Global Market Intelligence
Matthew Veneri, Managing Director, Head of Financial Institutions and Insurance Investment Banking, Brean Capital, LLC
Moderated by:  Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Banks are up against a myriad of non-bank competitors: big tech companies, fintech companies, private lenders, neobanks, payments companies, crypto firms and more. This competition could intensify as the current Trump administration embraces granting industrial loan charters – thus encouraging more non-banks to enter financial services – and innovations like stablecoins become more mainstream. We take a deep dive into these non-bank competitors, what it means for banks’ bottom lines, and what the industry might look like in the next decade. 

12:10 PM – 1:30 PM
Networking Peer & Guest Lunch
Sponsored by:  IntraFi

12:40 PM – 1:20 PM
Lunch & Learn Sessions
Lunch & Learn sessions allow participants to learn about a shared topic of interest over lunch. Six sessions run concurrently; attendees may select one.

Lunch & Learn Session 1: The Alignment Advantage: Building a High-Performance Organization
Mikelle Brady, Partner, Profit Resources, Inc.
Brett Rawls, Head of Client Engagement, Profit Resources, Inc.
Why do some banks consistently outperform peers in any market? Organizational alignment is the key – integrating strategy, culture, efficiency and growth into one unified execution model, not separate initiatives. Drawing on PRI’s decades of experience helping community banks improve profitability and performance, this session explores the disciplines that drive stronger earnings, sustainable growth and lasting success.

Lunch & Learn Session 2:  Banking M&A from a Credit Ratings Perspective
Tim O’Brien, Managing Director, Morningstar DBRS
M&A activity in the banking sector continues to accelerate and such situations present unique challenges. We discuss our approach to assessing such deals, differences in drivers when community banks or larger banks are involved, what goes on in our process behind the scenes, some examples from recent years and our expectations going forward.

Lunch & Learn Session 3: Transforming Strategy Into Daily Banker Behavior: Relationship Intelligence Put into Action
Scott Earwood, Head of Community Bank Division, White Clay
Strategy creates value only when it changes banker behavior with customers. Join this session for an interactive discussion featuring insights from banking executives on how leading institutions translate strategy into banker actions that drive growth, deepen customer relationships and deliver measurable business results.

Lunch & Learn Session 4:  The Succession Triangle: Aligning CEO, Board and Talent Strategy for What’s Next
Julie Bell, Leadership Advisory, Chartwell Partners
Scott Petty, Managing Partner, Chartwell Partners
CEO succession can’t be separated from board readiness or the strength of your C-suite — and all three face scrutiny the moment a CEO departs, planned or not. This session explores how top-performing banks align leadership, board and talent strategy, and how that alignment shapes culture and performance. Attendees leave with a practical checklist for strengthening your institution’s leadership pipeline at every level.

Lunch & Learn Session 5:  Sharing in the Dream: How to Structure Executive and Employee Compensation to Facilitate an M&A Event
Anthony Eppert, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Brian Marek, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
There are many alternatives to consider when designing compensatory arrangements (including severance, change-in-control, bonus and equity awards agreements). The purpose of this session is to cover: issues to consider before a change-in-control transaction is imminent; a shareholder’s perspective, how certain arrangements can provide the executive with individual negotiation power with the buyer, the attractiveness to the buyer of certain pay structures; and how ESOPs can be implemented to create partial liquidity pending a future M&A transaction.

1:30 PM – 2:10 PM
General Session: Maximizing Your Bank’s Value
Curtis Carpenter, Senior Managing Director, Hovde Group, LLC
Understanding what your bank is worth — and what it could be worth — is one of the most important things a board and leadership team can do, regardless of where you are in your strategic journey. In this session, we break down how banks are being valued in today’s market, what factors are driving premiums and where institutions have the greatest opportunity to move the needle before a transaction. 

2:10 PM – 2:30 PM
General Session: Bank Director’s 2027 Technology Update
Gregory Adelson, President & CEO, Jack Henry
Emily McCormick, Vice President of Editorial & Research, Bank Director
Bank Director’s Technology Survey cuts through the noise to reveal how financial institutions are actually investing in technology, using data and approaching artificial intelligence today. In this session, key survey findings come to life as industry experts explore what the data reveal about where banks are gaining ground, where gaps remain, and what the most forward-thinking institutions are doing differently. 

2:45 PM – 3:25 PM
Breakout Sessions
Participants may select one of seven concurrent breakout sessions. Sessions to be announced.

Breakout 1: Inside the Deal: M&A Insights for Closely Held Financial Institutions
Blake Crow, Partner, Eide Bailly LLP
Brock Thaemlitz, Partner, Eide Bailly LLP
This session provides a strategic overview of the M&A process, specifically designed for family-owned and privately held financial institutions. Attendees gain insights from both the buy and sell-side perspectives. Key topics include identifying and evaluating potential partners, marketing a bank for sale, assessing value and pricing, navigating legal and tax structuring, preparing regulatory applications, understanding acquisition accounting and managing post-deal capital impact.

Breakout 2:  How Bank Boards Should Make the Decision to Buy or Sell
Josh McNulty, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Beth Whitaker, Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Decisions made even before bankers engage with the other side foretell the likelihood of success.  This session discusses various considerations the boards of both sellers and buyers should make in order to play the negotiating game in the most effective manner.

Breakout 3:  Doing an M&A Deal:  M&A 101
Gary Svec, Managing Director, Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC
You know that M&A can be a vital way to grow your business – or an opportunity for an exit – but what are the keys to a successful deal?  Given recent volatility affecting us differently, M&A quoted averages may be misleading.  What must you know to succeed, what is often missing in traditional analysis, and what areas can cause delay or failure?  Learn the basics of M&A in this educational session.  And, if you are attending the M&A simulation, this is a key session to attend.

Breakout 4:  Payments Are the Growth Engine for Banks
Prakash Natarajan, Senior Managing Director, SRM
This session explores how community and regional banks can transform payments into a strategic growth engine. Attendees learn how leading institutions are using modern payment capabilities, embedded experiences, AI, fraud intelligence and emerging payment rails to win new business, deepen existing relationships and unlock new sources of non-interest revenue. Through industry examples and practical frameworks, participants leave with a roadmap for aligning payments strategy with enterprise growth objectives.

Breakout 5: Maximizing New Reciprocal Deposit Opportunities Under the 21st Century ROAD to Housing
Kevin Bannerton, EVP, Chief Business Development Officer, R&T Deposit Solutions
Jeff Zuendt, EVP, Chief Deposit and Client Officer, R&T Deposit Solutions
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act introduces significant changes to reciprocal deposits, expanding the capacity eligible for non-brokered treatment. Join this session for a discussion on the strategic implications of H.R. 6644, emerging funding opportunities, key considerations for reciprocal deposit strategies and steps institutions should take to prepare.

Breakout 6: Organic Growth Is the New Deal: Why Marketing Belongs in the C-Suite
Josh Mabus, President, Mabus Agency
Beyond the bank across the street, community banks compete against fintechs, tech giants and brands like Amazon – yet invest just 1.2% of revenue in marketing while others invest ten times more. Explore research-backed evidence linking marketing leadership to balance sheet growth, valuation and enterprise performance, and learn how elevating marketing to the C-suite drives measurable results.

3:25 PM – 3:45 PM
Refreshment Break

3:45 PM – 4:25 PM
Breakout Sessions
Conversations continue with a second round of afternoon breakout sessions, in which participants select one of seven concurrent opportunities. Sessions to be announced.

Breakout 1:  The Community Bank Board’s 2027 Risk Radar:  Top Issues Every Bank Director and Executive Should Be Monitoring
Joe VanFleet, Member & Chair Financial Institutions Practice, Howard & Howard
Community bank directors and senior officers face increasing pressure from regulators, shareholders, customers and their communities. From cybersecurity threats and fraud losses to succession planning, liquidity concerns and the impact of artificial intelligence, today’s banking leaders must navigate an evolving landscape of risk and opportunity. This presentation examines the key issues currently commanding the attention of community bank boards and provides practical governance considerations to help directors fulfill their oversight responsibilities while positioning their institutions for long-term success.

Breakout 2:  Optimizing Credit Quality and Institutional Value in a K-Shaped Economy
David Ruffin, President, Credit Risk Solutions, OptimaFI
Macroeconomic division is driving a stark divide in credit performance across the financial sector. While some loan portfolios remain resilient, others face escalating stress from vulnerable borrower segments. This session explores proactive strategies to identify hidden vulnerabilities, stress-test emerging concentrations and mitigate credit deterioration – ensuring your institution effectively manages embedded risk while optimizing overall asset health and long-term valuation.

Breakout 3: Bank M&A Master Class
Christopher Olsen, Managing Partner, Olsen Palmer LLC
This moderated ‘fireside discussion’ with the CEOs of a seller and an acquirer reveals key findings applicable to sellers and buyers alike. For prospective sellers, learn best practices for preparing for and executing a sale, as well as characteristics that achieve a premium price. For would-be buyers, gain better insights into the seller’s mindset, the deal process and key transaction risks.

4:40 PM – 5:20 PM
A View From the Top
Michael Reed, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
The regulatory environment continues to evolve and understanding how regulators view bank M&A activity is essential for bank executives and board members navigating today’s deal landscape. In this session, we take a candid look at the key factors that drive approval decisions, the red flags that slow or derail transactions and what institutions can do to position themselves for a smoother path through the regulatory process.

5:20 PM – 6:20 PM
Networking Peer & Guest Reception
Sponsored by:  HC3, Lumin Digital, Inc. and Wealth Access Inc.

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast
Sponsored by: Crowe Advisory

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Day Two Opening Remarks
Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Laura Schield, President & COO, Bank Director
Day One set the stage — today is where the work deepens. The sessions ahead are designed to do more than inform — they are designed to challenge your thinking, sharpen your strategy and give you the tools to lead with greater clarity and conviction. 

8:10 AM – 8:50 AM
General Session: The Best of RankingBanking
Timothy Crane, President & CEO, Wintrust Financial Corporation
Mark Gooch, Chair, President & CEO, Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. and Chair & CEO, Community Trust Bank, Inc.
Michael Molepske, CEO & Chair of the Board, Bank First
Moderated by:  Kara Baldwin, Partner, Crowe Advisory
What does it take to become a top-performing bank?  For years, Bank Director has studied that question. In response, Bank Director created an annual report, RankingBanking, to dive into the performance of the largest publicly traded banks in the U.S.  During this panel discussion, hear from three banks that topped the most recent Bank Director’s RankingBanking study.

8:50 AM – 9:30 AM
General Session: The Deal Market Is Moving — Is Your Bank Ready?
Scott Anderson, Head of Investment Banking, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company
After years of hesitation driven by macro uncertainty and regulatory headwinds, the bank M&A market has shifted decisively, and the pace is only accelerating. Improved earnings, stabilized credit, rate clarity and a reshaped regulatory environment have brought buyers of all sizes back to the table, and conversations across the industry have moved from “if” to “when.” This session brings together experienced dealmakers and bankers to examine what is driving the momentum, how valuations are being set in today’s market and what banks on both sides of a transaction need to do to be positioned for success.

9:30 AM – 9:50 AM
General Session: Global Forces Reshaping Community Bank M&A
Melissa Cullen, Head of Regional and Community Banking, FIS
Stephanie Ferris, President & CEO, FIS
Moderated by: Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Demographic shifts, geopolitical instability and the reconfiguration of global capital flows are rewriting the M&A playbook for community banks. As acquirers broaden their scope beyond traditional financial metrics, the banks controlling their destiny are those that have readied their franchise for a new era of scrutiny. This session connects the macro forces driving consolidation to the decisive actions boards must take today to maximize strategic optionality tomorrow.

9:50 AM – 10:10 AM
General Session: Insights from Bank Director’s 2027 Bank M&A Survey
Naomi Snyder, Editor-in-Chief, Bank Director
Patrick Vernon, Partner, Crowe Advisory
Moderated by: Emily McCormick, Vice President, Editorial & Research, Bank Director
Every year, Bank Director’s Bank M&A Survey captures a detailed picture of how the industry is thinking about deals, and this year’s results arrive at one of the most consequential moments in recent banking history. Bank Director’s Editor-in-Chief joins a senior leader from Crowe to walk through the survey’s most compelling findings, offering context, analysis, and the lessons learned that help bank leaders make sense of where the market stands and where it is headed.

10:10 AM – 10:30 AM
Refreshment Break
Sponsored by:  Barnes & Thornburg LLP

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
M&A Simulation
Will Brackett, Managing Director, Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC
Matthew Reader Forgotson, Managing Director, Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC
Matt Kennedy, Managing Director, Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC
Gary Svec, Managing Director, Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC
In today’s market, winning a prized acquisition target demands both competitive instinct and disciplined strategy. Buyers must craft bids that drive growth without eroding value; sellers must navigate the process with precision to deliver the best possible outcome for shareholders. This exclusive, hands-on simulation puts participants in the middle of a live, competitive auction for a highly sought-after seller — working through the final rounds of bidding, managing real-world complexity, and adapting as unexpected wrinkles emerge. NOTE: The simulation is exclusive to 45 bank attendees only, allowing one banker per institution; no capital markets titles (this session is NOT for investment bankers of any kind); and runs concurrently with the breakout sessions below.

10:30 AM – 11:10 AM
Breakout Sessions
Participants can choose one of seven breakout sessions to attend. Sessions to be announced.

Breakout 1: Corporate Governance for the Privately-Held Community Bank: What Boards and Management Need to Know
David Hooper, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Michael Mancusi, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Syd Whitlock, President, The New Washington State Bank
This session explores the critical aspects of corporate governance tailored specifically for privately-held community banks. Attendees gain insights into best practices for proper board size, board recruitment and retention matters, shareholder engagement, shareholder liquidity programs, taking advantage of expansion opportunities and managing technological developments. Key strategies for enhancing governance structures and ensuring effective oversight will be discussed to strengthen both performance and community impact.

Breakout 2: The 360 Review: A Guide to Evaluating Your Bank’s Strategic Alternatives in 2027
Christopher Kochard, Managing Director, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company
How does our bank remain relevant? Do we have access to institutional capital markets? Should we go public? Should we buy, merge, sell or stay the course? Can we earn our independence? With bank M&A and capital raising activity accelerating in 2026, this session dives into how boards and management teams should evaluate their strategic alternatives and maximize value to all stakeholders in a rapidly changing landscape.

Breakout 3: Protecting the Board’s Key Decisions
Rob Azarow, Partner, Head of Financial Services Transactions, Arnold & Porter
Chris DeCresce, Partner, Arnold & Porter
Amber Hay, Partner, Arnold & Porter
Kevin Toomey, Partner, Head of Financial Services, Arnold & Porter
This session covers the potential challenges to board decision-making, both from activist shareholders and plaintiff’s class action attorneys and the steps boards can take to protect those decisions under a variety of specific contexts.

Breakout 4: Beyond Net Interest Margin: Why Wealth is Your Bank’s Best Growth Lever
David Benskin, Founder & CEO, Wealth Access Inc.
Net interest margin gets the investor-call attention, but it’s not where the real upside is. Drawing on research across 100 U.S. banks, this session makes the data-backed case that wealth is a bank’s most underused lever: capital-light, countercyclical, and tied to higher ROE and price-to-book. Expect real institution examples and a hard look at where wealth sits on your agenda.

Breakout 5: Banks’ Consideration and Execution of Fintech Acquisitions
Jeffrey Brill, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
This session brings together industry leaders to explore the strategic rationale, evaluation criteria and execution challenges banks face when acquiring fintech companies. Panelists will discuss how institutions assess potential targets, navigate deal structuring, valuation and regulatory considerations and manage the complexities of post-acquisition integration.

Breakout 6: The Devil Is Still in the Details: Operational Excellence and the Impact of AI
Joe Ehrhardt, CEO & Founder, Teslar Software
John Williams, Chief Lending Officer and Chief Credit Officer, Grand Savings Bank
Behind every credit and operations team, there’s a story hidden in the data. Using real-world trends from community and regional banks, this session explores key operational and credit metrics like exception rates, collateral and policy exceptions, risk rating distributions and loan maintenance activity to identify the practices behind high-performing institutions. This session also explores how AI is reshaping these metrics, where it’s delivering measurable value and what to expect next.

11:25 AM – 12:05 PM
Breakout Sessions
Conversations continue with a second round of morning breakout sessions, in which participants select one of seven concurrent opportunities to engage with industry leaders. Sessions to be announced.

Breakout 1: The Future Starts Now: Buyer and Seller Preparations
Beau Hurtig, Partner, Ballard & Spahr LLP
Kenneth Haglund, Partner, Ballard & Spahr LLP
Scott Coleman, Partner, Ballard & Spahr LLP
Whether you plan to be a buyer, seller or are otherwise awaiting opportunity, your thinly-traded, family owned and/or privately held institution can take immediate action from a legal perspective that will place your bank in an enhanced position to execute your long term plan. This session explores strategies for employee retention, managing the shareholder base, due diligence, managing core processors, managing regulatory process, integration and more.

Breakout 2: Due Diligence and Valuation of Criticized Assets
John Winick, CEO, Clark Street Capital
Gain practical insights into how criticized assets impact due diligence, valuation, and deal structure in bank M&A. This session explores key credit risks, valuation adjustments and strategies for identifying hidden issues while preserving deal value and avoiding costly surprises.

Breakout 3:  Everyone Has a Plan Until Rates Move
Isaac Wheeler, Managing Director of Balance Sheet Strategy, Derivative Path, Inc.
Plenty of firms will tell you why your bank should hedge. We’ll show you how. Join two bank practitioners and Derivative Path for a practical, no-nonsense session on running a hedge program that performs when markets stop cooperating.

Breakout 4: Build a Better Bank: Turning Digital Strategy Into Competitive Advantage
Brendan Gleason, Managing Director, Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP
The same technology improvements that deepen customer relationships and support organic growth today can also create a more scalable institution that is better positioned for a future acquisition or integration. This session explores how executives can prioritize digital capabilities that improve customer journeys, strengthen product and service experiences and create new opportunities for growth. For banks pursuing M&A, we also explore how a deal can catalyze building something better – not just deciding which legacy systems survive.

11:50 AM – 1:05 PM
Networking Lunch
Sponsored by:  Quantum Six

11:50 AM – 1:05 PM
Women in Leadership Luncheon
Sponsored by: Abrigo, Inc.
What began at Saturday’s Women in Leadership Reception carries forward here. This luncheon brings attendees together to connect, share perspectives and have meaningful conversations. Open to all conference attendees, men and women alike.

1:05 PM – 1:35 PM
General Session: Beyond P2P: How Banks Can Compete and Grow in an Evolving Global Digital Payments Landscape
Denise Leonhard, General Manager, Zelle
Moderated by: Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
In 2025, American consumers and small businesses sent more than $1.2 trillion using Zelle®, which has more than 160 million enrolled accounts and reaches 80% of U.S. bank and credit union accounts. As new global fintech companies emerge and changing consumer expectations reshape financial services, fast and reliable digital payments are increasingly critical to how community and regional banks compete and grow. For bank leaders, understanding these shifts and how to respond is imperative. In this fireside chat, Denise Leonhard explores the major global shifts impacting digital payments, reviews the foundational tools and platforms financial institutions should utilize to grow, and explains how community and regional banks can use fast, reliable digital payments to deepen customer relationships, support small business growth and strengthen franchise value in an increasingly global digital payments landscape.

1:35 PM – 2:10 PM
Strategies for Driving Growth
Kirk Coleman, Chief Business Officer, Q2
Nikhil Lele, EY Americas Consulting Banking and Capital Markets Leader, EY
Bob Rohr, Managing Director, Payments Strategy, SRM
Moderated by:  Bill Herrell, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Bank Director
Whether a transaction is in the near future, years away or simply not part of the plan, this session is for banks that are serious about growing on their own terms. Experts share what is working, where banks are finding untapped opportunity and how institutions of all sizes can compete effectively in a market where the largest banks and most agile fintechs are constantly raising the bar.

2:25 PM – 3:05 PM
Breakout Sessions
Participants may select from one of six breakout sessions to attend. Sessions to be announced.

Breakout 2: Escape the Island of Low NIM!
Dick Burch, Performance Banking Consultant, Deluxe Corporation
Join this session to discover how community banks can strengthen profitability through smarter deposit strategies, disciplined loan pricing, and a focus on relationship banking. Using real-world case studies, attendees will learn practical ways to improve Net Interest Margin, align lending and deposit goals, and chart a course toward stronger financial performance.

Breakout 3: Controlling Your Own Destiny: A Case Study of Recent Negotiated Merger Transactions
Steve Donahoe, Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Ed Olifer, Managing Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Marc Williams, Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
This session analyzes recent case studies as to how large and small community banks across the county have overcome historical buy and sell side obstacles to mergers by executing strategic combinations. The discussion includes perspectives on how boards can exercise more control over the merger process, negotiate more favorable merger terms, achieve transformative growth, enhance shareholder value, solve succession planning quandaries and protect employees and other constituents, all while satisfying the board’s fiduciary obligations.

Breakout 4: The Partnership Advantage: Hear How Bank Executives Have Multiplied Results Without Adding Headcount
John Behringer, Chief Financial Officer, Bank CMG
Curt Hecker, CEO & Executive Chairman, PCBB
Darryl Rensmon, President, Opportunity Bank of Montana
Moderated by:  Aaron Donaldson, Principal, RSM US LLP
In today’s environment, banks are expected to modernize technology, improve efficiency, manage risk and grow revenue, often without significantly increasing staff or expense. The most successful institutions are doing it through strategic partnerships. Hear directly from bank executives who have leveraged technology, advisory, payments and business partnerships to accelerate growth, improve operations and create competitive advantage. This session provides real-world examples, lessons learned and a roadmap for turning partnerships into measurable outcomes.

Breakout 5: Why Most Bank AI Initiatives Will Disappoint and How to Avoid It
Christopher Aliotta, CEO & Co-Founder, Quantalytix, Inc.
Most banks are asking what AI can do. The better question is: What does AI actually know about your bank? Without institutional context, even advanced technology will struggle to answer the questions executives and boards ask. Understanding why these efforts fall short reveals what banks must get right before AI can create meaningful value.

Breakout 6: Positioning for Performance: The 2027 Banking Outlook
Zain Tariq, Senior Analyst, FIG Research, S&P Global Market Intelligence
With rates remaining elevated in 2026, banks faced deposit competition and pressure on funding costs, prompting different approaches to deposit pricing and mix while balancing growth and margins. Higher borrowing costs and persistent inflation challenged borrowers, yet credit quality remained broadly benign. Looking toward 2027, this session will examine the forces shaping deposits, lending, margins, credit, competition, and M&A.

3:05 PM – 3:25 PM
Refreshment Break

3:25 PM – 4:05 PM
Breakout Sessions
Conversations continue with a second round of afternoon breakout sessions.  Participants select one of six concurrent learning opportunities. Sessions to be announced.

Breakout 1: Acquisition Testing & Readiness – Making Cutover a Positive First Step for the Future
Christopher Bender, President, Northcross Group
Acquisition cutovers are the culmination of significant data conversion and integration efforts. This session explores tactics and automation to prepare internal teams and engage new customers with confidence. Management of integration efforts is essential for meeting deal model objectives and setting a strong foundation for future growth.

Breakout 2: Interest Rate Risk Management as a Strategic Advantage: A Community Bank Leader’s Perspective
Kalen Van Maanen, Managing Director, Chatham Financial
Join a candid discussion on how banks are using interest rate risk management as a strategic advantage in today’s environment. Through real-world experiences, the panel explores how institutions are optimizing capital allocation, fine-tuning interest rate exposures, enhancing profitability and creating long-term franchise value. Whether your institution is expanding an established program or evaluating new capabilities, attendees leave with practical insights from a peer who has successfully leveraged interest rate risk management to drive meaningful results.

Breakout 3:  The Nuts and Bolts of Compliance in an AI-Powered World: What Directors Need to Know
Speaker To Be Announced, CompliSolv
Compliance obligations haven’t changed, but the tools reshaping risk monitoring and reporting have. This session shares hands-on lessons from building compliance programs in an AI-driven environment. Attendees learn what modern compliance infrastructure delivers, the right questions to ask their compliance teams and where board oversight matters most.

Breakout 4:  U.S. Banks:  Credit Hotspots – Connecting the Dots
Julie Solar, Head of North American Banks, Fitch Ratings, Inc.
The session discusses key credit hotspots for U.S. banks and how these are connected: private credit; AI adoption and data centers; consumer credit; and CRE. The U.S. banking industry is adapting to broad changes from the growth of private credit and AI adoption and data center build out. Consumer credit is coming into focus, while CRE is facing upcoming refinancing.

Breakout 5:  What It Actually Looks Like To Run AI in Bank Lending
Danial Jameel, CEO & Co-Founder, Saris
Most bank executives have heard the AI pitch. Fewer have heard from a peer who has actually done it. In this session, a community banker shares what the deployment looks like in practice: what changed, what surprised them and what outcomes their team has seen. Attendees enjoy a candid, practitioner-level conversation tailored for bank executives ready to move past the pitch and into practice.

Breakout 6: Can Your Bank Grow Faster Than Your Headcount?
Britt Felderhoff, SVP, Retail Banking Director, BNC National Bank
A.J. Pratt, Chief Strategy Officer, LemonadeLXP
Growth typically brings more people, more complexity and more expense. BNC National Bank is taking a different approach – building employee capability and operational capacity without adding an equivalent headcount. Britt Felderhoff shares how BNC reduced dependence on subject matter experts, accelerated employee competency and created capacity for future growth, including tackling costly challenges like disputed transactions.

4:20 PM – 5:00 PM
Ask Me Anything!
Christopher Olsen, Managing Partner, Olsen Palmer LLC
Mac Thompson, CEO & Founder, White Clay
Speaker To Be Announced, Moody’s
Moderated by: Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
The best conversations at Acquire or Be Acquired do not always happen on stage — until now. In this interactive live polling and Q&A session, attendees set the agenda, surfacing what is top of mind and directing questions straight to our panel of industry experts. Expect a candid, fast-moving discussion on the issues, opportunities and challenges that matter most to bank leaders right now.

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking Peer & Guest Reception
Sponsored by:  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Day Three Opening Remarks
Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Laura Schield, President & COO, Bank Director
Entering the final day of the 33rd annual Acquire or Be Acquired Conference, the conversations on Day Three are less about establishing what is happening in the industry and more about what your response to it should be. The sessions that follow are oriented toward one outcome – sending you home with a clear sense of priorities, a stronger strategic footing, and the confidence to lead decisively in one of the most dynamic environments banking has ever seen.  

8:10 AM – 8:40 AM
General Session: Why Good Deals Go Bad
Adam Glasier, Managing Director, Stephens Inc.
Sven Mickisch, Managing Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Additional Speaker To Be Announced
Moderated by: Bill Herrell, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Bank Director
Not every announced merger makes it to the finish line, and even fewer achieve their promised synergies. This session dissects the anatomy of failed bank deals to uncover where things go wrong. From culture clashes and hidden technology debt to regulatory roadblocks and integration missteps, experts analyze real-world examples. Learn how to identify deal-killers early, navigate unforeseen diligence hurdles and ensure your next acquisition delivers true strategic value.

8:40 AM – 9:10 AM
General Session: Putting Your Capital to Work
Jacque Kruppa, Partner, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Dory Wiley, President & CEO, Commerce Street Capital, LLC
Additional Speaker to be Announced
Moderated by: Jim McAlpin, Board Member, Bank Director
A growing number of banks find themselves in an enviable yet consequential position: sitting on excess capital, with a range of strategic options before them and mounting pressure to act. This session examines the full spectrum of choices available to well-capitalized institutions, from M&A and organic growth investment to share buybacks, dividend strategies and new business line development. Panelists offer a disciplined framework for evaluating each path, weighing shareholder expectations against long-term value creation and determining which strategic moves make the most sense given today’s market conditions.

9:10 AM – 9:40 AM
General Session: Who Leads Next? Succession Planning as a Strategic Imperative
Marc Stefanski, Chair of the Board & CEO, Third Federal Savings & Loan
Jeremy Zeman, Managing Director & Practice Head, Consumer & Commercial Banking, True
Additional Speaker To Be Announced
Moderated by: Courtney Theis, Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Bank Director
Banking continues to face a historic leadership transition as many senior executives approach retirement. A strong succession pipeline is a strategic imperative that directly impacts institutional value and deal readiness. This session addresses pressing board-level questions about CEO succession, talent development, and cultivating a culture that attracts next-generation leaders. Whether planning an immediate transition or building for the future, gain a clear framework to ensure seamless leadership continuity.

9:40 AM – 10:00 AM
Refreshment Break

10:00 AM – 10:40 AM
Breakout Sessions
Conversations conclude with a final round of breakout sessions, during which participants select one of six concurrent learning opportunities. Sessions to be announced.

Breakout 1:  Growing Commercial Banking Relationships in a Competitive Market
Matthew Bleecker, SVP, Treasury Management Product & Strategy, Tradition Capital Bank
Cale Johnston, Founder & CEO, Onsetto
Mark Moroz, Chief Banking Officer, Live Oak Bank
Nick Salsgiver, SVP, Director of Treasury Management, Heritage Bank
Moderated by: Jessica Harper, Head of Customer Success, Onsetto
Winning a business customer often means earning the opportunity to become their primary operating bank. Hear how commercial banking leaders are navigating business account switching, relationship activation, treasury growth and long-term engagement while leveraging technology to create scalable growth strategies that strengthen value.

Breakout 2: Creating Strategic Optionality: How to Give Your Bank More Moves As Conditions Change
Alec Dicks, Co-Founder, Veritas Transformation Partners, LLC
Steve Monahan, Co-Founder, Veritas Transformation Partners, LLC
Strong performance today doesn’t guarantee a bank is prepared for what comes next. This breakout explores optionality: the strategic choices a bank realistically has and its capacity to execute them. Drawing on research and experience with U.S. banks of all sizes, this session shares what creates optionality, what constrains it and practical actions leaders can take now.

Breakout 3:  The M&A Integration Advantage: Moving Faster After the Deal
David Ladic, Head of Sales, North America, Zafin Labs Americas Incorporated.
Bob Warnock, Head of Deposit Product & Pricing, Wintrust Financial
M&A value is won or lost in integration. This session explores lessons learned from Wintrust and Zafin on navigating product, pricing, and technology decisions during acquisition integration, through a real-life case study. Uncover practical approaches to rationalizing portfolios earlier, responding to customer needs, managing core conversion and reducing attrition, while building a stronger foundation for retention, profitability and long-term growth.

Breakout 4: Significant Risk Transfers: Capital Optimization and M&A Strategy
Jed Miller, Global Head of Significant Risk Transfers, Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
William Mills, Office Managing Partner, Hogan Lovells Cadwalader
As favorable regulations accelerate bank consolidation, this session explores the technical structures of Significant Risk Transfers (SRTs). Learn how banks can deploy SRTs for capital relief and balance sheet management, turning regulatory capital optimization into an M&A tool.

Breakout 5:  Move Fast Without Breaking the Bank: AI Governance Lessons from Breaches, Fraud & Agentic AI Gone Wrong
Speaker To Be Announced, TruStage Compliance Solutions
Erin Simpson, EVP, Chief Operations Officer, Encore Bank
Generative AI is transforming banking, and agentic AI is the next evolution. These systems can make decisions, launch workflows, evaluate documents, and trigger actions with limited human oversight. Join industry leaders to explore emerging risks, governance strategies, regulatory expectations, vendor exposure and practical approaches for driving responsible AI adoption while maintaining strong controls and stakeholder confidence.

10:55 AM – 11:25 AM
The Strategic Path to Profitability
While acquisitions carry inherent risks, M&A remains a compelling avenue for profitability. With bank valuations approaching 25-year lows, numerous institutions face stagnant growth trajectories, aging customer bases and unresolved succession planning. This session examines how disciplined strategic acquisition, integrated with the fundamental drivers of loan and deposit growth, establishes the most direct and enduring pathway to long-term profitability.

11:25 AM – 11:30 AM
Parting Thoughts
Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Laura Schield, President & COO, Bank Director

1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
William Seidman Annual Acquire or Be Acquired Golf Tournament
Sponsored by:  FHLBank Atlanta and ICI Consulting
Enjoy the afternoon playing golf with your peers during Bank Director’s annual L. William Seidman Golf Tournament.  The tournament is available to registered conference attendees and is limited to 144 players. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note: Additional registration is required and additional fees apply. Reserve your spot today!

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Let’s Play Pickleball!
Whether you have never played before or you are a seasoned player, this activity is for you.  All participants are grouped by experience level for the tournament, and those new to the sport enjoy a beginner’s clinic. This afternoon’s activity is available to registered attendees and is limited to 136 players. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note: Additional registration is required and fees apply. Reserve your spot today!

5:45 PM – 7:00 PM
Closing Peer & Guest Reception
Sponsored by:  FHLBank Atlanta and ICI Consulting
As we close out the conference together, attendees and their guests join in the fun to see who the winners of the L. William Seidman Golf Tournament and the Pickleball Tournament are!