Agenda

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Breakfast & Registration

8:30 AM – 8:35 AM
Day One Welcome
Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Laura Schield, President & COO, Bank Director
Bank Director kicks off day one of the Bank Board Forum by welcoming attendees to Austin, Texas.

8:35 AM – 9:05 AM
Setting the Stage:  Key Governance Imperatives for Today’s Bank Director
Before attendees dive into specialized topics, this essential opening session synthesizes the most critical governance challenges and opportunities facing bank boards today. Led by the experts at Bank Director, we cut through the noise to deliver the significant “need-to-knows” that shape discussions in every committee room — audit, risk, compensation, technology and beyond. Walk away with a clear strategic framework to apply throughout the Forum, enabling you to ask more thoughtful questions and drive more meaningful conversations.

9:05 AM – 9:35 AM
The State of Our Industry
Join us as we dissect the evolving banking landscape. We dive into emerging trends, economic forecasts and strategic approaches to navigate uncertainty and capitalize on opportunities.

9:35 AM – 10:05 AM
Beyond the Balance Sheet: Mastering Modern Risk Oversight
Bank failures have exposed critical gaps in risk oversight. This session addresses how boards can enhance their supervision of interest rate risk, liquidity management and unrealized loss positions. Discover specific questions directors should ask management, along with frameworks for more effective risk governance.

10:05 AM – 10:30 AM
Refreshment Break
Attendees are encouraged to network with fellow attendees and enjoy light refreshments and coffee. 

10:30 AM – 11:05 AM
General Sessions (select one)

Audit & Risk General Session: Navigating Today’s Top Audit & Risk Challenges
This session focuses on the most pressing issues facing Audit & Risk committees today. Attendees gain insights into emerging risks, evolving regulatory expectations and best practices for effective oversight. 

Compensation & Talent General Session: Strategies for Shoring Your Leadership Pipeline
Investing in your workforce is no longer just a “nice-to-have” – it’s a measurable driver of business results. This session explores how boards and senior leaders can evaluate the impact of training, mentoring and career development programs on retention, productivity and long-term performance. Learn practical approaches for linking talent investment to strategic outcomes and ensuring your bank’s human capital strategy supports sustainable growth.

Governance & Strategy: AI is Here. Is Your Board Ready?
AI is rapidly reshaping the banking industry, but no solution is one-size-fits-all. For boards and senior leaders, successful adoption requires more than technology –  it demands strategic vision, transparent governance and alignment with your institution’s long-term goals. Attendees develop a roadmap for assessing AI opportunities, monitoring performance and making adoption decisions that create lasting value while protecting the bank’s reputation and strategic interests.

11:15 AM – 11:50 AM
General Sessions (select one)

Audit & Risk General Session:  Cyber Risk Realities: What Every Bank Board Needs to Know in 2026
Cyberattacks on financial institutions continue to rise in frequency, sophistication and regulatory scrutiny, leaving boards under pressure to strengthen oversight and respond decisively. In this session, we break down the evolving threats and provide a clear framework for understanding cyber risk, asking the right questions and evaluating management’s preparedness. Learn how to benchmark your institution’s defenses, assess vulnerabilities and ensure your cyber strategy aligns with your overall risk appetite. 

Compensation & Talent General Session: Driving Retention and Motivation Through Incentives
In an increasingly competitive banking landscape, retaining top talent requires more than traditional compensation models. This session explores how banks can design modern, data-driven incentive programs that strengthen employee commitment, boost performance and build a culture of long-term engagement.

Governance & Strategy General Session: Setting Risk Appetite in a Volatile Market: What Boards Need to Know
In today’s volatile environment, the ability to set a clear, actionable risk appetite has become a defining board responsibility. The strongest banks treat risk appetite as a strategic engine, not a regulatory exercise. This session unveils how to build a risk framework that enables smart growth, sharpens decision-making and eliminates the blind spots that can derail performance. Learn how to translate risk appetite into practical operational guardrails that keep the bank disciplined, aligned and agile in fast-changing markets. 

11:50 AM – 12:50 PM
Networking Lunch

12:50 PM – 1:30 PM
Breakout Sessions
During this time, participants can choose to attend one of five breakout sessions.

1:40 PM – 2:10 PM
Breakout Sessions
During this time, participants can choose to attend one of five breakout sessions.

2:10 PM – 2:30 PM
Refreshment Break

2:30 PM – 3:10 PM
Breakout Sessions
During this time, participants can choose to attend one of five breakout sessions.

3:20 PM – 4:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
During this time, participants can choose to attend one of five breakout sessions.

4:10 PM – 4:50 PM
Insights from Bank Director’s Research
Moderated by:  Emily McCormick, Vice President of Editorial & Research, Bank Director
Hear from top industry leaders as they discuss the most pressing issues facing banks today. This panel provides practical advice and actionable strategies to help you adapt to the changing dynamics of the banking industry.

4:50 PM – 5:50 PM
Networking Peer & Guest Reception
Join us for an evening of networking and insightful conversations with your peers, industry experts and thought leaders.

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Breakfast & Registration

8:30 AM – 8:35 AM
Main Stage: Day Two Welcome

8:35 AM – 9:05 AM
The Regulatory Radar: What’s Coming in Bank Supervision
From AI and model risk management to digital asset frameworks and heightened cybersecurity standards, regulators are recalibrating their approach to bank supervision. This session offers a comprehensive update on current examination trends, emerging compliance requirements and enforcement priorities, along with actionable strategies for staying ahead of regulatory changes while maintaining operational agility.

9:05 AM – 9:35 AM
The First 48 Hours: A Board’s Role in a Cyber Attack
Cyberattacks on financial institutions are increasing in frequency and sophistication, making incident preparedness a critical board responsibility. This session equips directors with practical frameworks for cyber oversight, including key questions to ask management, understanding your institution’s incident response plan and navigating regulatory reporting requirements when a breach occurs.

9:45 AM – 10:20 AM
General Sessions (select one)

Audit & Risk General Session: Fighting Fraud on All Fronts
As technology advances, so does the sophistication of fraud schemes and threats. In 2025, 69% of respondents to Bank Director’s Risk Survey identified fraud among their top five concerns, and while 86% of respondents have implemented staff education, it’s not enough. To effectively fight fraud, institutions must prioritize ongoing, adaptive training for both staff and customers.

Compensation & Talent General Session: BOLI as a Talent and Balance Sheet Strategy
Bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) remains a powerful tool for attracting, retaining and rewarding top talent while offering income and balance sheet stability. This session delves into how BOLI fits into a modern compensation strategy, what regulatory and risk considerations come with it, and how to evaluate whether current or future BOLI programs align with the bank’s long-term goals.

Governance & Strategy General Session: Getting Your House in Order – Is Your Bank Ready for M&A?
Is your bank ready to buy or sell? Whether a buyer or a seller, bank boards should assess whether their bank is well-positioned for a successful merger. This session provides a clear framework for evaluating M&A readiness, including the questions to ask and the considerations to make.

10:30 AM – 11:05 AM
General Sessions (select one)

Audit & Risk General Session: What the New OCC Regulation Means for Community Banks
Starting January 1, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will roll out more flexible, risk-based examination frameworks for community banks, tailoring supervision to each institution’s individual risk profile. This session breaks down what community bank leaders need to know to remain exam-ready while taking advantage of the increased flexibility.

Compensation & Talent General Session: Talent Retention Beyond Compensation
Attracting and retaining top talent is a perennial challenge for the banking industry. Compensation is only one pillar of a successful attraction and retention strategy. In this session, boards uncover new strategies – cultivating culture, offering career development options and implementing strong leadership engagement – that complement existing plans.

Governance & Strategy General Session: Bank Strategies in a Stablecoin World
Explore how banks can navigate the opportunities and risks of stablecoins, from regulatory challenges to technology integration. This session explores the strategic approaches to position your institution for success in the evolving digital asset landscape.

11:15 AM – 11:50 AM
General Sessions (select one)

Audit & Risk General Session: The Case for AI in Risk Mitigation
AI continues to dominate conversations about banking technology, and with countless use cases, the most effective implementations often fill gaps and weaknesses in bank staff. Using AI to mitigate risk can help spot vulnerabilities sooner and guide better decisions.

Compensation & Talent General Session: The Evolving Role of the Compensation Committee
The responsibilities of compensation committees are growing as banks navigate regulatory scrutiny, competitive pressures and strategic complexity. This session equips directors to oversee all aspects of pay and talent strategy — including director and executive compensation, incentive programs, benefits and governance practices.

Governance & Strategy General Session: Guiding Your Bank Through Volatility
The financial services industry remains volatile, with little reprieve in sight. Navigating these headwinds starts at the top. This session equips directors with practical tools to assess today’s pressures and determine the proper strategic response. We explore how boards can recalibrate risk appetite, address liquidity challenges, prioritize innovative technology investments and ensure leadership is prepared to act decisively in moments of rapid change.

11:50 AM – 12:50 PM
Networking Lunch

12:50 PM – 1:20
AI Governance
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming banking operations, from loan underwriting to customer service, but it also introduces new risks around bias, regulatory compliance and third-party vendor management. This session uncovers a practical framework for overseeing AI implementation, understanding emerging regulatory guidance and asking the right questions to balance innovation with responsible governance.

1:20 PM – 1:50 PM
Rates, Rules and Global Growth
Bankers considering growth should be aware of the convergence of a stabilizing global economy with the finalized, capital-neutral Basel III framework. A panel of industry experts discusses how to align your bank’s strategy with international market shifts while capitalizing on domestic regulatory relief.

2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
M&A Simulation
The process of striking a deal for a prized target has never been more competitive than it is today. For buyers, careful discipline is required to ensure that bids are designed to accomplish acquisition growth without damaging the company’s value. For sellers, a competitive bid process must be navigated skillfully to secure the best deal for shareholders. In this session, designed for outside board members, participants work through the final rounds of a competitive auction involving a prized seller to see which bank emerges as the successful acquirer. Of course, as in real deals, some wrinkles will appear. The simulation is exclusive to 40 outside bank directors only, allows two directors per institution, excludes capital markets titles (this session is NOT for investment bankers of any kind) and runs concurrently with the peer collaboration sessions. Registration is required.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Peer Collaboration Session 1
During this session, the audience is divided into discussion groups based on title. For the directors in the audience, join a collaborative discussion with your peers to explore the latest trends and challenges in audit, risk and governance. For the CEOs and Chairs of the Board, discussions focus on governance and strategy.

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Refreshment Break

3:15 PM – 4:05 PM
Peer Collaboration Session 2
During this session, directors in the audience share best practices, discuss emerging risks and develop strategies to enhance a board’s oversight. CEOs and Chairs of the Board participate in a collaborative discussion with your peers to explore the latest trends and challenges in risk and technology topics.

4:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Blueprints for a High-Performing Bank
During this popular session, Bank Director sits down with bank leaders to discuss their innovative decision strategies and how they have built the bank they lead today.

4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
Networking Peer & Guest Reception

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Breakfast

8:30 AM – 8:35 AM
Day Three Welcome
Michelle King, CEO, Bank Director
Laura Schield, President & COO, Bank Director
Kick off the final day of the conference with a recap of key insights and a look ahead to the future of banking.

8:35 AM – 9:05 AM
Practical Strategies for Succession Planning
While hiring externally can bring in new skills, the most successful banks cultivate their next leaders from within. This session focuses on proven methods for identifying high-potential employees, implementing effective mentorship programs and administering strategic rotational assignments and special projects that prepare your future executives for the challenges ahead, ensuring they have the right skills and “followership” to lead effectively.

9:15 AM – 9:55 AM
Breakout Sessions (select one)
During this time, participants can choose to attend one of four breakout sessions.

9:55 AM – 10:10 AM
Refreshment Break
10:10 AM – 10:40 AM
From Good to Great: Elevating Your Board’s Strategic Impact
Explore how bank boards can move from reactive oversight to proactive governance by improving board materials, engaging meaningfully in strategy and risk appetite and challenging management constructively. Drawing on the 2025 Governance Best Practices Survey and real-world board experiences, this session highlights what directors should do now to prepare for future regulatory and political shifts, while strengthening board composition and succession.

10:40 AM – 11:10 AM
Evolving the Banking Strategy: Creating Change
With generational shifts in customer behavior, maturing AI capabilities and unprecedented competitive forces, the traditional banking model is being rewritten. This panel discussion brings together industry experts who share their experiences on how institutions can develop strategies to thrive amid technological changes, regulatory evolution and shifting economic realities.

11:10 AM – 11:15 AM
Closing Remarks