Agenda

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Fintech Simulation Workshop + Peer Exchange
Sponsored by: RSM US LLP 
This hands-on fintech simulation workshop provides a multifaceted approach to developing and integrating a technology partnership from start to finish. Each workshop session offers valuable insights through real-world case studies and includes the how-to’s around decision-making, integration, market analysis and more. Sessions 2 and 3 also include a peer exchange, which allows participants the chance to break into small groups to discuss topics related to the sessions. This workshop is exclusive to 45 FI attendees only – up to two FI leaders per institution, and no capital markets titles. This session is not for investment bank leaders of any kind.

5:00 PM – 6:15 PM
Welcoming Reception + Registration
Our welcoming reception provides participants the chance to meet and mingle with their contemporaries from across the country.

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast + Registration | Exhibit Hall Open

8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Day One Welcome
Michelle King, President, Bank Director & FinXTech
Financial industry leaders continue to evaluate their strategic priorities as consumers and business owners increasingly seek digital channels for their financial services – but still desire a personal relationship with their banker. As we start the day, we take the pulse of the audience’s thoughts to see if they align with the recent survey results from Bank Director’s annual Technology Survey.

8:10 AM – 8:40 AM
The State of the Industry
Aaron Donaldson, Principal, Technology & Management Consulting, RSM US LLP
Everyone has the same challenge today: standing out in an incredibly transactional, digital space. Regardless of what you create, share or produce, time is not on your side. Indeed, our attention jumps from idea to opportunity, risk to obstacle in as much time as it takes to generate a tweet or watch a video clip. So how can a company stay ahead of current trends to build a sustainable brand for the future? We open the conference with an overview of where the industry is today – both at home and aboard – and what that means for our audience.

8:40 AM – 8:45 AM
FinXTech Connect
Michelle King, President, Bank Director & FinXTech
How do you choose the best partners – and where do you start on your quest to find options? Enter FinXTech Connect – an online platform with a curated directory of technology companies strategically partnering with financial institutions of all sizes. Each company on FinXTech Connect is carefully vetted by Bank Director, has a history of financial performance and has a proven roster of FI clients. FinXTech Connect is a tool to help your institution start on its journey to finding the right partner.

8:45 AM – 9:35 AM
FinXTech Connect Tech Talks
Throughout the event, we host FinXTech Connect Tech Talk sessions, showcasing five technology companies financial institutions should be aware of as they consider new strategies. Each presentation focuses on an FI they work with – sharing the problem, the benefit and the steps they took to solve it. The foundation of these talks is how the technology company provided a return on investment for the FI.

Tech Talk 1:  Virtual Agent as Front-line Contact Center Generalist Reduces Hold Times & Improves Staffing at United Bank
Ben Nichols, Head of Product, Directlink
About Directlink
Directlink is an all-in-one conversational banking platform designed for community banks and credit unions. Seamlessly transition from AI Virtual Agents to human support, meeting real-time customer and member needs. Enjoy secure, compliant, hyper-personalized interactions while effortlessly integrating into your fintech ecosystem for a superior customer experience.

Tech Talk 2:  Torpago Enables Financial Institutions to Launch Industry-leading Commercial Credit Card and Spend Management Programs
Brent Jackson, CEO, Torpago, Inc.
About Torpago
Torpago is the modern alternative to the traditional corporate credit card. Through innovative spend management software, robust card issuing capabilities and a modular approach, Torpago empowers financial institutions to offer white labeled, industry-leading payment solutions to their customers.

Tech Talk 3:  Humanizing the Digital Channel by Delivering Personalized Experiences That Create Loyalty & Drive Profitability
Paul Provenzano, VP Market Development, ebankIT
About ebankIT
ebankIT is a fintech company that enables banks and credit unions to deliver the same humanized, personalized and accessible digital experience on mobile, and web, as well as whatever future channels may come next. Enhanced with flexible and full omnichannel capabilities, ebankIT Digital Banking Platform offers a fast and seamless digital banking transformation.

Tech Talk 4:  Innovative Data Tool Drives User Engagement at Listerhill Credit Union
Matt LaBenz, VP, Sales, Apiture
About Apiture
Apiture delivers award-winning digital banking solutions to banks and credit unions throughout the U.S. Their flexible, highly configurable solutions meet a wide range of financial institutions’ needs, from leveling the playing field with larger institutions to supporting growth through innovative data intelligence and embedded banking strategies. With the API-first approach, their clients can maximize the capabilities of their platform while preserving a seamless user experience.

Tech Talk 5:  SBA Loan Growth With Predictive Expected Loss (EL) & POS Embedded Finance
Loughlin Cleary, President & National Sales Director, Lenders Cooperative
About Lenders Cooperative
Lenders Cooperative is a client-owned organization that helps financial institutions improve their lending solutions by providing a powerful loan origination system coupled with professional services – underwriting, SBA LSP, bank operations, marketing and call center support – empowering financial institutions to streamline internal processes and focus on serving their customers and communities.

9:35 AM – 10:20 AM
Refreshment Break in Exhibit Hall | Exhibit Hall Open
Sponsored by:  Wysh Life and Health Insurance Company
Extended refreshment breaks allow attendees the opportunity to explore and interact with the technologies featured throughout the event. One-on-one meetings can be scheduled at this time to engage in more hands-on demonstrations.

10:20 AM – 10:50 AM
What Are You Hearing?
David Foss, Chair of the Board & CEO, Jack Henry
Michelle King, President, Bank Director & FinXTech
During this session we explore:

• How to get greater depth of wallet,
• How to expand your total “addressable” market; and
• How to develop new ways to go to market.

Before we explore such strategies related to artificial intelligence and ChatGPT, we provide a perspective on how different financial institutions have placed their bets on new lines of business.

10:50 AM – 11:40 AM
FinXTech Connect Tech Talks
The second FinXTech Connect Tech Talk session showcases five technology companies financial institutions should be aware of as they consider new strategies. Each presentation focuses on an FI they work with – sharing the problem, the benefit and the steps they took to solve it. The foundation of these talks is how the technology company provided a return on investment for the FI.

Tech Talk 1: How to Create a Digital Relationship Banking Experience
Matt Phipps, Chief Marketing Officer, Agent IQ
About Agent IQ
Agent IQ offers a digital platform, supercharged with AI, that improves communication and engagement between financial institutions and their customers, leading to happier, more loyal and more profitable customers. Agent IQ helps create relationships in the digital world that are just as personal as in the physical world but even more enhanced.

Tech Talk 2:  Driving Digital Fluency, Adoption and Growth
John Findlay, CEO, LemonadeLXP
About LemonadeLXP
LemonadeLXP is a digital growth platform that turns frontline staff into digital experts and supports digital banking customers. It’s the fastest and easiest way for FIs and fintechs to create the training and support tools you need to grow your digital banking business.

Tech Talk 3: Banking Has Changed. Grow Earnings Today.
Mac Thompson, President & Founder, White Clay
About White Clay
White Clay delivers curated information environments for community and regional financial institutions to increase visibility into client relationships and drive revenue growth.

Tech Talk 4: Put Simply, Raisin Helps Level the Playing Field for Regional & Community Institutions
Cetin Duransoy, CEO, Raisin
About Raisin
Raisin empowers financial institutions to raise retail deposits with wholesale efficiency. Raisin transforms the way institutions raise deposits nationally through its first-of-its-kind digital funding platform. The Raisin platform acts like a digital branch, fulfilling the full deposit value chain from marketing and account opening to customer service and account maintenance.

Tech Talk 5: Digital Leap Forward: Banking on Innovation
Kristin Kelly, Chief Product Officer, Derivative Path, Inc.
About Derivative Path
Derivative Path, led by capital markets and technology experts, provides a sophisticated cloud-based platform for institutions. It simplifies international payments and OTC Interest Rate, FX and Commodity Derivatives, enabling effective risk mitigation and financial goal achievement. Explore its comprehensive solutions and unparalleled expertise in the capital markets landscape.

11:50 AM – 12:20 PM
Partnership Presentations (select one)
This first set of Partnership Presentations allows participants to come together for topic-based case study discussions focused on driving strategy, ROI and customer experience for the financial institution. Led by an industry advisor and one of their clients, these sessions run concurrently, so attendees may select one to attend.

Partnership Presentation 1:  Cannabis Banking: Tech-Driven Compliance for Growth
Brett Ballman, First Vice President of Business Services and Consumer Lending, Salal Credit Union
Tony Repanich, CEO, Shield Compliance, LLC
The legal cannabis industry is projected to generate over $70 billion in sales by 2030, offering financial institutions an opportunity to capture new low-cost deposits, earning assets and non-interest income by serving licensed cannabis businesses.  This session demonstrates how tech-driven compliance not only ensures regulatory adherence but also creates a path forward for sustainable growth in this rapidly changing industry.

Partnership Presentation 2:  The Path to Digital Maturity:  Fast, Frictionless & Fully-Automated 
Wesley Zauner, Vice President of Product, MeridianLink
Today’s banks understand the importance of optimizing their digital capabilities.  From streamlined digital applications, to fast, automated AI-powered loan decisions, today’s consumers expect seamless experiences every step of the way.  But with so many competing priorities, how do you move forward in the path to digital maturity?  Learn how a community bank partnered with MeridianLink to transform their outdated systems and disjointed user experience to a modern ecosystem, leading to automated experiences, increased revenue and decreased costs.

Partnership Presentation 3: What to Look for in a Trusted Relationship
Steve Hill, SVP & CIO, RCB Bank
Lee Long, Chief Experience Officer, HC3
Second only to your employees, your vendors are the most crucial relationships to your organization’s success. Drawing on years of lessons learned, this session discusses what it takes to identify, nurture and maintain trusted relationships with vendors.

Partnership Presentation 4: Relationship Banking Beyond the Branch
Robin McDougald, Chief Retail & Product Officer, Texas First Bank
Matt Phipps, Chief Marketing Officer, Agent IQ
As banking products and services continue to get disrupted and more commoditized, your relationships with your customers become more and more crucial in maintaining a competitive difference. This session explores how you can extend those relationships beyond your physical footprint and create a digital customer experience that not only meets your customer expectations but also makes your institution more efficient.

12:20 PM – 1:20 PM
Networking Lunch in Exhibit Hall | Exhibit Hall Open
Sponsored by: Atmos Financial
Have lunch with key business leaders while also exploring the latest technologies changing the financial industry. One-on-one meetings can be scheduled at this time.

1:20 PM – 1:50 PM
The Risk of Not Doing Something
Kevin Bannerton, EVP, Chief Product Officer, R&T Deposit Solutions
Tim Dively, National Digital Growth Director, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Chris Griffin, Co-founder and Co-president, Narmi Inc.
Moderated by: Michelle King, Bank Director & FinXTech
As your financial institution focuses on the future, decisions need to be made on where to invest time and money. But with the many options you could choose, what is best for your organization? Hear from leaders in the space on where you might want to invest and why.

1:50 PM – 2:40 PM
FinXTech Connect Tech Talks
The third FinXTech Connect Tech Talks session provides participants an additional opportunity to hear from 5 technology companies in FinXTech Connect that financial institutions should be aware of as they consider new strategies. Each presenter addresses the problem their company’s technology solves, the benefits and the steps to move forward. The foundation of these talks is how the technology company provided a return on investment for the FI.

Tech Talk 1: Connectivity is King: Bridging the Legacy Technology Gap
Michael Ball, SVP, Markets & Strategy, Kinective
About Kinective
Kinective is the force multiplier banks and credit unions need to scale transformation efforts faster through one connection between fintechs and banking cores. By delivering access to innovation, Kinective helps financial institutions unlock new services, modernize operations and enhance their competitive edge.

Tech Talk 2: Turnkey Lending for Solar — How Fintech Partnerships Can Expand Your Loan Portfolio Without Increasing Staffing
Ravi Mikkelsen, CEO & Co-founder, Atmos Financial
About Atmos Financial
Atmos Financial built the first turnkey solution for banks to profitably lend for rooftop solar and electrification. Banks can offer competitive loans without sacrificing on price or taking on undue risk. There’s no need to learn new industries or build new distribution channels and these can be managed within 30 minutes or less each month.

Tech Talk 3: Empowering FIs With Real-World Insights and Industry Experience to Determine the Best Fintech and Technology Partners
Elia Blankenship, Director, Management Consulting, Financial Institutions Advisory, RSM US LLP
About RSM US LLP
RSM’s purpose is to deliver the power of being understood to our clients, colleagues and communities through world-class audit, tax and consulting services focused on middle market businesses. They are focused on developing leading professionals and services to meet their client’s evolving needs in today’s ever-changing business environment.

Tech Talk 4: How to Put Your Customers First and Stop Account Opening and Takeover Fraud
Mark Dreux, Global Financial Services Leader, ID DataWeb
About ID DataWeb
ID Dataweb provides digital trust between a bank and its customers. Stop account opening and takeover fraud with secure frictionless identity proofing and risk assessment across all channels – web, mobile app and contact center.

Tech Talk 5: Fast-Forward Innovation and Feature Delivery With Embedded Fintech
Joshua Jordan, Director of Digital Engagement, Jack Henry
About Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
Jack Henry™ is a well-rounded financial technology company that strengthens the connections between people and their financial institutions through technology and services that reduce the barriers to financial health – with the purpose of empowering people and communities to gain the financial freedom to move forward.

2:50 PM – 3:20 PM
Partnership Presentations (select one)
This second set of Partnership Presentations allows participants to come together for topic-based case study discussions focused on driving strategy, ROI and customer experience for the institution. Led by an industry advisor and one of their clients, these sessions run concurrently, so attendees may select one to attend.

Partnership Presentation 1:  Mastering Niche Banking Through Advanced Data Technology
Mike Kennedy, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Green Check Verified
Jeffery Trammell, Chief Operations Officer, Merchants & Marine Bank
Niche banking can be both the differentiator and lifeblood of many community financial institutions, and with the right tools in place, banks and credit unions can go far beyond knowing their customer to truly understanding their customer.  The result:  maximized value for both the clients and the institution.  In this session, we invite one of our clients to share their best-in-class, data-driven approach to banking one of the fastest growing niche industries — legalized cannabis— and provide insights into how this approach can work for other industries.

Partnership Presentation 2:  Commercial Banking Reimagined: A New Chapter in Financial Services
Matt Blangiardi, Head of FX Payments Sales, Derivative Path, Inc.
Ron Zimmerman, SVP, Director of Deposit Operations and Automation, FirstBank
Discover how embracing digital innovation allows community banks to enhance the traditional services offered to their commercial clients.  This session reveals the integration of advanced FX payment solutions, maintaining the personal touch crucial to regional banking.  Learn the key to merging tradition with innovation, ensuring the vitality and growth of community banking in the digital era.

Partnership Presentation 3:  Leveraging Technology to Acquire, Retain and Grow: The BayFirst Blueprint
Chris Griffin, Co-founder and Co-president, Narmi Inc.
Michael Yang, VP, Director of Digital Banking, Bayfirst Financial
This session delves into BayFirst’s approach to fintech partnerships to boost customer engagement and transition SBA loan recipients to comprehensive banking clients. Michael Yang of Bayfirst Financial and Chris Griffin of Narmi, discuss how these strategic collaborations streamline the SBA lending process, extend services, enhance customer loyalty and expand BayFirst’s market presence.  Key points include the role of technology in scaling BayFirst’s operations, the digital expansion strategy, team alignment towards innovation and future fintech projects aimed at reinforcing BayFirst’s digital banking leadership.

Partnership Presentation 4:  How a Digital Brand Brought New Life and Deposits to a Historic Bank
Steve Baker, EVP, Chief Innovation Officer, Regent Bank
Kathleen Craig, Founder & CEO, Plinqit
Regent Bank wanted to launch Believe Bank for many years.  Their leadership searched for a partner for their mission-based brand.  They found High Yield Savings by Plinqit and brought their vision to life without “breaking the bank.”  Join Steve Baker, Chief Innovation Officer of Regent Bank, and Kathleen Craig, CEO of Plinqit as they discuss how a digital brand allowed customers to give back.

3:20 PM – 4:05 PM
Refreshment Break in Exhibit Hall | Exhibit Hall Open
Extended refreshment breaks allow attendees the opportunity to explore and interact with the technologies featured throughout the event. One-on-one meetings can be scheduled at this time.

4:05 PM – 4:35 PM
How Financial Institutions Can Embrace Artificial Intelligence
Colin Cassidy, General Manager, Banking and Fintech, Microsoft
Mark Leher, Director, Product Management, Alkami Technology, Inc.
Mac Thompson, President & Founder, White Clay
Moderated by:  Kiah Haslett, Banking & Fintech Editor, Bank Director
Artificial intelligence in the financial world is not new but it is changing. With its ability to expedite operational tasks, assist in client credit decisions, and improve the efficiency of financial crimes monitoring, AI may be a viable investment for your financial institution. This session explores your myriad options for embracing the technology.

4:45 PM – 5:25 PM
Unveiling Key Banking Trends and Challenges
Nicole Lorch, President & COO, First Internet Bank
David Ness, SVP Innovation R&D, U.S. Bank
Maria Tedesco, President & COO, Atlantic Union Bank
Moderated by: Naomi Snyder, Editor-in-Chief, Bank Director
For the last session of the day, we close by hearing from leaders at financial institutions on what has worked and what has not. They share lessons learned and best practices for moving forward.

5:25 PM – 6:30 PM
Networking Peer + Guest Reception
Sponsored by:  CSI
To cap off the day, we invite all participants and their guests to join us for a reception with drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Breakfast | Exhibit Hall Open

8:30 AM – 8:40 AM
Day Two Welcome
Michelle King, President, Bank Director and FinXTech
Growth doesn’t happen by accident. Organizations must focus on increased revenue, producing desirable products and services, and expanding its customer base. We open day two of the event by focusing on key concepts that lean into growth.

8:40 AM – 9:15 AM
Bringing the Digital Deposit Landscape Into Focus
Parker Graham, Founder & CEO, Finotta
John Major, Director, Government and Institutional Funds, American Deposit Management, LLC
Mary Grace Roske, Head of Marketing, CD Valet
Moderated by: Naomi Snyder, Editor-in-Chief, Bank Director
Building a digital deposit strategy is imperative in today’s financial marketplace. As consumers demand more digital offerings, financial institutions look to align consumer expectations and liquidity. This session considers the best practices to overcome obstacles and risks while staying relevant in a growing digital world.

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
FinXTech Connect Tech Talks
The final FinXTech Connect Tech Talks session provides participants an additional opportunity to hear from 5 technology companies financial institutions should be aware of as they consider new strategies. Each presenter addresses the problem their company’s technology solves, the bank’s benefit and the steps to move forward. The foundation of these talks is how the technology company provided a return on investment for the FI.

Tech Talk 1: Secure Small Business Deposits By Maximizing Merchant Services for Your SMB Businesses Through Digital Experiences
Christina Ziegler, Chief Product Officer, Merchant’s PACT
About Merchant’s PACT
Merchant’s PACT, a fintech payments firm, integrates with core and digital platforms to empower financial institutions with software, data, and payment solutions. Their solutions keep financial institutions at the center of the account holder experience, modernize SMB and commercial client payment offerings, maximize revenue and interweave merchant services into digital banking.

Tech Talk 2: Hear How Hawthorn River Delivers Big Bank Lending Capabilities to Community Banks
Jon Rigsby, VP, Product Management, CSI
About CSI:
As a forward-thinking software provider, Computer Services, Inc. (CSI) helps community and regional banks, as well as organizations worldwide, solve their customers’ needs through open and agile technologies. In addition to its nearly 60-year reputation for personalized service, CSI is shaping the future of banking by swiftly deploying advanced solutions that help its customers rival their competition.

Tech Talk 3: Sticky Savings:  How Embedded Protection Keep Deposits From Walking Away
Alex Matjanec, Founder & CEO, Wysh Life and Health Insurance Company
About Wysh Life and Health Insurance Company:
Wysh’s innovative deposit solution, Life Benefit, helps financial institutions grow, retain, and differentiate their deposit offering by seamlessly embedding life insurance onto a consumer’s accounts. Worth 1-10% of the consumer’s account balance, Life Benefit encourages consumers to grow and maintain funds; thereby enhancing brand loyalty while strengthening FI’s balance sheet.

9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
Refreshment Break in Exhibit Hall | Exhibit Hall Open
Extended refreshment breaks allow attendees the opportunity to explore and interact with the technologies featured throughout the event. One-on-one meetings can be scheduled at this time.

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
The Changing Payment Landscape
Sam Maule, Head of Business Development, Moov
Chris Rigoni, Chief Process and Control Officer, Evolve Bank & Trust
Moderated by: Lexie Garcia, Vice President of Business Development, Bank Director
Technology continues to transform the industry, and the payments landscape is no exception. Whether it is the increased demand for contactless and embedded options or a diminishing reliance on analog processes, payments are changing. This session covers the information you need to know to stay up-to-date and competitive amidst the changing payments landscape.

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Point/Counterpoint Debate
Virginia Heyburn, Director of Research, Insights and Advocacy, Engage fi
Brandon Oliver, Principal, BankTech Ventures, LP
Riaz Syed, Founder & CEO, Infinant
Moderated by: Kiah Haslett, Banking & Fintech Editor, Bank Director
As the competitive playing field continues to evolve, a new crop of obstacles confronts banks of all sizes. To wrap up the conference, we introduce a Bank Director attendee favorite… the Point/Counterpoint Debate which allows the audience to interact in real-time with a panel of experts debating today’s most challenging technology issues and opportunities.

11:15 AM – 11:20 AM
Closing Remarks
Kiah Haslett, Banking & Fintech Editor, Bank Director

The opinions expressed at the conference are those of the individual speakers only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Bank Director, the other speakers or the entities with which the speakers are associated.