Experience 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.

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.

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.

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 bank and/or credit union.  Each presenting company also has a space in the FinXTech Demo Hall. Participants are encouraged to visit these booths to learn more about each company’s product or service.

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.

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 bank and/or credit union.  Each presenting company also has a space in the FinXTech Demo Hall. Participants are encouraged to visit these booths to learn more about each company’s product or service.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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 bank and/or credit union.  Each presenting company also has a space in the FinXTech Demo Hall. Participants are encouraged to visit these booths to learn more about each company’s product or service.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 bank and/or credit union.  Each presenting company also has a space in the FinXTech Demo Hall. Participants are encouraged to visit these booths to learn more about each company’s product or service.

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.

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.