From innovation theater to growth engine in commercial banking with Alloy Labs’ JP Nicols

In this first episode of our commercial banking takeover, JP Nicols of Alloy Labs joins guest host Alex Jimenez to explain how commercial banks can move beyond superficial innovation efforts and start delivering real business outcomes. Learn how frameworks like FIRE™, strategic partnerships, and cultural alignment can transform innovation into a true growth engine. Practical, proven, and no fluff.

Curious how your institution can operationalize innovation? Dive deeper into transformation insights at our content hub featuring blogs, whitepapers, and more.

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-> Alex Jimenez

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Timestamps

(00:00) – Welcome to the “Banking Reinvented” commercial banking takeover

(01:01) – What mid-sized & community banks get wrong about innovation

(01:54) – Irrelevance risk: the biggest threat to banks today

(04:00) – Modernizing for the digital-first generation

(06:27) – Recurring challenges for scaling commercial growth

(07:56) – The FIRE™ process

(09:45) – Strategic fintech partnerships as a growth enabler

(14:28) – Falling short of innovation goals

(18:29) – Shifting away from “innovation theater”

(24:33) – Getting buy-in from the boardroom/leadership

(26:56) – What does “growth mode” look like for commercial banks

(32:26) – First areas to focus on in commercial banking modernization

(34:54) – The mindset shift in commercial banking

(40:12) – Expense reimbursement for employees

(42:24) – Episode wrap-up