BAI Banking Strategies

While many in the financial world are running away from crypto and its perceived dangers, there are others who see lots of opportunity. Gene Grant, CEO at LevelField Financial in Houston, joins us to talk about what his new bank wants to do in the crypto space, and why now is the right time to do it.

Millennials and Gen Z are starting to inherit money in what will end up as the greatest transfer of wealth in history. Steven Ramirez from Beyond the Arc is our guest to discuss the scale of this transfer, and how banking institutions can position themselves to attract some of those assets.

Because banking institutions are in the money business – their customers’ and their own – they are also in the risk business. Keith Pearson, head of financial services at ServiceNow, joins us to discuss how banks and credit unions can improve their security by digitalizing their risk management.

Banking continues its digital makeover, both to gain efficiencies and to meet customer desires for faster, easier and more convenient. BAI’s Debbie Bianucci and Dennis Gada from Infosys join us to discuss the trends and priorities they’re seeing in the industry’s digital transformation.

Many community banks are feeling pressure to grow to avoid being wiped out or bought out. Could serving non-traditional businesses provide the new opportunity they need? Ryan James, CEO of Surety Bank in central Florida, joins us to discuss his bank’s experiences with the non-traditional, including moving into cannabis and crypto-related banking.

Customer service is cheaper for banks to deliver digitally than via other channels – the trick is to do in a personalized way. Jennifer Timbrook from STAR Financial Bank joins us to discuss her Indiana-based bank’s approach to digital customer service.

Environmental, social and governance considerations are growing in importance at banks and credit unions. Gary Levante, who heads the ESG effort at Berkshire Bank, explains why banks should view embracing ESG as a way to gain a competitive edge.

Our series on key issues for banks in 2023 focuses this week on finding, nurturing and retaining talent. Megan Burkhart, chief human resources officer at Comerica, discusses how her bank is dealing with the talent challenge and she offers insights that may be of value to other institutions.

Banking-as-a-service is among the most talked-about innovations in banking, and also perhaps among the least understood. Jeannette Kescenovitz, who leads development of banking-as-a-service capabilities at Finastra, shares her views on how BaaS might grow its presence at U.S. banks and credit unions in 2023.

An aggressively rising interest rate environment can cut both ways for the banking industry. Tom Brown, long-time banking industry analyst and editor of Tom Brown’s Banking Weekly newsletter, offers his views on rate impacts as part of his outlook for banks in 2023 and beyond.