Operate Podcast

In this episode of the Operate Podcast, we explored the transformation of the banking sector through technology, leadership, and community engagement. Our guest, Marc Rehberger, delves into his journey from technology companies to leading tech-enabled banking at Customers Bank. We discussed cutting-edge advancements in real-time payments, the strategic adoption of technologies like RTP and FedNow, and their long-term impacts on financial institutions. The discussion highlighted how banks have adapted to unprecedented times, emphasizing agility, decision-making, and the integration of modern FinTech solutions with traditional banking practices. We also touched on the invaluable role of community banks in the U.S. financial system, their unique understanding of local markets, and the collaborative ecosystem they foster. Throughout the episode, we emphasized the balance between technological adoption, regulatory compliance, and maintaining personal customer relationships, which we both believe will persist in banking. Marc shared his insights on leadership, the power of mentorship, and the importance of investing in people, concluding with practical advice for professionals eager to innovate in their banking careers. Tune in to discover how combining traditional banking strengths with modern technology creates a dynamic and exciting environment for both customers and employees. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures! CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 00:37 Intro 00:54 Sponsor 01:28 Guest Introduction: Marc Rehberger 02:40 Marc's Career Journey 05:17 Transition to Customers Bank 07:56 Role and Responsibilities at Customers Bank 15:14 Challenges and Successes in Banking 24:37 The Importance of Community Banks 27:28 Challenges Facing Community Banks 29:04 The Importance of Technology Partnerships 31:31 Advice for Bankers on Tech Integration 36:43 The Role of Core Technology in Banking 38:47 The Future of Banking: Open Banking and Portability 47:55 Core Values and Personal Reflections 50:53 Advice for Early Career Professionals 52:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Operate Podcast, we take a behind-the-scenes look at the birth of fintech P2P and marketplace lending with Peter Renton, one of its pioneers. Peter shared his extensive background, starting from his early days as a self-directed investor to founding key fintech companies like Lend Academy and LendIt, which later became Fintech Nexus. We discussed his journey into peer-to-peer lending and its evolution as institutional investors entered the space. The conversation spans the rise of fintech innovation, the challenges of scaling peer-to-peer platforms, and the role of community banks in the future of financial services. Peter recounted the bubble in the fintech lending space around 2015 and how the industry adapted following the Lending Club debacle in 2016. He also shared his advice for fintech founders, emphasizing the importance of diversification in funding sources and customer acquisition strategies. We delved into notable companies like Upstart and their pivots in the fintech landscape. Additionally, Peter reflected on the transition from LendIt to FinTech Nexus to encompass a broader range of fintech innovations for their content and events. We touched on the increasing interest of banks in fintech events from 2016 onwards and the changing landscape post-pandemic. Peter discussed emerging trends in fintech, such as embedded lending, mobile wallets, and new payment rails. He highlighted the necessity for community banks to adopt technology and attract younger customers. Lastly, Peter introduced his new consulting venture, Renton & Co, aimed at guiding fintech companies through content strategy, marketing, and market analysis. Enjoy this comprehensive look at the past, present, and future of fintech. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 00:34 Intro 00:47 Sponsor 01:19 Meet Peter Renton: A Fintech Pioneer 02:50 Peter's Early Fascination with Finance 04:04 Discovering Peer-to-Peer Lending 05:36 Building Lend Academy and LendIt 09:21 The Evolution of Marketplace Lending 18:39 Reflections on the Fintech Lending Boom 27:19 Kudos to Dave Girard (UpStart) and Team 28:04 The Shift to FinTech Nexus 29:04 Expanding Beyond Lending 32:16 Challenges and Stress of the Events Business 32:48 The Impact of the Pandemic 33:54 Future of FinTech and Embedded Lending 37:47 The Role of Community Banks 42:38 Advice for Community Bank CEOs 49:18 Peter's New Venture: Renton & Co

In this episode, we get an insider look into the financial technology landscape with Jason Mikula. Jason shares his journey, from his unexpected entry into financial services and digital marketing to launching the publication Fintech Business Weekly. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer acquisition metrics and analyzes the evolution of fintech innovations like online lending, BNPL, Banking as a Service, etc. We delve into the mechanics of Banking as a Service (BaaS) and the complex relationships between fintechs, middleware platforms, and banks. Jason is currently in the middle of reporting on news as it breaks around Synapse, Evolve and several fintechs, as well as the thousands of customers caught in the middle of it. He highlights the regulatory challenges and the balancing act between risk and growth. Our discussion also addresses the current regulatory landscape and the future of partner banking, stressing the need for sustainable and economically sound practices. Tune in for a comprehensive conversation that explores the intricacies of fintech and digital banking services. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 00:45 Intro 00:58 Sponsor 01:31 Meet Jason Mikula, Analyst and Writer of FinTech Business Weekly 03:23 Jason's Background in Financial Services 04:27 Joining Enova and Learning Subprime Lending 05:22 Marketing Metrics and Customer Acquisition 07:05 Challenges in Digital Financial Services 09:09 The Importance of Digital Marketing in FinTech 14:29 Starting FinTech Business Weekly 17:38 Analyzing the FinTech Landscape 20:10 Insights on BNPL and Market Valuations 23:32 Banking as a Service and Middleware Companies 31:49 Regulatory Challenges and Partner Banking 40:23 Regulatory Priorities and Market Impact 44:46 Systemic Risks and Community Banks 48:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Operate Podcast, we give you a behind-the-scenes look at company building with Isabella Sun, Founder and CEO of Short Story, a subscription e-commerce company serving petite women. The discussion sheds light on Isabella's journey from a structured finance career to becoming a successful e-commerce entrepreneur catering to a niche market. We explore how a personal pain point sparked the idea for Short Story and how comprehensive market research highlighted the need for better-fitting apparel for petite women. Isabella shares her unconventional path to e-commerce, including her participation in Y Combinator and the early days of building Short Story from her apartment. We discuss the challenges and milestones of growing the company, the importance of understanding customer needs through data, and the nuances of creating products that foster loyalty and excitement among customers. The conversation also covers how Short Story has managed to achieve profitability without heavy reliance on marketing, leveraging organic growth and customer satisfaction. Isabella highlights her strategies for financing the company creatively and the role of technology and data in scaling operations. This episode provides valuable insights into staying ahead in a competitive market through continuous innovation and an unwavering focus on customer experience. Towards the end, we dive into Isabella’s personal routines, the mental toughness required for entrepreneurship, and her advice to budding entrepreneurs. This episode offers an inspiring look at how a strong vision and an obsessive customer-centric approach can lead to extraordinary results. Thank you to episode sponsor, BankTech Ventures. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 01:00 Intro 01:13 Sponsor 01:45 Meet Isabella Sun, Founder of Short Story 03:22 Identifying a Market Need 05:07 Early Challenges and Growth 08:35 Customer Connection and Proud Moments 11:14 Navigating E-commerce and Apparel Industry 14:39 Leveraging Data and Technology 23:41 Future Opportunities and Competitor Insights 28:32 Biggest Misconceptions 31:20 Personal Insights, Rituals, & Entrepreneurial Journey 37:53 Closing Thoughts

In this episode of the Operate Podcast, we got a behind-the-scenes look at company building from Tiffany Haynes, COO at Fingercheck. Tiffany discussed her transition from a 19-year career at Jack Henry to her role at Fingercheck, a startup focused on payroll and HR services for small businesses. She highlighted the challenges and learning curves she faced and the importance of establishing foundational structures for growth. Tiffany emphasized the need to slow down before speeding up and building a solid organizational core. Tiffany also reflected on her various roles at Jack Henry, including Chief People Officer and General Manager of a business unit that supported over 100 banks and credit unions. She shared her passion for transformational work and the importance of growth and resilience. These experiences provided her with deep insights into the banking industry's inner workings and maintaining strong customer relationships, which have been invaluable in her current role at Fingercheck. The discussion included Fingercheck's market differentiation by offering enterprise-level capabilities, tailored for small businesses. Tiffany talked about the company's mission to automate administrative tasks, allowing small business owners to focus on what truly matters. She shared her excitement about the company's growth potential and the team's unity, describing the joy of achieving their goals together. She provided strategic insights into the future of banking, emphasizing the need for regulatory clarity and collaboration among traditional banks, fintechs, and other stakeholders. She stressed the importance of a customer-centric approach, balancing personal relationships with digital convenience. Finally, Tiffany offered advice for early career professionals, encouraging them to take risks, stay resilient, and deliver meaningful work that improves lives. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 00:46 Intro 00:55 Sponsor 01:28 Meet Tiffany Haynes: COO at Fingercheck 02:39 Transitioning from Corporate to Startup 04:13 Challenges and Surprises in a Startup Environment 08:47 Fingercheck's Unique Market Position 13:49 Reflections on Jack Henry and Career Highlights 27:37 Challenges in Banking Sales and Marketing 29:45 Understanding Consumer Needs 32:17 Adapting to Digital Transformation 34:09 Innovative Ideas for Banking Industry 39:52 Personal Journey in Banking Tech 44:04 Balancing Work and Personal Life 47:24 Role and Success as a 49:16 Current Challenges in Sales and Marketing 50:35 Advice for Early Career Professionals 52:12 Closing Remarks

In this episode of the Operate Podcast, we dive deep into the evolution of 'Banking as a Service' (BaaS) and its complexities. My guest, Rafael DeLeon, the SVP of Industry Engagement at NContracts, shares his extensive insights on the partnership dynamics between community banks and fintech companies. We explored how these relationships started, the operational challenges they faced, and how they've matured over time. Rafael discussed the importance of trust, risk management, and regulatory compliance in these partnerships, highlighting the transition from what he calls the 'Wild West' of BaaS to a more structured environment today. We also talked about the broader regulatory environment in the banking industry, focusing on how regulators are handling the rapid pace of change, interest rates, and macroeconomic challenges. Rafael provided his perspective on recent enforcement actions and what they signal to the industry, emphasizing the need for transparency, strong risk management systems, and strategic planning. From there we addressed the impact of technology on smaller banks and how it can enable them to be more efficient and competitive. Rafael shared his optimistic outlook on the future of community banking, particularly how fintech partnerships and regulatory guidelines will shape the industry's landscape. Towards the end of our conversation, Rafael reflected on his career transition from a long tenure at the OCC to his current role at Ncontracts. He discussed how his new position allows him to leverage his regulatory expertise and passion for the banking industry to foster innovation and compliance. This episode provided a comprehensive look at the current and future state of community banking, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in financial services, fintech, and regulatory affairs. Thank you to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures. EPISODE CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 00:36 Intro 00:49 Sponsor 01:21 Meet Rafael DeLeon: SVP of Industry Engagement at Ncontracts 02:27 Banking as a Service: Challenges and Evolution 05:58 Regulatory Oversight and Compliance 10:56 Risk Management in Banking Partnerships 19:46 Future of Banking and Regulatory Environment 35:36 Technology's Role in Small Banks 38:09 Bridging the Tech-Bank Language Gap 41:27 Journey to Becoming a Bank Regulator 47:20 Transition to NContracts 50:19 NContracts' Growth and Innovations 53:38 Rafael's Superpower: Connecting People 56:23 Future of Banking: AI and Payments 57:50 Regulatory Vigilance and Risk Management 59:47 Accountability in Regulatory Agencies 01:01:05 Final Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of the Operate Podcast, we delve into the use of AI & Machine Learning within the commercial real estate lending industry. My guest is Shayne Skaff, co-founder and CEO of Blooma, a SaaS company revolutionizing commercial real estate lending and portfolio management. Our discussion outlines Shane's entrepreneurial journey, the origins of Blooma, and the challenges and opportunities within the commercial real estate market. Shane shares insights into the impact of technology on underwriting and portfolio management, the adaptability of the workforce to technological advancements, and the significance of community banks to the economy. The conversation also touches on the future of machine learning and AI in banking, the importance of data quality, and the vision for Blooma to facilitate lender and borrower connections and streamline the syndication process within commercial real estate. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 00:33 Intro 00:46 Sponsor 01:16 Meet Shayne Skaff: Co-Founder & CEO of Blooma 02:26 Navigating the Complex Landscape of Commercial Real Estate Loans 07:16 The Evolution of Blooma: From Idea to Industry Innovation 10:08 Bridging the Gap: Technology Adoption Across Generations 17:55 The Future of Commercial Real Estate: A Vision for Innovation 20:18 Harnessing AI and ML: The Backbone of Blooma's Technology 25:40 The Challenge of Data Management in Banking 27:42 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Insights from Shane Scaff 38:47 Mentorship and Continuous Learning: A Founder's Perspective 43:53 Looking Ahead: Family, Business, and the Future

In this episode, we delve into cybersecurity and the importance of making it relevant to each individual, beyond just their organization. My guest is David Shipley, Co-founder and CEO of Beauceron Security. David shares his journey from a career-altering cybersecurity incident at the University of New Brunswick to leading a cloud-based platform designed to enhance personal and organizational cybersecurity practices by empowering people to be in control of technology. The discussion explores current cybercrime trends in the banking industry, as well as the impact of geopolitical instability and technological advancements on cyber risk, the role of AI in both aiding and complicating cybersecurity efforts, and strategies for building positive security cultures within organizations. He also reflects on the challenges and rewards of growing a startup in Canada, emphasizing the importance of team resiliency, continuous learning, and embracing failure as a pathway to innovation. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Meet David Shipley: From Military to Cybersecurity CEO 02:28 Current Cybersecurity Challenges and Trends 07:36 Strategies for Banks to Combat Cyber Threats 17:23 The Beauceron Inception Story: A Cybersecurity Journey 26:05 Evolving Security Awareness Training 26:59 Customer Success Stories: Phishing Defense and Employee Training 30:13 Reflections on the Startup Journey 33:27 The Impact of Cybersecurity Work 35:45 Operating a Canadian Startup 41:14 Looking Ahead: Growth, AI, and the Future of Cybersecurity 46:34 David's Rituals & Disciplines 50:24 Closing Remarks

In this episode of the Operate Podcast, we delve into the essential role that technology and data analytics play in the banking industry's future. My guest was Brian Bauer, CEO of Revio, a promising banking and analytics technology startup that's making waves by assisting banks in leveraging their core banking transaction data to foster growth. Brian shares his journey from a 10-year military career to becoming a leader in the FinTech and banking sectors, emphasizing his participation in a FinTech accelerator and his experience co-founding a banking startup in the cannabis sector. Our discussion includes the significant impact of technology on banks' competitiveness, the shift towards a practical approach to innovation within community banks, and how data analytics can aid banks in understanding their customers better. Brian elaborates on how Revio empowers banks to not only identify but act on business opportunities through insightful analytics of customers' external financial activities. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of banking technology and how banks' ability to make timely decisions significantly influences their readiness for future challenges. Highlighting the importance of culture, team building, and the role of entrepreneurship in driving change, this episode provides a comprehensive look at how banks can navigate the volatile financial world by embracing innovation and data-driven strategies. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 00:33 Intro 00:45 Sponsor 01:17 Brian Bauer, CEO at Revio 02:48 Banking in a Year of Change: Insights and Adaptations 07:35 The Shift Towards Practical Innovation in Banking 10:03 Revio's Mission: Deepening Bank-Customer Relationships Through Data 20:45 Real-World Impact: How Revio Empowers Banks with Data-Driven Insights 26:35 Competitive Analysis: A New Perspective for Banks 27:51 The Roadmap Ahead: Enhancing Bank Insights 30:57 Data Literacy and Infrastructure in Banking 37:21 The Entrepreneurial Journey: Lessons from a Fintech Accelerator 45:02 Cultivating High Performance and Looking Forward And thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures!

Given all that is going on in partner banking between community banks and fintechs, it was good timing to have Adam Shapiro on from Klaros Group. We took a deep dive into the evolving landscape of the financial industry, particularly at the intersection of banking, innovation, and regulation. Adam shared his extensive experience in it. Our discussion focused on 'banking as a service' (BaaS), diving into the regulatory scrutiny it is facing and the importance of understanding the changing regulatory landscape for banks and fintechs. Adam provided insights into compliance, risk management, and the potential of technology to address these challenges effectively. He also touched on the impact of recent regulatory actions, the importance of banks investing in lines of business like BaaS, and strategies for fintechs in partnering with banks. Looking forward, Adam shared his optimistic view on the future of finance, highlighting the roles of embedded finance and technology in shaping a compliant, innovative, and consumer-friendly financial ecosystem. This episode offers invaluable insights for financial industry professionals, regulators, and anyone interested in the future of banking and fintech partnerships. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Highlight 00:16 Intro 00:28 Sponsor 00:59 Adam Shapiro, Partner/Co-founder of Klaros Group 02:03 Banking as a Service (BaaS): Navigating Regulatory Waters 03:54 The Importance of Compliance and Risk Management in BaaS 08:52 Advising Fintechs in a Tightening Regulatory Environment 18:33 The Future of Banking and Fintech Collaboration 21:48 The Genesis of Klaros Group 23:56 Reflecting on Four Years at Klaros 34:43 Predictions for Banking, Regulation, and Fintech in 2024 38:14 Adam Shapiro's Personal Insights and Rituals 43:02 Looking Ahead with Klaros Group Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

Entrepreneurs always inspire me, and Michael Berman re-affirmed that when we met a couple years ago. It's also been a pleasure to build a partnership with him and his company, NContracts. He shared a lot of company and personal history, as well as industry perspective, in this conversation. With an increased need for efficient and effective risk, vendor and compliance management in banks, NContracts is well-positioned to help community banks to better compete. And that's what we align on so strongly between our 2 firms. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

In this episode, I interviewed Winter Mead, founder and CEO of Coolwater Capital, an incubator/accelerator that helps launch and scale venture capital funds, as well as a fund to invest in them and community to support them. This was a super fun, engaging and important conversation for emerging fund managers. He's met and worked with thousands of them! Winter shares how the venture capital fundraising environment has shifted over the past few years, from an incredibly hot market in 2020-2021 to more challenging conditions in 2023. He remains optimistic for 2024 based on renewed LP interest and attractive valuation opportunities. When asked if VC can drive value at scale, Winter argues it becomes more like growth investing, focused on larger, de-risked opportunities. The best VCs balance ambition with patience to invest at the right pace and scale. On emerging manager success, Winter says early portfolio validation and liquidity events demonstrate traction, while regular LP reporting builds confidence and alignment. He emphasizes the importance of building out operations to prove institutional readiness. Coolwater's mission is to incubate the next generation of net positive, founder-friendly VCs globally. Winter is excited about their back office program helping funds prepare for operational due diligence and their salon events that educate LPs on early-stage investing. Winter believes success requires a flexible, long-term mindset. As he says, "If you believe the world is zero sum, then you've missed the point of venture." Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures, as well.

It was an absolute pleasure to have Kraig Lounsberry and Mike Kelley from Community Bankers Association of Illinois on the podcast. As the leaders of the association and service corporation, respectively, they advocate for and support community banks at one of the largest bank state associations in the country. 2024 is also their golden anniversary (50 years), and demonstrates how relevant and effective they have been for decades. This conversation was fun to learn the history of CBAI, how they have adapted and evolved, and what they see happening in the years ahead for community banks and their association. We've been so fortunate to develop a partnership in the past few years, and we share a belief in the importance of community banks to their communities, see the servant leaders that work in community banks and want to support them, and want to help community banks evolve and transform as effective technology can make them high tech and high touch. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

I was excited to record my conversation with Tara Schultz, as we've had several good discussions since meeting and she always has so many ideas and perspectives to share. She has been a key part of CSI for several years, and discussed her career path in and around banking, how CSI is evolving and adjusting to life as a private equity-owned company, and what's ahead for them and her. From the #4 core banking vendor to a much more diversifed banking technology and services company and active partner with fintechs, Tara shares what she thinks this world will look like in the years ahead. Enjoy this conversation and thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

My latest guest is Amber Illig, General Partner at The Council. What started, as she told me, as her desire to do angel investing eventually expanded to a community and then a fund a couple of years ago. The Council Fund typically invests about $50-100K into pre-seed startups, and then she also has a group called the Council Angels, which has become a consortium of over a hundred angels. Prior to that, she has a really interesting history in both startups and established tech companies. She's worked in names you would definitely recognize: companies like Atmos, Cruise, Snap, and even Apple. She started her career in engineering roles at Eli Lilly and Delta Faucet, two of Indiana's most well known companies. And she also graduated from my arch rival school, Purdue. But I was still excited to speak with her. We had a fun conversation covering her journey, the current state of VC, where she sees exciting opportunities, life as an emerging manager, and some examples of companies and less obvious industries where she's finding great investments. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

I've really enjoyed working with Sean Willett over the last couple of years, and it was a special treat to have him on the podcast. I'm grateful for the friendship we've developed and how generous he is with his perspective and feedback. We always have productive and future-focused conversations as we both work closely in the area of making community banks more capable, competitive and digitally transformed. He's made a big impact at Five Star Bank in his time there. This was a typical conversation that we have, covering a lot of ground and challenging ideas and each other in the process. If you want to learn a lot about how community banks are evaluating and embracing the changing environment and their opportunities, Sean is a great teacher. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

Kristin Marcuccilli joined me to share the STAR Financial journey, which is in its 80th year and has had at least one member of her family involved since inception. She's a great example of a next generation business leader, fully aware of the opportunities and challenges that technology and change present, and embracing them for how they can strengthen their bank and the communities they serve. She's clearly comfortable with technology, and also recognizes how important it is to intentionally invest in team learning and development so they can use it and be enabled by it as well. Learn about the bank's founding and why it's called STAR. Find out how they have defined their primary community of family businesses. Hear what they learned from being an early adopter of bitcoin in banking. And much more! My takeaway: with great leadership, an organization can not only make the transition to its next generation, but it can also surge ahead and thrive in the years to come. I have great confidence that Kristin and STAR will be in that position. Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

John Mizzi from Vero Technologies joined me to talk about his founder journey and the dual value proposition his company offers to banks and some of the larger commercial customers who hold and sell physical inventory. We discussed how challenging it's been for many banks to manage their wholesale finance business, and how Vero built the modern platform to make it better, faster and more scalable. They've already brought banks back to this line of business, and are also showing banks how offering it can help them gain banking business from auto, equipment and other dealers of larger ticket merchandise; and in many cases earning the primary bank deposit business from them in the process. John also shared a lot about his entrepreneurial journey and how this one is different from his past experiences, as well as how he's benefited from working with strategic accelerators like ICBA's ThinkTECH one. Thanks also to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

This conversation has been a long time coming, as Zac Lyons and I have been talking about Jobs-To-Be-Done and its applicability to how startups identify and build the most important products. It was so fun to record our discussion, and you'll find me in the zone during many parts of it, as it's a topic that has become near and dear to me. Zac has developed very cool tools at his firm, Agile Innovation Advisors, to help companies and founders identify valuable opportunities, using things like the Heat Map of Market Opportunity and JTBD Solution Sprint. This helps them better focus their design and development efforts, win with customers, and achieve their business objectives. I love his approach for framing up innovation challenges in customers’ terms, and it's led me to ask many founders questions about how customers describe their problems and what they think they want and need. As Zac's approach is focused on identifying and prioritizing the needs of customers, based on the jobs they are trying to get done, he can better identify true opportunities for innovation. And I believe this is a critical approach nearly every founder should also apply to her process for evaluating opportunities and where they should (or shouldn't) spend their time. Enjoy this conversation. I guarantee you will be challenged in your thinking and will learn something from it! Thanks to show sponsor, BankTech Ventures.

The heart of a community banker is a real thing. I remember it from my childhood, growing up in a community where my family was involved in the local community bank. My grandfather's and father's friends were bankers and they were passionate about the community and what the bank could do to help it thrive. Not everyone has had that experience, but Brad Bolton has, and he lives it by example every day in his community in Alabama and at his bank, Community Spirit Bank. He also lives it through his involvement in the ICBA (Independent Community Bankers of America), where he was recently Chairman, and traveled the country meeting with his fellow community bankers. It was an inspiring and insightful conversation to hear about his journey, his perspective and his passion for community banking. And I'm also excited about his resolve for how community banks will continue to effectively serve their communities from coast to coast. It's been a wild year so far for banks, and Brad's thoughts on what it means for community banks is worth a listen. Enjoy! Thanks to BankTech Ventures for sponsoring as well.