In 2023, ChatGPT had just arrived on the scene, and most banks were debating whether employees should even be allowed to use generative AI. FedNow hadn’t launched. Stablecoins lived firmly in the crypto world, not the regulatory one. Three years later, much has changed — and three years happens to be the planning horizon most…
I attended two industry conferences in the past three weeks: Alkami Co:lab and Finovate Spring. I came away with the same thought after each event: Most community-bank executives and board members are not getting enough direct exposure to how rapidly banking technology is changing. At Alkami, I saw AI agents that allowed customers to design,…
In 1959, Bank of America installed ERMA (Electronic Recording Machine, Accounting), the first large-scale banking computer system. It ushered in a new world. Instead of humans doing all the computational work by hand, computers could now handle that basic data processing. And for the next 60 years, banking technology followed that same pattern: Computers produced…
Many bank board members are asking: “Should we be doing something with AI?” The answer is yes—and if management hasn’t brought it up, that’s a red flag. This guide helps directors understand where AI fits in banking, what risks to watch for, and what smart oversight looks like—no tech background required.
Why do once-thriving companies like Kodak, Blockbuster, and Toys “R” Us fail to adapt to changing markets—while others like Amazon and Netflix reinvent themselves? This post explores how Newton’s laws of motion offer a surprisingly useful lens for understanding business inertia, transformation, and the consequences of action (or inaction). Learn how applying these principles metaphorically can help leaders make smarter, more adaptive decisions.
Too many financial institutions confuse a wish list of vague initiatives with actual strategy. This post offers a practical scorecard to help bank executives and board members evaluate—and improve—their strategic plans. From business models and technology to marketing and culture, it provides 58 focused questions across critical planning categories to ensure your plan is realistic, forward-looking, and actionable.
Operational budgets keep the lights on. Strategic budgets move the company forward. This post explores the key differences between the two—and explains why carving out a dedicated budget for long-term, cross-functional initiatives can help financial institutions stay focused, fund innovation, and actually deliver on their strategic plans.
Too many bank boards still reflect a bygone era—older, male, and lacking in diversity. That might have worked in the past, but today’s fast-changing world demands leadership that mirrors the communities it serves. In this post, I explore how board composition affects digital innovation, customer engagement, and long-term relevance—and offer practical steps to build a more representative and forward-thinking board.