Directors Summit

This one-day WBA Directors Summit will discuss key issues regarding leadership and management of community banks from the director’s perspective. The Summit is recommended for bank management teams, beginning or experienced inside and outside directors, bank CEOs, executive officers, and bank general counsel.

8:00 a.m. Summit Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Succession Planning to Stabilize a Bank’s Future Leadership – Julia Johnson, WIPFLI, LLC

The changing workforce and aging baby boomers are realities leading more financial institutions to seek help in understanding which of their staff is able and willing to fill key roles over the next five years. Determining the depth of the talent pipeline internally and externally isn’t easy. Succession planning is not a new concept, yet many struggle at creating processes and a robust approach that moves beyond a static list of names kept in a file. A succession planning program includes a focus on positions critical to the bank’s strategic plan as well as a focus on employees and their development. This session will talk about the issues and challenges of succession in today’s workplace and provide some practical approaches and tools to guide effective Succession Planning.

9:30 a.m. Break

9:45 a.m. General Session: The Secret to How David Beats Goliath – Robb Rempel, Haberfeld

Today only 24% of all US consumers claim that a community financial institution is where they bank, while the six largest banks in the US own 60% of the primary relationships. Do you as a community financial institution know how to win market share back? Do you know where and how to find the most likely consumers when they are finally ready to change financial institutions? There is a pipeline of opportunity, but most community banks don’t know where to start. Join us as we explore specific strategies to grow your community bank.

10:45 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. General Session: Setting the Table for ‘24 – Marc Gall, BOK Financial Capital Markets

• Preparing for Fed pause/cuts (Economic conditions)
• Discussion on budgets for 24 vs. 23 – Year-End repositioning to improve go-forward earnings

12:00 p.m. Lunch

12:45 p.m. General Session: The Future of Fintech and Bank Alliances – Brandon Chasse, Wolf & Company, P.C.

For years, FinTechs and banks have maintained a strict pattern of competition—battling for similar audiences and clients. But things are changing. Financial institutions and FinTechs have begun to realize the advantages of partnerships, leading to groundbreaking transactions and revolutionary innovations. During this session, we’ll discuss the benefits of fintech-bank partnerships, strategies for successfully entering into these relationships, and how banks can implement fintech. You’ll also get an inside look at what banks are looking for in potential fintech partners, and how FinTechs can become more attractive to banks.

1:45 p.m. Break

2:00 p.m. General Session: The Beta Trap: A Significant Earnings Problem, Hidden in Plain Sight – Thomas Back, Performance Trust

Funding costs are skyrocketing in the early part of 2023. Many banks in the United States could be facing a significant earnings problem. Our analysis suggests more than 1,000 U.S. banks could become unprofitable and they might not be aware of it. To understand the gravity and scale of this problem, we need to re-examine what we think we know about the looming Cost of Funds (COF). We also must explain why nearly all banks earnings projections are missing this. A different approach reveals the hidden truth.

3:00 p.m.  Adjournment

Registration Information

The registration fee of $195/per attendee includes all Summit materials and meals at the event. During the registration process, you can pay with a credit card or select to be invoiced. Refund Policy: A refund, less a $25 administrative fee, is provided for cancellations requested on or before Friday, October 6, 2023.