Blog

As the old saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." It emphasizes how important preparation and critical thinking are in achieving success. Having a strategy is essential for individuals and/or organizations as it provides a structured framework to achieve long-term goals, optimize resources, and effectively navigate challenges. Whether you are remodeling a house or developing a public relations campaign, without a defined plan, you could be setting yourself up for failure because you lack direction, structure, and the ability to anticipate challenges.

Fintech companies must be prepared to respond effectively when a crisis strikes. Whether it’s a data breach, regulatory scrutiny, or a service outage, the way a company handles a crisis can have a lasting impact on its reputation, customer trust and bottom line.

Earlier this month, the WMA team had the pleasure of attending the Independent Community Bankers of America’s (ICBA) annual event: ICBA LIVE 2025. Hosted in Nashville, Tennessee at the massive Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the conference was buzzing with excitement about the newest banking and fintech innovations and catching up with industry friends and clients.

Let’s face it: today’s business landscape is more crowded than ever. Getting your brand noticed and heard over the noise takes more than just one approach. So, how do you make your brand truly stand out? The answer can be simple: integrate your PR and marketing efforts. When PR and marketing work together, they don’t just complement each other – they make each other stronger.

As we transition from 2024 to 2025, the banking industry continues to evolve, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. In the second installment of our client predictions blog series, we've gathered insights from industry leaders on the key areas that could see significant improvements in the coming year. Our clients share their thoughts on how banks can adapt and improve to meet the rising demands of both technology and customer expectations.

The financial services landscape is evolving at a rapid pace. To help you stay ahead, we've compiled a collection of insights, trends, and predictions from our clients — industry leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of finance. From technological advancements and regulatory shifts to changing consumer expectations, we explore the key forces driving change in 2025 and beyond.

Last month, I had the privilege of attending Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. In terms of the caliber of C-level bankers, it was easily one of the best events I’ve attended in years. With nearly 2,000 attendees, I estimate that over 1,200 were senior-level bankers and their board members, all actively engaged in the conversations. Throughout the event, I had the opportunity to attend insightful sessions led by industry experts and connect with over 100 bankers, fintech executives, consultants, and top-tier service providers.

Exiting the holidays and entering a new year can only mean one thing: trade show season. It’s time to trade in your stocking stuffers for booth swag, dust off the business cards, and prepare for meeting with your peers. Attending industry events is an invaluable way to expand your relationships and generate new business opportunities, as well as gain knowledge on the emerging trends and technologies shaping financial technology. 2024 was packed with industry events, networking opportunities and trade shows, and this year will be no different. As you kick off your 2025 travel, it’s important to brush up on the top industry events and keep in mind how to maximize your investment. 

As we begin a new year, the financial technology industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, driven by technological advancements, shifting consumer expectations and a dynamic regulatory environment. Building on the trends of previous years, we anticipate a year of bold innovation and new opportunities for growth. Our team has compiled our predictions and projected trends for the future of fintech, PR and marketing in 2025.

If you haven’t already seen the agency’s Tradeshow Guide for 2025, you will notice that the majority of events tend to be Spring and Fall. However, one exception, and one of my favorite events of the year, is Bank Director's Acquire or Be Acquired Conference which is January 26-28, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Entering its 31^st year, this annual conference enables bank CEOs, board of directors and executive teams to gain a better understanding of the economy, explore opportunities for enhancing shareholder value, provide insight into how the competitive landscape is evolving and explore financial growth opportunities and strategic planning ideas that go beyond M&A.