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.
The opening remarks on Day One set the tone for the conference, as Michelle King, CEO of Bank Director, and Laura Schield, President & COO, welcomed attendees and highlighted the core theme of this year’s conference: exploring growth opportunities beyond M&A. It was clear from the start that AOBA continues to be the premier gathering for banking industry leaders.
Thomas Michaud, President & CEO of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, kicked off the conference with a compelling overview of the state of the banking industry in 2025 and what lies ahead.
The FinXTech session on The Importance of Data Sourcing & Integration offered a deep dive into one of the most pressing topics in banking today. Jorge Garcia, Founder & CEO of Linker Finance Inc. was joined by other industry experts to explore how integrating data into a bank's digital strategy can not only strengthen existing customer relationships but also enhance the overall customer experience.
In Bank Director’s training video series, Joseph Ahn, PhD, Co-Founder and CSO of Delfi, shared critical insights on interest rate risk and asset/liability management that every banker should know.
The session Envisioning What’s Possible With Technology offered a fascinating look at the future of banking through the lens of innovation. David Foss, Executive Board Chair of Jack Henry, and Emily McCormick, Vice President of Editorial & Research at Bank Director, led an engaging discussion on the findings of Bank Director’s 2024 Technology Survey.
Mac Thompson, President & Founder of White Clay, and Joe Ehrhardt, CEO & Founder of Teslar Software, were joined by Jim McAlpin, Board Member of Bank Director, and John Behringer, Partner at RSM US LLP, to help banks navigate the challenges of rising credit losses. Their session offered a playbook for banks looking to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared for whatever comes next in the credit cycle.
Moderated by Bill Herrell, EVP & Managing Director at Bank Director, Pierre Naudé, CEO & Chair of the Board at nCino, joined a panel of industry experts to explore the new dynamics shaping the future of banking. The session provided a comprehensive roadmap for developing a forward-thinking strategic plan, offering fresh insights into the critical imperatives that CEOs and boards must consider to ensure future success.
In Unlock Better Banking: 3 Strategies to Harness Technology for Growth, Michael Ball, EVP of Marketing at Kinective, outlined three key strategies for leveraging technology to drive growth, improve efficiency, and strengthen community connections.
Congratulations to Bank Director and the entire Acquire or Be Acquired team for organizing such a standout event. I’m already looking forward to returning next year.