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.
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.
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 31st 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.
In a constantly evolving world and financial landscape, understanding today’s trends will guide future decision making and allow banks and credit unions to prepare their financial institution for the future.
In the dynamic landscape of finance, where innovation is the currency of the future, it's crucial for industry leaders to not only keep pace but also anticipate the trends that will shape tomorrow's banking experience.
This year marked BankTech Ventures second annual Limited Partner Summit. BankTech Ventures is the first venture fund created specifically by and for key leaders in the community banking landscape. Launched in 2021, over 100 banks are now part of the fund, with 11 investments already made and over 100 companies in its current pipeline ready to continue fueling the innovation ecosystem for community banks.
Technology has both enhanced and hindered the financial industry. While many institutions have used tech to modernize consumer experiences and streamline office processes, many institutions have fallen victim to “shiny object syndrome” and adopted solutions that have complicated their operations or simply don’t work as they should.
"Technology has made banking faster than ever before, and there's no going back to the slower pace of the past." – Suresh Renganathan, CTO for Teachers Federal Credit Union