Blog

We have a passion for facilitating connections here at William Mills Agency, and that’s part of what makes Venture Tech an appealing event. Now in its 8^th year, co-founders CUNA Strategic Services and Curql have fostered open, honest and deeply engaging conversations about progress in credit union technology. It’s marketed as an intimate event, and I agree; Venture Tech felt like a family reunion, especially after coming from Money20/20. The credit union and fintech representatives attending were relationship driven above all else. This is how you facilitate change.

This year’s Money20/20 reminded us why it’s arguably the most important event in the world of financial technology. The energy in Las Vegas was electric as thousands of innovators, bankers, investors, and storytellers gathered to discuss not just what’s new in fintech, but what’s next.

What is Finovate? Why and how is it different from other events? How do we maximize event participation? What do I need to know to have a great Finovate demo?

Summer might be slow, but your PR shouldn’t be. While competitors are sitting on the beach and ghosting their inboxes, your brand has a golden opportunity to stand out.

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.

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. 

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.

Looking ahead, as summer transitions into fall, the trade show and conference season for fintechs and financial institutions will be a busy one. Whether it’s large events like Money 20/20, Finovate Fall, or more focused events like Lend360, the Auto Finance Summit or National Mortgage News’ Digital Mortgage conference, there are proven strategies that exhibitors and attendees can use to help ensure that they generate a good return on their trade show investment.

Branded under its new moniker, America’s Credit Unions (following the recent merger of CUNA and NAFCU), the 2024 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) was a successful one, bringing together credit unions from across the U.S. and the service providers and technology partners that are helping them better serve their members.