They’re back. In Arizona.

In advance of the upcoming Acquire or Be Acquired conference, Al and Steve chat about trends that will matter to the C-Suite this year, including: M&A activity coming in hot and how to source new ideas that will yield revenue. They also explore funding competition from fintech companies and essentials required in retaining customers.

In this final episode of the Plugged In Series for 2024, Steve and Al reflect on the year's significant events and trends in the banking industry, including a resurgence in mergers and acquisitions, the challenges posed by technology and compliance, and the importance of talent management. They discuss predictions for 2025, emphasizing the need for execution and growth strategies in a competitive landscape. Then, they kick it over to the replay of the highly-anticipated 2024 GonzoBanker Awards, where Al and co-host Ron Shevlin (What's Going On in Banking), along with special guests Steve, Sam Kilmer (Fintech Hustle) and Mary Wisniewski (Money Isn't Everything) break down just a few of the many winners of Cornerstone Advisors' annual industry awards.

Hans Morris is used to following fintech trends. He’s a managing partner at Nyca Partners, a fintech venture capital firm in New York and San Francisco, and the chairman of the board of Lending Club. In today’s Punk Rock-themed show, Hans talks to Al and Steve about some of his portfolio investments that touch on juicy industry themes, like: Generative AI (and interesting ways to use it), automated tax prep services and fresher ways to screen tenants than requesting their credit scores.

Hans will also share some of his favorite wine picks just in time for the holidays.

Citizens Business Bank has made money in every single quarter of every single year for more than 47 years.

Today on the show, Al and Steve talk to Dave Brager, CEO of Citizens Business Bank and 2022 GonzoBanker of the Year Bank award winner, about the bank’s impressive growth. Among the topics they explore for the $15.4 billion asset bank that a dairy farmer founded: the ability to deliver and lend through all economic cycles, remaining realistic about organic growth strategies and the importance of the talent pipeline.

Oh... Al also applauds Dave for his dapper style.

Today on the show, Steve quizzes Al on the hottest topics discussed at the recent Association for Financial Technology Fall Summit held in Palm Springs. Among them: the Federal Reserve’s rate cut and what it could mean for regional banks, mounting regulatory fintech issues, holes in talent pipeline and whether branches are going extinct in the next two decades. Spoiler: They aren’t.

Lake City Bank has managed to grow its book value per share even amid some of the thorniest industry challenges.

David Findlay, Chairman and CEO of Lake City Bank, talks to Al and Steve about why the bank is creating an innovation and tech center in Indiana, the significance of elevating the retail banker role and the importance of community outreach, including by making a move a big bank wouldn’t: maintaining rural branches.

But his secret sauce? It’s literal: Don’s Rib Sauce at Alcona Country Club in Elkhart, Indiana.

It’s action packed in banking right now as regulatory uncertainty mounts with the looming presidential election.

Today on the show, Al and Steve pick the brain of Nitin Mhatre, the CEO of Berkshire Bank, on the most pressing issues in banking. They explore the tension of a bank changing for the times while preserving its relationship-driven company culture, how to recruit senior talent and the importance of investing in technology. They also get into some of the cool initiatives the bank has pursued, including offering a bank account that comes with an unusual perk – paying up to $15 per month for subscriptions like Hulu and Netflix for certain direct deposit customers.

Al also brings up the big reunion: the Oasis tour. Steve starts humming.

As Jeff Jackson, the CEO of WesBanco, sees it, M&A activity can only go up.

In this episode, Al and Steve chat with Jeff about why that is and what is at stake for community banks across the country.

They also explore other banking classics, including what the future of delivery in banking looks like, how to retain employees and what has helped the bank grow its deposits in a competitive year. They also opine on another passion: college football.