Top Topics on CEOs Minds as we Approach 2026

Posted inGeneral Management
It’s critically important to every banker to know what their CEO is thinking about. Those topics find their way into your strategic plans, budgets and daily Tasks. Here are the top five topics on most bank CEO lists as they prepare for the coming year. M&A. The change in administration opened the flood gates for M&A activities at all levels, including among the largest banks in the nation. This opportunity window will not be open…

Capturing and Retaining Consumer Deposits in the Next Three Years

Posted inRetail
The assumption that massive investments in technology are essential for our banks to remain successful and retain customers has been with us for decades now. “It’s table stakes”, we were told. We started with perceived core system upgrades and moved onto efficiency plays, followed by database management tools crowned by Salesforce, etc. etc.  The very same assumption, which focused in RPAs and upgrading human production to more value-add activities, is now followed by AI tools…

Robert Albertson Q3 Take

Posted inCommercial Banking
As we’ve done in previous quarters, the first take of the quarter was written by Robert Albertson, one of the better tea leaves readers I know.  Overview:  While the vast bulk of third quarter bank operating results were strong and generally above estimates, a handful of credit issues has driven bank stock valuations lower, some sharply so.  Most investors have succumbed to the fear that this could be an industry-wide alert, but the issues that have…