In this episode of Banking Out Loud, host Sonia Portwood and Curt Hecker, industry veteran and CEO of PCBB, unravel the essentials of strategic planning for community financial institutions (CFIs). Discover how senior leaders and boards can leverage digital transformation, AI, and compliance best practices to drive growth, enhance customer experience, and stay competitive amidst rapid industry change. The conversation highlights actionable strategies, technology modernization, project management, risk mitigation, emerging fintech partnerships, and market trends shaping community banking in 2026. Tune in for expert insights and proven approaches to future-proof your CFI.

Guest: Curt Hecker CEO & Executive Chairman PCBB

Download this episode's companion PDF for takeaways and tips on Strategic Planning. DOWNLOAD

Check out this PCBB BID article for even more Strategic Planning insight from Curt Hecker. READ ARTICLE

As the cannabis industry grows, community financial institutions face a pivotal decision — should they step into the Marijuana-Related Banking (MRB) space? In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of MRB, breaking down the risks, rewards, and regulatory complexities of taking on cannabis-related business customers.

Join us as we dive into the conversations CFIs are having with regulators about MRB, the potential impact of legislative changes like the SAFE Banking Act, and real-world insights from financial institutions already offering MRB services. We’ll also discuss reputation management, compliance strategies, and what it takes to run a successful MRB program.

If your institution is weighing the pros and cons of MRB, this episode will give you the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about this rapidly evolving sector.

Resources: The Shield Compliance Cannabis Banking Playbook

GUESTS:

Tony Repanich President and CEO Shield Compliance shieldbanking.com

Aviva Lipkin SVP, BSA/AML & OFAC Officer Risk Department PCBB pcbb.com

Banking Out Loud host Nancy Ozawa discusses relationship banking, its benefits, and strategies for success with guest Justin Armstrong, Co-CEO of UBank, and PCBB’s Northeast Regional Manager, Mike Foreman. The group delves into how prioritizing customer relationships over transactions radically transformed UBank’s approach to banking.

Join us as we break down UBank’s vision to level up community banking into actionable insights. Their winning strategy focuses on common sense, consistency, and efficiency, creating long-term, sustainable success for both their customers and their team.

This episode is a must-listen for those striving to elevate their own institutions to new heights.

Justin Armstrong Co-Chief Executive Officer UBank

In this episode, Kathy Lonowski, former regulator with the FDIC, explores the keys to success for community financial institutions. Lonowski shares insights on the importance of proactive risk management, strong communication, and effective data use in decision-making. She explains why involving regulators early in risk discussions is crucial and highlights the significance of corporate governance and stakeholder trust in ensuring long-term success.

Lonowski also touches on the role of middle management in addressing issues and stresses the importance of due diligence when launching new products. She wraps up with a practical look at how regulatory bodies coordinate and why preemptive reporting can prevent bigger issues down the line.

Resources: • FDIC - Third-Party Risk Management, A Guide for Community Banks • eCFR - Appendix A to Part 364—Interagency Guidelines Establishing Standards for Safety and Soundness Guest: Kathy Lonowski Former FDIC Regulator

In this insightful episode, we dive into the unique challenges and opportunities of mid-level managers. Scott Mautz, accomplished author, keynote speaker, and trainer leverages his decades of management experience at Proctor & Gamble (P&G), along with data and actionable tips and strategies, to help middle managers thrive in hierarchy, differentiate themselves, and influence “up, down, and across the organization.” Scott offers a fresh perspective on how middle-managing leaders can enhance their influence by being a powerful resource for upper management, coaching and empowering their teams, and championing collaboration between departments to drive meaningful change from the middle of their organization. He also shines a light on the skills that separate the truly great middle managers from the pack and how they actually form the backbone of successful companies.

Resources Mentioned: •Leading from the Middle (Book) •The Mentally Strong Leader (Book) •Free 60-Page Companion Workbook (PDF Download)

Guest: Scott Mautz Author, Keynote and Trainer Founder, Profound Performance https://scottmautz.com/

AI is expected to be as big a disruptor as the internet was. In this episode, we're joined by Kendra Ramirez, CEO of KR Digital Agency and an expert in AI. Together, we explore the far-reaching impacts of AI across industries, focusing on the banking sector and generative AI. Kendra unpacks the nuances of generative AI, shedding light on its benefits and challenges. She shares actionable tips for navigating the AI landscape, from getting started to vetting AI-powered tools effectively. She also emphasizes the importance of developing an AI policy to ensure responsible and ethical use and to prevent shadow AI. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of AI and how you can harness it strategically to help achieve your business goals.

Guest: Kendra Ramirez Chief Executive Officer KR Digital Connect with Kendra on LinkedIn

In this episode of Banking Out Loud, Fiserv payments experts Paul Sullivan and Justin Jackson join PCBB’s payments expert Sheila Noll to discuss the rapidly evolving faster payments landscape. Their conversation touches on the importance of strategic thinking and collaboration with partners, while also driving home the need to view faster payments as an opportunity to better serve customers and differentiate your institution. They also discuss other considerations, such as the value of data-rich transactions enabled by ISO 20022 and the potential for new use cases and business models as faster payments continue to develop.

Guests: Sheila Noll EVP, Chief Operating Officer PCBB

Justin Jackson SVP, Head of Enterprise Payment Solutions Fiserv

Paul Sullivan VP, Treasury Solution Sales Fiserv

In this episode of Banking Out Loud, host Nancy Ozawa discusses the value of performance reviews and how to effectively prepare for them with Laurie Battaglia, CEO of Aligned at Work. Laurie emphasizes the need for employees and managers to discuss the format and frequency of reviews that will be most helpful. She also provides tips for employees on how to prepare for performance discussions, the role of managers in creating a positive culture of feedback and growth, and the importance of open communication, curiosity, and continuous improvement in the performance review process.

Guest: Laurie Battaglia Chief Executive Officer Aligned at Work® Connect with Laurie: laurie@AlignedatWork.com | www.alignedatwork.com | LinkedIn