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In this special episode, Sean and Gina welcome Dave Ehlis, President and CEO of Bravera Bank, a regional banking leader in the Northern Plains. In this conversation, Dave discusses the bank's rich history and new challenges they faced as they continued their path to growth. When the financial institution formerly known as American Bank Center was expanding their reach, they needed a more ownable name as they moved into new markets. Dave describes the decision-making, change management and consensus-building needed for such a large-scale institutional change, and ultimately how a rename and a rebrand to Bravera brought out a tremendous amount of pride for their customers and communities. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In this episode, Sean and Gina look at two influential industry reports and how they provide a snapshot of our current moment in banking. First, they discuss the Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual report that provides insights into the influence of trust across our institutions and industries. While this year’s report continues to show an undercurrent of mistrust among consumers, business maintains its position as the most trusted sector in society, giving bank brands a real opportunity to deepen relationships. Next, they bring on Adrenaline’s Chief Brand Officer Juliet D’Ambrosio to discuss the Financial Industry Pulse Report, which highlights the importance of brand for building trusting relationships, something really relevant in light of recent bank failures. Using current examples of brands meeting the moment, this lively conversation highlights the essential role of brand as a business strategy for success.  This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In this special episode, Sean and Gina return to conversations about the fundamentals for financial institutions acting with trust and transparency that they’ve explored on the Believe in Banking podcast. They address key ways banks and credit unions can increase consumer trust in banking by building relationships that demonstrate their commitment to community and how trust provides the foundation of the community banking system. Finally, they discuss how traditional financial institutions have a real advantage over challenger banks, especially as they combine consumer trust with creative ways of doing good. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In the “Believe in Banking Podcast: The Growth Edition,” Sean and Gina discuss ways that banks and credit unions are meeting the industry’s the imperative to grow. They discuss how financial institutions determine the right formats and the right markets, including hub-and-spoke clusters with flagship locations in high opportunity areas and smaller branches, ATMs and ITMs dotting the network for support. They address needed investments from the brand to the branch to maximize opportunities and discuss the critical role of a financial institution’s brand as a differentiator, priming banks and credit unions for change as they expand their influence. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In the inaugural episode of the Believe in Banking podcast for 2023, Sean and Gina highlight industry insights on where banking has been and where it's heading in the new year, including takeaways from speaking sessions at two of banking's premiere conferences – The Financial Brand Forum and Future Branches. From the importance of brand in driving business to the future of retail delivery, they discuss what banking leaders are thinking as they set their priorities for 2023. They also share key takeaways from Adrenaline’s original research, where 75% of industry leaders agree that brand critically impacts their organization’s business value. The research finds that more than half of the industry is seeking a total brand transformation and nearly 50% reporting that “bridging digital and human delivery” is their top priority. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In this special year-end episode, Sean and Gina return to some illuminating discussions with banking leaders featured on the Believe in Banking podcast in 2022. From an institution evolving for its customers and communities to women moving up the ranks into banking’s C-suite, these conversations reveal how banking is at the forefront of change. The podcast features David Trautman, chairman and CEO of Park National Bank, who talks about his regional bank uniting twelve autonomous affiliates under one refreshed brand and how that change furthered their heart for service. We also return to an essential conversation with Terrie Spiro and Jennifer Docherty, co-founders of Bank on Women who provide information and insights on having more women in higher positions of power and how that results in better banking. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In part two of the “Biggest Banking Trends of 2022” special episode, Sean and Gina take stock of what’s on the minds of banking leaders in these unprecedented times. They look at ways banks and credit unions are making banking better for people as they navigate post-pandemic uncertainty, especially through a focus on financial wellness. Institutions are also making headway by looking at their organizations through the lens of a challenger, understanding that change doesn’t have to come through fintech-style innovation. Future-focused banks are successfully leveraging their existing strengths, like locality, and strengthening them with smaller formats and hybrid tools like ITMs. So, as banks get more efficient, they also can amplify customer experience at the same time. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In this special episode, we look at some of this year’s biggest banking trends. From meeting consumer’s unique needs to scaling for strength, Sean and Gina discuss how banks are delivering in our post-pandemic era. One important reality coming out of COVID is how people of all generations are prioritizing financial wellness, and banks, especially community financial institutions, are in the perfect position to provide education and support. Another major theme from 2022 is the idea of M&A leading to serving more and serving better. That means banks are assessing formats across their whole branch network. Whether kickstarted by M&A or simply though organic expansion, banks are getting more efficient through downsizing while looking like they’re upsizing, especially when it comes to customer experience. A keen eye on their brand is an important element of delivering that ideal branch banking experience. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

As industry conferences return live and in-person, we’re back on the speaking circuit and learning anew what’s on the minds of banking leaders. In this episode, Sean and Gina discuss themes coming out of major banking conferences like Future Branches and how the war for talent is presenting real challenges for banks and credit unions in our new pandemic normal. They dig into recent data on branches and find that the numbers of closures don’t tell the full story of institutions rationalizing and reinvesting in their overall network – where a decrease in branches can actually create a net increase in experience. Armed with real-world examples, they discuss innovative ways that institutions are getting more efficient while upgrading the service to their clients at the same time and discuss how banks embrace innovations like digital solutions and ITMs to future-proof their organizations. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In part two of their conversation, Sean and Gina welcome back Terrie Spiro, co-founder, founding director and chair, and Jennifer Docherty, co-founder, founding director and chief executive officer of Bank on Women. They build on the ideas shared in part one – that qualified women in leadership positions in banking make both individual institutions and the industry as a whole better. In this episode, Terrie and Jenn explore some of the skills that women bring that improve their organizations, including leadership styles and emotional intelligence that make them more effective leaders in turbulent times. They share some of their real world experiences and practical tools for supporting women, like mentorship, sponsorship and allyship, that will help elevate women to leadership positions and ultimately foster greater female recruitment and retention in banking. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In part one of this special episode, Sean and Gina welcome Terrie Spiro, co-founder, founding director and chair, and Jennifer Docherty, co-founder, founding director and chief executive officer of Bank on Women. Dedicated to women’s leadership in community banking, Bank on Women strives to increase the number of qualified women serving on the C-Suite and in the boardroom – which will make banking better for all and foster opportunities for women now and in the future. Armed with powerful data, Terrie and Jenn share how banks with diverse representation in leadership benefit from increased performance and bottom line improvement. They discuss the “leaky pipeline” of women entering leadership positions and tools to support and sustain institutional and industrywide change. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Over the last several years, there has been a ton of talk about the impact of outsiders like fintechs on banking and ways community institutions have to keep up. In this episode, Sean and Gina flip the script a little and reframe the idea of what it means to be a challenger in banking today. What are the ways community financial institutions and regional banks are leading? For these banks, embracing a challenger mindset means going beyond technology tools and focuses on other ways of innovating and competing. With examples in branch and mobile banking, the discussion uncovers ways that banks dig into their core, double down on their brand and meet people where they are to deliver experiences they want. And customer satisfaction scores show the approach is working. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

One of the buzzworthy themes across the financial services sector is how to make banking better. With fintechs continuing to make inroads into banking’s customer base, what does making the experience better for the customer look like? In this episode, Sean and Gina share the latest information and insights on people’s top financial priorities in 2022 and explore ways that banks and credit unions are meeting customers where they are – from mobile to the branch, and even on TikTok. With trends set in motion during the pandemic, Sean and Gina discuss the pressing need for financial wellness across generations and how banks are stepping up providing new tools to empower consumers no matter where they are in their financial journey. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

As the economy continues its pandemic recovery, financial institutions of all sizes are looking for effective ways to compete. In this episode, Sean and Gina discuss leaning on brand for growth. Whether you’re a financial institution scaling through mergers or expanding operations into new markets, considering the implications of your brand in people’s minds is foundational to your success. Are you looking at brand early enough in M&A due diligence? Do you have the right name as you move into new markets? What is your strategic plan moving forward? To discuss credit union growth, Sean and Gina bring into the conversation Adrenaline’s managing director of strategy Juliet D'Ambrosio who just presented the CUNA Conference. Juliet discusses the power of the credit union value proposition and ways for brands to look outside of banking for brand best practices and inspiration for the industry. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

From mergers and acquisitions to branching into new markets, banking’s major focus post-pandemic is on growth. In this episode, Sean and Gina discuss this desire for scale amidst great uncertainty. With M&A activity hitting its highest levels since 2007, deals are happening all around, but it’s not just big banks competing for dominance. Community banks and credit unions are looking at expansion through acquisition. But we’re also seeing mergers of equals, banks buying or partnering with fintechs, fintechs buying or partnering with banks, and niche and large technology enablers leveraging their specialties in new and novel ways. Find out how – especially for smaller and midsized financial institutions – it's more important than ever implement strategies that help community banks serve more and serve better. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In Part 2 of their conversation, Sean and Gina welcome back David Trautman, chairman and CEO of Park National Bank. They discuss how a realignment and rebrand provided the bank the perfect platform for Park’s spirit of service, giving a streamlined and simplified brand for Park’s people to rally around. He addressed how launching during COVID continued on a tradition of steadiness in the storm for a bank that has always thrived during even the most chaotic times. Finally, David reveals why he believes so deeply in banking and how Park remains so committed to supporting people in all aspects of their lives. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In Believe in Banking’s first podcast of the new year, Sean and Gina welcome David Trautman, chairman and CEO of Park National Bank. Their rich conversation covers Park’s unique origin story and how the bank’s efforts at unifying under one umbrella yielded some significant advantages for their growing brand as they expanded into new communities. Building consensus to shift how the bank was doing business – moving from a more autonomous model to a more unified one – was a fundamental change, but what it didn’t alter was the heart of service at the core of the brand. In part one of their discussion, David addresses how Park captured and unified the bank's independent spirit and how they continue to foster that beating heart of service as they help people and their communities. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In our final year-end special episode, we revisit topics that defined the year. Sean and Gina discuss the rise of Purpose Driven Banking in 2021 and how it sets a new standard for the industry moving forward. A term coined by Accenture, this approach to banking helps financial institutions mean more to their customers and members, truly living up to their essential role in people's lives. Simultaneously, banks and credit unions that embrace a deeper sense of purpose find fresh opportunities and expanding influence. Tied to a renewed sense of purpose is community-building in community banking and new ways of thinking about serving – because community represents more than just geography. Finally, our hosts provide a preview of our first episode in 2022, featuring a community banking leader who will kick off the New Year in style. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In this special episode, we take a look back at the trends and topics that defined 2021. Sean and Gina discuss how banking provided short-term solutions to challenges and what opportunities opened up because of the pandemic that will endure. They spoke specifically about banking's balance of technology and human consultation, and the staff that it takes to be at the right place at the right time for customers and members. With clear eyes, the two hosts all but predicted the increasing deployment of hybrid solutions like ITMs and smaller format branches that are transforming the consumer banking experience post-pandemic. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

In this episode, Sean and Gina discuss what’s on the minds of banking and credit union leaders as they face the headwinds that are still present after a year and a half of pandemic life. With the need for profitability and fintech nipping at community banking’s heels, how to continue to serve customers and meet expectations often means new partnerships. Whether it’s a fintech collaboration like the one that delivered Chime to the marketplace or a financial wellness pairing, like Regina King and Wells Fargo teaming up to help serve the underbanked, when banks and credit unions look at new and novel ways to meet the people at the point of need, banking builds on the trusting relationship financial institutions have with their customers and communities. This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm