Community banks are facing a make-or-break moment: customers expect seamless digital experiences, fraud is escalating across every channel, and AI is rapidly reshaping how decisions get made—from credit to compliance. This panel explores how community banks can modernize intelligently without losing what makes them distinctive. Panelists will discuss where AI and advanced analytics are delivering real ROI today, how banks should think about cloud and core modernization without blowing up operations, and the right way to approach fintech partnerships—when to build, when to buy, and when to collaborate. Notably, industry executives will dig into the technologies that will define competitiveness in 2026 and beyond, and the strategic choices community banks can’t afford to delay.
The discussion will center on how community banks can compete and collaborate in a digital-first financial ecosystem, including:

• AI/ML for lending, risk and customer insights
• Cloud migration and core modernization
• Fintech partnerships vs. in-house innovation
• Cybersecurity and enterprise fraud prevention
• Data strategy and analytics

For community banks, the risk environment in 2026 isn’t just more complex—it’s more fluid, more political and far less forgiving. Supervisory expectations are shifting in real time, enforcement is increasingly proactive, and compliance teams are being asked to manage everything from capital and liquidity pressure to new oversight around crypto, digital assets, and emerging payment rails.

This fireside chat focuses the conversation around how community banks can modernize their risk and compliance frameworks without drowning in cost or complexity. The one-on-one discussion will unpack the most important regulatory priorities, how examiners are evaluating governance and controls, and what soundness looks like in a world of faster money movement and rising fraud. The discussion will also tackle how banks can use technology—especially automation, analytics and identity tools—to strengthen AML/KYC while improving efficiency. The conversation will take up how to navigate evolving rules, risk frameworks, and supervisory expectations, including:

• Crypto and digital asset oversight
• Capital adequacy and liquidity trends
• AML/KYC enhancements with tech enablement

Community banks have always won on trust, relationships, and local relevance—but in 2026, those advantages are being tested by a new generation of competitors. Neobanks, big tech platforms, and embedded finance players are redefining what “good banking” looks like: instant, personalized, always-on, and increasingly invisible. Meanwhile, customers still crave human guidance—especially small businesses, families, and underserved communities navigating economic uncertainty.

This panel explores how community banks can evolve the customer experience without abandoning the relationship-based model that makes them essential. We’ll discuss what personalization really means in a digital context, how banks can deepen engagement across channels, and what it takes to differentiate on brand and trust in an era where switching is frictionless. The conversation will also focus on financial inclusion as both a mission and a growth strategy—along with practical ways to deliver value-added services like advisory, cash flow tools, and small business support that go far beyond traditional products.

Join the forward-looking discussion on how community banks can remain indispensable—not by trying to out-tech the giants, but by combining digital excellence with community-first impact, including:

• Financial inclusion and underserved markets
• Personalized digital engagement
• Competition from neobanks and big tech
• Consumer trust and brand differentiation
• Value-added services such as advisory and small business support