VP, Innovation Investments
ICBA
Kristina Morris currently serves as Vice President of Innovation Investments at ICBA, where she leads portfolio management activities and program development to support ICBA’s overall innovation strategy.
She most recently served as project manager for FinTech Atlanta, where she was responsible for driving and supporting the organization’s mission to develop Atlanta as a global hub for financial technology. Before her work with FinTech Atlanta, she held several roles, including program officer at The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and business development manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta.
Kristina has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies from Emory University and a Master of Business Administration from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the board of the University of Georgia Alumni Association, Atlanta Chapter.
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: