During this session, we’ll explore the outlook for rates, economic growth, tariffs and impacts of fiscal policy on the U.S. economy, and what this means for the operating environment for community banks.

• Outlook for Fed policy, short-term rates, and what impact tariffs will have on the possibility of continued inflation or possible global recession. 
• What are the biggest threats/catalysts to the economy?  
• How will the new Administration and U.S. fiscal policy impact the economic environment?  

Dr. Lindsey Piegza, Chief Economist, Managing Director, Stifel Financial

U.S. bank M&A activity has been anemic the last several years amid intense economic uncertainty and regulatory scrutiny. At the end of 2024, it was widely believed that the Trump Administration would benefit bank M&A with a friendlier posture towards regulation that would allow deal activity to accelerate. However, the US bank M&A market faces the third existential threat in just over five years if tariff-related stock plunges continue. Investor sentiment has soured with the recent economic uncertainty after investors had returned to the bank space in late 2024.

• Current drivers of community bank valuations 
• Outlook for bank M&A and capital raising activity  
• Headwinds and catalysts for deal activity  
• What strategies do investors want to see bank management teams employ, and pitfalls to avoid 

Ken King, Founder and CEO, KSK Investors, LLC
Scott Studwell, Managing Director, Head of U.S. Depositories and Co-Head of Equity Capital Markets, Stephens 
Kirk Hovde, Managing Principal, Head of Investment Banking, Hovde Group 
Joe Mantone, FIG News Desk Manager, S&P Global Market Intelligence (moderator)

Sponsored by Vertical IQ

Sharp swings in interest rates, reflecting shifts in expectations for economic growth, have driven gyrations in banks’ securities portfolios. During this session, we’ll consider how banks should approach managing their balance sheet in the current environment, the outlook for credit quality and how they can position themselves to grow margins. 

• How to grow deposits absent fintech partnerships
• Pricing best practices both on loans and deposits
• Hedging strategy and tools

Scott Hildenbrand, Chief Balance Sheet Strategist and Head of Depository Fixed Income, Piper Sandler
Mark Kanaly, Partner, Alston & Bird
Joe Kennerson, Managing Director, Darling Consulting Group
Nathan Stovall, Director, Financial Institutions Research, S&P Global Market Intelligence

• How to determine profitability of accounts and relationships
• Best practices in capturing the full client relationship through integrated pricing           
• Behavior segmentation
• Delivering the data to your front lines

Mac Thompson, Founder and CEO, White Clay

Sponsored by Hovde

Optimism abounds that the Trump Administration policies will benefit the banking industry and regulatory burden will ease.  In this session, we'll examine what we’ve learned in the first few months of the Trump Administration and what that means for potential regulatory posture over the next few years. In addition, we’ll discuss key issues that could have a profound impact on banks’ operations including section 1071, 1033 and the new CRA rules and look at other hot-button issues that have surfaced during recent examinations.

Jelena McWilliams, Managing Partner, Head of Financial Institutions Practice, Cravath
Nathan Stovall, Director, Financial Institutions Research, S&P Global Market Intelligence

At the end of the day, a bank’s profitability is driven by how well they can execute proven strategies. As banks have implemented more technology over the last few years, now is the time to ensure they are leveraging it to its fullest and driving efficiency rather than overhead. This discussion will focus on technology and tactics that can make both customer-facing and back-office processes more efficient.

Matthew Quale, President, Digital Banking, Forbright Bank

We’ll break through the hype around AI and offer concrete ways to leverage automation intelligently at your bank.

Chris Nichols, Director of Capital Markets, SouthState Bank

Sponsored by Piper Sandler

1. Fraud – Fraud is one of the biggest threats in banking today. Engage in conversations with your peers, led by industry experts, about what tactics community banks can employee to combat fraud and compete with larger banks in this area.

Paul Benda, Executive Vice President, Risk, Fraud and Cybersecurity, American Bankers Association

2. Succession Planning and Leadership in Banking – As the industry ushers in a new generation of bank leaders, what characteristics and strengths does a bank leadership team need to have? Engage in conversations with your peers, led by industry experts, around succession planning and the leadership qualities needed to run a bank in today’s environment and in preparation for the future.

Brandon Biegenzahn, President, Executive Search, McDermott & Bull
Marissa Waldman, Chief Excellence Officer, Leaderology

Join us for a panel discussion with bank customers, as well as review S&P’s proprietary voice of the client research to examine what businesses and customers want to get out of their banking relationships, why they bank locally and with a community bank, ultimately highlighting the strength of community banking to end the Conference. 

Chris Linteris, Managing Director, C&I Lending, ConnectOne Bank
T. Dupree Scovell, Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer, Woodbine Development Corporation
Travis McGee, President and Owner, Certified Realty
Chris McDonnell, Head of CCB Banking Analytics, Coalition Greenwhich (moderator)

Gather in the foyer right after sessions conclude to unwind with informal conversations and the sharing of insights and experiences from the day. Sponsors are available to discuss and demonstrate their banking solutions, providing you with a deeper understanding of industry trends and innovations.

Join us Tuesday evening for a networking dinner, the perfect setting to foster connections, exchange ideas, and build valuable relationships. This evening is more than a meal—it's a celebration of the work we do in our hometowns, the partnerships we've strengthened here, and the future we're building together. Thank you for your dedication, your insights, and your presence. Let’s raise a glass to continued collaboration, innovation, and the deep-rooted values that make community banking so vital.

After dinner, be ready to saddle up, bankers—it’s time to let loose and ride into the closing night in true cowboy style! Tonight’s afterparty brings the wild west to life with toe-tappin’ tunes and all the charm of a frontier town. Grab a drink at the bar, try your hand at the interactive saloon games, and kick back with colleagues turned trailmates. Whether you’re here to wrangle a win or just enjoy the ride, this is the perfect way to cap off an incredible conference. So dust off your boots, tip your hat, and let’s wrap up with a rootin’-tootin’ good time!