Talent and Innovation in Community Banking
In this episode of the ABA Banking Journal podcast, new CEO Adam Metz discusses Orstown Bank’s relationship‑driven strategy, its focus on serving diverse local sectors such as healthcare, professional services, and nonprofits, and how the bank is leveraging an innovation team and AI to streamline operations while preserving personal service. Metz highlights the importance of using client data to improve efficiency and tailor solutions, and explains the bank’s talent model that empowers ideas, invests in employee development, and fosters a strong culture. Looking ahead, he sees continued growth through technology investment, data‑driven client experiences, and maintaining the human touch in community banking.
How an Ohio Banker Talks with Policymakers About Stablecoin Issues
In this episode of the ABA Banking Journal podcast, retiring FC Bank president Jenny Saunders discusses her four‑decade banking career, the unique strengths of community banks versus large institutions, and her recent work with the Ohio Bankers League on regulatory...
ABA's Ecosystem Strategy to Tackle Fraud
In this episode of the ABA Fraudcast, Rob Nichols and Paul Benda discuss the ABA’s ecosystem‑wide strategy to combat fraud, highlighting insights from recent UN and Financial Stability Board summits. They stress that banks alone cannot protect consumers; social‑media platforms,...
Capitalizing on Opportunities to Serve High-Net-Worth Clients
In this episode, ABA’s Mark Benskin discusses the evolving wealth‑management landscape, highlighting the rapid rise of Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and their appeal to high‑net‑worth clients due to greater independence and higher revenue shares. He explains how community banks can...
Are Credit Union Commercial Loans Risky Business?
The episode examines the rapid growth of commercial lending by credit unions, highlighting how regulatory changes since the 1990s—especially the 2016 waiver process and the rise of low‑income designations—have allowed many credit unions to exceed historic lending caps. Dan Brown...
Risk and Strategy in Sponsor Banking
In this episode, Hatch Bank President Amanda Swarverland discusses the evolution of sponsor banking, sharing her journey from risk officer at Sunrise Bank to fintech executive at Unit and back to banking leadership. She highlights the strategic choices banks must...
From Stablecoin to Fraud, Top Takeaways From the 2026 ABA Summit
Rob Nichols, CEO of the American Bankers Association, reflected on the ABA Washington Summit, highlighting the unprecedented unity of 1,400‑plus senior bankers advocating on stablecoin regulation, fraud prevention, and regulatory right‑sizing. He emphasized the industry’s bipartisan push to close a...
How the SCAM Act Would Encourage Platforms to Go After Scammers
In this episode, Paul Benda explains the SCAM Act introduced by Senators Ruben Gallego and Bernie Moreno, which would impose new know‑your‑customer and ad‑takedown obligations on major tech platforms that profit from fraudulent advertising. He outlines why current market incentives...
A Lone Star Banking Perspective
In this episode, Ron Butler, chairman of the Texas Bankers Association and CAO of First Financial Bank, explains why Texas’s economy—large enough to rank eighth globally if it were a country—makes the state a magnet for investment and out‑of‑state bank...