Plugged In - A Banking Podcast

• The Beat Goes On in Banking w/ Archie Brown

  Regional banks don’t often get compared to pop music, but maybe they should.On the show today, First Financial Bank President and CEO Archie Brown explains why great banks survive turbulence by evolving with the times, just like great pop artists. He talks with Al and Steve about what credit risk actually looks like today and how midsize banks can hold their own against the industry’s giants. Plus, they explore the value of only focusing on what you can control. As Archie puts it:  “There’s nothing else you can do.”Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in Chapters:[00:00] Intro – Welcoming Archie Brown [00:54] Optimism, Adversity & “Better Days” [02:00] Why High-Performing Banks Don’t Get Respect [04:45] Credit Risk: The Market Gets It Wrong [08:22] Competing With the Big Banks: Talent & Tech [11:29] Tech Investment & AI: Moving Faster Than Goliath [14:06] Knowing When to Double Down vs. Walk Away [17:17] Pop Music, Banking & Evolving Without Losing Identity [20:36] Leadership in a Digital-First World [23:42] Closing Thoughts & What’s Next

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• A.I. Promises, Banking Realities, and a Few Hidden Gems

  Today on the show, Al and Steve reunite in the Arizona desert to unpack the themes they have been hearing at banking conferences and boardroom meetings nationwide. Two big standouts: the practical use cases of A.I. (yes, there are some) and the surge in M&A activity. Plus, they dig into the generational shift in banking where younger consumers play the field in which financial providers they use.Chapters:[00:00] Back in the Desert — Kicking Off Plugged In[00:41] Coast to Coast: Travels and Boardroom Insights[03:09] The AI Hype Curve — Entering the Trough of Disillusionment[05:22] Real AI Wins: Chatbots, Fraud Detection & Efficiency Gains[07:24] The CFO Reality Check — Why AI Might Cost More[08:50] Finding Your Voice with ChatGPT[10:16] The Next Generation of Banking: Gen Z & Liquidity Shifts[12:54] Creating Capacity and Strengthening Franchise Value[14:08] The M&A Wave: Big Brands, Big Bets, and Faster Deals[18:15] Speed, Purpose, and the Future of BankingSubscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in 

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• “Brace” Yourself for the Shenanigans in Banking

  Deal-making is heating up.On the show today: Al and Steve sit down with Mike Maddox, CEO and president of the newly expanded $20B-asset Busey Bank, which merged with CrossFirst Bank earlier this year. They dig into scale, succession and strategy.They also discuss what stablecoins mean for banking, Busey’s $14B wealth management platform and why Mike thinks that regional banks should act more like professional services firms to serve their markets best.Chapters:[00:00] Welcome & Ozzy-Inspired Kickoff[00:41] Meet Mike Maddox: Regional Banking Veteran[01:12] The State of Bank M&A: Scale and Strategy[04:04] Solving for Succession: Leadership Transition[06:13] Market Expansion: From Midwest Roots to Sunbelt Growth[07:32] Preserving Regional Culture in a Growing Bank[10:58] The $14 Billion Wealth Platform Advantage[14:17] Banking Innovation: Tech, Payments & FirstTech[18:50] Looking Ahead: Post-Merger Integration & Opportunity[19:48] Wrap-Up: Culture, Metrics & Modern Banking VisionSubscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in 

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• Ep 43: Cruel Summer: Stablecoins, GenAI, M&A

  Banking is only getting hotter. On the show today, Al and Steve break down midyear trends, from GenAI's impact on creativity (it isn’t good) to stablecoins and a potential surprising M&A rebound. Plus, they explore one of the biggest industry questions right now: In a deregulatory environment, where can banks win and lose? TBD. But as Al says: “Fundamentals never go out of style.”Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in 

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• Ep 42: The Balance Sheet Restructure That Transformed the Bank // CEO Chip Reeves

  Today on the show, Al and Steve catch up with Chip Reeves, CEO of MidWestOne Bank, to get the inside story into how the Midwestern bank managed to not lose a single top client when it overhauled its balance sheet in a short amount of time. Chip also shares how the institution recruits top talent and its approach to competing with the likes of Chase, the banking giant that’s been plopping down branches in MidWestOne's turf (otherwise known as the land of star basketball player, Caitlin Clark).  And yes, there’s some singing by Al to an 80’s banger.🎧📺 https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in

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