-
Learn from the Best: Choice Bank’s Talent Strategy for Building a Dream Team
In this episode of Travillian Next, Samantha Berg, Chief Human Resources Officer at Choice Bank, shares how her team is winning the talent war in an increasingly competitive banking landscape. Hosted by Brian Love, Head of Banking & Fintech at Travillian, the conversation uncovers how Choice Bank embraces “uncomfortability” in its culture and executes a…
-
Thinking Big, Acting Small: A Conversation with SouthState Bank’s CEO John Corbett
In this Travillian Next episode, SouthState Bank CEO John Corbett joins Brian Love and Joe Fenech to reflect on his journey from launching a De Novo bank in Florida to leading one of the Southeast’s premier regional institutions. Corbett shares lessons on navigating economic crises, building culture, fostering innovation, and balancing bold strategy with humble…
-
High Valued Banks Video Series Continued: A Conversation with Stock Yards’ Ja Hillebrand and Lake City’s David Findlay
In this episode of Travillian Next, Brian Love and Joe Fenech continue their video series spotlighting top-performing public banks by sitting down with Ja Hillebrand, CEO of Stock Yards Bank & Trust, and David Findlay, CEO of Lake City Bank. The conversation highlights the strategic consistency and discipline both leaders have employed to guide their…
-
Talent, Growth, and Culture: Looking at the Industry from SmartBank’s POV
In a wide-ranging conversation with Travillian’s Brian Love, SmartBank’s President & CEO Billy Carroll and Director of Strategy & Corporate Development Nate Strall share how their “people-first” philosophy is driving both organic and acquisitive growth across the Southeast. The discussion covers SmartBank’s commitment to employee development through mentorship and leadership programs, its evolving M&A strategy—including…
-
Keith Daly & Brian Love Talk 2022 Trends
Travillian’s Keith Daly and Brian Love reflect on 2022’s key hiring trends and offer insights into what banks should expect in the year ahead. Demand for risk and compliance professionals remained high, and remote flexibility continued to be a major draw for executive and innovation-focused talent. Compensation trends revealed a growing premium for niche and…
-
Taking the Torch: New leadership at Kansas City powerhouse, nbkc, forges ahead with tech focus that’s reshaped its balance sheet
In the latest installment of Travillian’s Tech-Forward Bank Index Profile, nbkc bank President & CEO Michael Bartkoski and CFO Eric Garretson share how technology has transformed their Kansas City-based institution. Since 2018, nbkc’s cultural shift—marked by attending fintech conferences and building an internal engineering team—has driven operational efficiency, fintech partnerships, and low-cost deposit growth. Their…
-
The Highest Valued Bank Stocks Share Some Surprising Traits
This Travillian Next article examines why certain banks consistently trade at the highest valuation premiums. Key findings reveal that these banks tend to be long-established, often founded over a century ago, and deeply entrenched in stable, slower-growth markets where they hold dominant deposit market shares. They typically have strong funding profiles supported by low-cost, sticky…
-
BaaS Bootcamp: Attracting Tech-Forward Talent
Brian Love, Head of Banking and FinTech at Travillian, recently joined the “BaaS Bootcamp” webinar hosted by Barack Ferrazzano, alongside industry leaders such as Brad Smith, JP Nichols, and Kirsten Muetzel. Drawing on Travillian’s extensive experience recruiting for innovative BaaS banks like Lincoln Savings Bank and Coastal Community Bank, Love discussed key talent trends in…
-
Culture, Leadership and Employee Engagement: A Conversation with Todd Weiden, Principal and Founder of Saltee Co
Brian Love, Head of Banking and FinTech at Travillian, sits down with Todd Weiden, Principal and Founder of Saltee Co., to discuss strategic transformation in banking. With nearly 20 years of leadership experience—including roles at Synovus and SunTrust—Weiden shares insights on driving organizational growth and delivering exceptional team experiences through innovative ideas and strategies. Their…
-
Back to Memphis: How BaaS Friendly-Evolve Bank Continues to Strengthen Its Fintech Footprint
Evolve Bank & Trust, a standout member of Travillian’s Tech-Forward Bank Index, has more than doubled its assets in just a few months—from $628 million to $1.3 billion—driven by smart capital deployment, a wave of fintech partnerships, and strategic hiring. Leadership updates, such as the promotion of Hank Word to President of Open Banking and…
