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From Law to Leadership: Amber Buker’s Path to Banking Innovation
Amber Buker brings a rare blend of legal, fintech, and banking experience to Travillian, where she leads content, research, and strategic advisory initiatives. From founding Totem, a niche digital bank for Native communities, to developing fintech platforms and working side-by-side with community banks, Amber has spent her career connecting talent, strategy, and innovation. At Travillian,…
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Bridging the Talent Gap in Banking Growth
As banks grow, there often comes a point where existing talent—while strong—no longer matches the scale of new opportunities. The most successful institutions balance promoting from within with bringing in external leaders who’ve already solved challenges at the next level. That’s exactly what SmartBank did. Partnering with Travillian, CEO Billy Carroll recognized the need for…
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Innovation and Talent Strategy: Q&A With Amber Buker
Travillian is excited to welcome Amber Buker as our first-ever Chief Research Officer. With a career spanning law, fintech, digital banking, and executive storytelling, Amber brings a unique mix of insight and experience to help banks innovate with purpose. From building platforms that connect banks with fintechs, to scaling innovation at Alloy Labs, to founding…
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Banks & Breakfast Club: 2025 Hiring Trends
Travillian’s Brian Love and Michael Perito reunite on Talent Talk for a candid look at what’s really happening in banking leadership today. From the “Trump bump” aftermath to why CFO and CEO seats are hotter than ever, they unpack the pressures shaping executive hiring in 2025. Along the way, they share real-world updates from placements…
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Brian Loves Banks: Insights on Leadership, Succession, and Talent Gaps
As Travillian’s Head of Banking & Fintech, Brian Love shares what he’s seeing across community banking: leadership transitions, talent gaps, rapid growth, and the critical role the right executives play in shaping the future. From CFO retirements to CEO searches, succession planning, and team upgrades during M&A, Brian highlights why banks can’t afford to wait…
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Talent, Tech, and Tough Decisions: Inside Today’s Banking Challenges with CEO Bob White
“This business is still people-driven.” On Travillian Next, Travillian’s Michael Perito and Brian Love sit down with Bob White, CEO of 1st Colonial Community Bank, to discuss today’s banking challenges and opportunities. From attracting top talent to the role of technology, mergers, deposit gathering, and the future of branches, Bob shares a candid view on…
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From Retirement Dreams to CFO Reality: 5 Insider Tips for Successful Succession Planning
Since 2020, over 60% of Travillian’s talent searches have focused on CFO and CRO roles—underscoring the surge in demand for strong finance and risk leaders. With M&A slowing and executive retirements rising, banks are shifting focus to proactive succession planning and talent development. Two recent CFO placements—at BayFirst Financial and Chemung Canal Trust Company—showcase how…
