A Path Forward: Community Banks and Innovation

Hey there, guess what? I had the most insightful chat with Chris Williston, you know, the big shot President and CEO of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas. The one solely taking on the community bank scene! 

He spilled the beans on how he got into this banking gig and whoa, the challenges community banks are facing right now? M&A crises, natural consolidation – it's like a banking drama series out there! 

But hold up, it's not all gloomy. Chris dove into the wild world of M&A activity and why it's driving the bankers nuts. Ever thought about how banks are sweating over competitive returns for their shareholders? Or how they're fearing getting left in the tech dust by customers' expectations? Yeah, he went there.

Oh, get this, Chris laid it all out - banks have a single Achilles' heel, and it's these core providers not keeping up with tech shifts. Crazy, right? But he's got a glimpse of a light at the end of that tunnel. 

You won't believe the tech tornado smacking the banking scene. New tech is raining down like confetti at a parade, and bankers are hustling to catch 'em all. And Chris dished out some gold about a social media platform, "Bankers Helping Bankers". Ever seen fintech speed dating? Me neither, until now.

Don't even get me started on how Chris dropped wisdom about community banking's future. It's like a sneak peek into the next century of banking. And he's got some tricks up his sleeve about how banks can cash in on tech. 

Hold on tight – "Banking as a Service"? Chris broke down how this sizzlin' association was born from the community, ready to tackle challenges head-on. Best practices, guardrails – he's got the playbook for banks to own their game.

And trust me, my friend, he shared this mind-blowing stat - 11% of the industry is set to shake up in just a year! 

But wait, there's more! Chris revealed how even the most ancient income sources are getting a shake-up and why rural America's got potential in banking's future.

Honestly, after hearing Chris Williston spill all this banking tea, you'll be itching to dive into the full podcast. This guy's like a backstage pass to the future of banking – you won't want to miss it!