A moderated panel of federal regulators will answer audience questions regarding consumer protection rules and other compliance centered topics. This session is an excellent opportunity to hear directly from the regulators on what they deem are hot topics, areas to focus on, and what to expect over the next year.

Additionally, hear about the latest enforcement actions and the primary issues that the agencies are finding in compliance examinations. 

Presented by: ICBA

Community banks face mounting challenges: rising fraud risks, evolving customer expectations, and increasing regulatory pressures. This session explores how community banks can use AI automation and work intelligence to streamline operations, enhance compliance, and deepen customer relationships — without losing the human touch.

Attendees will gain actionable strategies, real-world use cases, and a forward-looking view of how banks of all sizes can responsibly embrace AI to thrive in the digital era. 

Presented by: HuLoop Automation 

Behind every credit or operations team is a set of often overlooked metrics telling a powerful story. Drawing on real-world trends across community and regional banks, this session will examine how indicators like exception percentages, collateral and policy exceptions, risk rating distributions, and loan maintenance activity reveal deeper insights into operational discipline and credit health.

Whether you're preparing for acquisition or planning to scale independently, this session will equip you with a sharper understanding of the KPIs that drive sustained success and how to benchmark your institution accordingly. 

Presented by: Teslar Software

This session explores the foundational principles and strategic approaches that drive profitability in banking, regardless of asset size. From community banks, we’ll examine how financial performance is shaped by core banking functions, risk management, operational efficiency, and customer engagement.

Attendees will gain insights into scalable business models and innovative practices that support sustainable growth and resilience in a competitive financial landscape.

Presented by: CLA

In community banking, leadership isn’t just about WHAT you build, it’s about WHO you build. This workshop will help bank leaders embrace a “successional mindset,” equipping them to multiply leadership at every level. With more than a decade of experience training 30,000+ leaders, we provide a clear, 5-step framework (Learn → Execute → Own → Develop → Reproduce) that moves leaders from personal growth to intentional succession planning.

Participants will learn to identify roadblocks like fear or tunnel vision, align leadership style with team growth, and create actionable succession plans that prepare the next generation of leaders. Through interactive discussion and practical tools, attendees leave ready to identify, equip, and empower future leaders—ensuring long-term stability and impact for their bank and the communities they serve. Because the future of community banks depends on the leaders we raise today. 

Presented by: Wildsparq

In an increasingly competitive and regulated banking environment, community banks are under significant pressure to grow through innovation, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and market or product expansion. However, pursuing growth without a clear legal and compliance framework can expose banks to significant risks, including regulatory enforcement, contractual disputes, and reputational harm. 

This presentation will equip directors and senior executives with the knowledge to strategically navigate growth initiatives while implementing essential legal guardrails. Topics include best practices for conducting thorough due diligence, structuring contracts to allocate and mitigate risk, establishing strong governance and board oversight, and preparing for regulatory examinations. Attendees will learn how to align legal strategy with business goals to pursue innovation, M&A, and expansion confidently and compliantly. 

Presented by: Winthrop & Weinstine 

Hear directly from the heads of supervision at the prudential bank regulators about the latest regulatory priorities and supervisory trends in safety and soundness. From Executive Orders to agency staffing and regulatory changes, learn how the current administration is approaching bank supervision, capital and liquidity requirements, risk management frameworks, and enforcement.

This session is designed for community bankers to engage with the panelists, ask questions, and hear directly from agency staff. 

Presented by: ICBA

Join ICBA’s leading experts on digital assets legislation and regulation for a discussion about what recent developments will mean for community banks.

ICBA’s Brian Laverdure, Senior Vice President, Digital Assets & Innovation, Amy Ledig, Vice President, Capital, Accounting & Finance Policy and Susan Sullivan, SVP Congressional Relations, will lead a conversation about the implementation of GENIUS for payment stablecoins and answer your questions about the opportunities and risks associated with this growing sector of payments. 

Presented by: ICBA 

As community banks face increased scrutiny over their model risk governance frameworks, many compliance and risk professionals are finding themselves responsible for model risk management (MRM) for the first time.

This session offers a foundational overview of MRM, explaining key concepts, roles, regulatory expectations, and the lifecycle of a model - from implementation through validation and retirement. 

Presented by: Darling Consulting Group

Capital remains an important element for banks, whether the bank intends to grow organically or acquire other institutions. Many banks are seeking alternative forms of capital to fund growth opportunities and enhance enterprise to take advantage of the anticipated economic environment in 2026.

This presentation will discuss keys to capital plans and planning, as well as describe a number of creative ways community banks can raise both offensive and defensive capital in the current market. 

Presented by: Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

This educational program is designed to help community banks enhance their competitive edge and relevance in the market. By offering a comprehensive suite of Treasury Management (TM) services, banks can attract new core deposits, increase non-interest fee income, and retain existing business customers.

To support this level of growth, your bank needs a strong infrastructure to sell, implement the right services, and support your business customers. The Learning Lab emphasizes the importance of leadership support, the right dedicated staff, and effective systems, processes, and providers. It outlines a strategic vision for TM starting with the implementation of a strong infrastructure. 

The program also covers the ideal process to develop or enhance your TM department, from obtaining Board and leadership support to implementing the plan and training the entire team. By understanding key systems, partnering with the right TM service providers, and understanding the risks involved, banks can achieve measurable results and effectively support their TM business customers.

Presented by: Malzahn Strategic, LLC 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming agricultural lending by offering more accurate risk assessments, automating loan processes, and providing tailored financing to a historically unpredictable sector.

AI goes beyond traditional financing markers by using extensive datasets to offer a comprehensive picture of farm operations. This panel of Ag Bankers will discuss the risks and opportunities for rural banks. 

Presented by: Panel Discussion 

Community banks are navigating an era where digital transformation is not optional but essential. In this interactive Learning Lab, participants will explore how generative and agentic AI can reshape customer experience, accelerate employee development, and unlock new levels of operational efficiency.

Generative AI delivers personalized, real-time service, while agentic AI introduces systems capable of managing multi-step tasks with governance and oversight. Through real-world examples and case studies, attendees will learn how these technologies are already being applied in community banking, and how to prepare their institutions for the next wave of AI-driven innovation. 

Presented by: Posh 

Most senior level leadership at community banks don’t have a background in information security, technology management, and vendor management, creating a unique challenge of oversight and governance.  

With the sunset of the FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT), raising expectations for vendor management, and staffing challenges across the industry, the boardroom must adapt. This session equips senior leadership and directors with practical strategies to simplify oversight, fulfill fiduciary responsibilities, and reduce risk.

Attendees will learn why the sunset of the CAT is a unique challenge and opportunity, key steps to simplify governance even for the non-technical leader, and best practices to apply for your community bank. 

Presented by: Finosec 

Artificial intelligence can feel overwhelming, but at its best it isn’t about replacing people—it’s about helping bankers become more human. This session explores how AI can take on the busy work, giving community bankers more time and headspace to build trust, deepen relationships, and focus on meaningful conversations with customers.

Instead of drowning in routine tasks, attendees will see how AI can boost productivity and make them sharper, more attentive, and more valuable to their communities. You’ll leave with ideas you can put into action immediately—no computer science degree required. 

Presented by: WSI & TheLinkedBanker

Card issuing is a cornerstone of customer engagement and non-interest income — but how a community bank chooses to process those cards can make all the difference. Should you keep full control and liability, or rely on an agent bank model?

This session will explore the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of both approaches, helping community bankers make informed decisions that align with their strategy, resources, and risk appetite. 

Presented by: ICBA Payments 

This presentation will explore the evolving fraud landscape facing community banks and how community banks can leverage existing data to detect fraud.  We will highlight emerging fraud trends, examine real-world case studies, demonstrate how data analytics can uncover hidden patterns and introduce some advanced tools. 

Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to leverage data to strengthen fraud defenses, reduce risk exposure, and build resilience in their banking operations. 

Presented by: Forvis Mazars, LLP 

In today's competitive environment, delivering an exceptional customer experience isn't optional-it's a leadership priority. This session will guide senior managers on how to lead a culture that intentionally designs, manages, and evaluates the customer experience across every touchpoint, interaction, and channel.

Customer expectations have evolved. It's no longer just about quality interactions at branches or over the phone. Your institution must seamlessly manage the entire customer journey from initial awareness to post-purchase service. Banks that excel in this will successfully capture relationships with key generations and market segments. 

Presented by: Cross Financial 

Exclusively at ICBA LIVE discover the latest findings from ICBA and Avannis' comprehensive studies on employee climate, onboarding, exit trends, internal service, manager effectiveness and compensation.

Drawing insights from the "Best Community Bank to Work For" study, custom employee research collected for community banks, and ICBA's Compensation and Benefit study, this session delivers timely, actionable, and data-driven insights to bolster your bank's workplace culture. Learn what keeps employees loyal, engaged, and eager to refer. 

Presented by: Avannis

Remaining independent is not an idea but the residual of planning. Community banks do not have the resources of publicly traded competitors. Accordingly, closely held banks must lay out a multi-year roadmap to address the liquidity needs of shareholders, estate and income taxation, funding sources, succession, compensation and growth. 

Presented by: Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Explore how and where AI is helping (and impacting) community bank marketing in this interactive, no-judgement session. Hear real stories from fellow bankers, ask your questions, and walk away with more confidence and practical ideas for using AI in your bank’s marketing. 

Presented by: ICBA  

Bank fraud has become a paradise for fraudsters simply because there are so many options ranging from old school check fraud to digital fraud. As a retail branch, you are at the forefront of being taken advantage of by these fraudsters and have the responsibility to be the first line of defense to stop the fraud.

This session explores current fraud trends and dives into how to mitigate fraud. Fraud topics include checks, online banking, instant payments, and wires. Join us in having an open discussion about what you are experiencing in your financial institution, so together, we can fight fraud!

This session will serve as a reminder of all the fraud opportunities available to the bad guys and how, as a financial institution, you can mitigate these losses. 

Presented by: ePayResources