AI is a top-ranked issue for community banks in 2026, viewed through a dual lens as both an efficiency driver and a source of risk. This practical session cuts through the hype to show where AI delivers real, near-term value across the bank, front-office customer service, onboarding, compliant marketing, document processing, credit-and-analytics portfolio insights, and underwriting support. Participants leave with a concrete, low-regret plan to pilot AI responsibly, with governance and human oversight built in from day one.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the highest-value front-office and back-office AI use cases for a community bank and where each drives efficiency or revenue.
• Differentiate between genuine value and vendor hype using a governed pilot approach with clear metrics and human oversight.
• Learn how to buid a plan to get started with AI, including data readiness, model explainability, and vendor due diligence.