Jack E. Hopkins: Navigating Change Through ICBA LIVE 2026

The pace of change today is both a blessing and a curse. While today’s evolving environment brings forth new, innovative solutions to support our customers, keeping up with these shifts creates new challenges for community banks. 

Thankfully, solutions exist, and we have ICBA Innovation for support. Each Accelerator cohort, Preferred Service Provider and Corporate Member brings with it cutting-edge products designed specifically for community banks and our customers. These companies have a grasp of the ways to address the issues we face. 

ICBA Education provides the necessary foundation on emerging topics to help community banks identify new opportunities. From AI offerings to stablecoin’s potential and beyond, ICBA Education ensures we get up to speed on the latest in industry developments, so we can remain conversant, strategic and, above all, competitive in the market. 

That’s where ICBA LIVE comes into play. Learning Labs help to educate our staff and directors and give us line of sight into what other community banks are doing. The ThinkTECH Accelerator Showcase spotlights new offerings for community banks in hot areas, and the overall Expo emphasizes the ways in which third parties can support our strategic business goals. 

LIVE is the largest gathering of community bankers in the country and the largest community bank vendor showcase in the world. Nowhere else can we look at a solution and gather immediate feedback from peers who have used it. 

So, as you’re exploring the Expo, don’t be afraid to start conversations with other bankers to gain another perspective on the companies and solutions they offer. 

From firsthand experience, I can tell you that input matters. Last year, my bank sought to select a new loan operating system. We visited five different vendors at LIVE and heard from bankers who had used their technologies. Thanks to that feedback and a thoughtfully designed RFP, we were able to quickly select a partner. For such a major change, implementation went quickly and smoothly. We attribute much of that to the information we collected during LIVE. 

So, now’s the time to come to LIVE, which takes place March 6-9 in San Diego. I encourage you to bring members of your team with you. The knowledge you and your team will return with will far exceed the investment you make. 

As the rate of change escalates, that knowledge is worth its weight in gold. In a shifting landscape, our job must be to navigate what’s necessary and what’s noise. ICBA LIVE gives us a comprehensive opportunity to cut through the clutter and do just that.