BankOnPurpose: Day One Recap

Here’s a quick recap of what happened on Day One of the BankOnPurpose conference, as well as a look ahead at what to expect today.

Officially BankOnPurpose didn’t get started until 5:30, but there was plenty of activity earlier on Wednesday. There were Client Advisory Board meetings, with some of PrecisionLender’s top customers and advocates, as well as crossing all the t’s and dotting the i’s on the final event details.

During the day, BankOnConference attendees began arriving at the Hilton, eager for the conference to begin.

“It’s great talking to folks in similar roles, whether it be treasury, the lending side, or the strategy side,” said Kyle Koelbel, SVP/Treasurer at Rabobank. “And really understanding what they’re seeing out there in the market, learning what they might be doing differently from what we’re doing, so we can bring that information back to the bank.”

Finally, at 5:30, the wait was over.

At the opening reception, attendees and sponsors mingled and munched on appetizers, greeting old friends, talking shop and checking out the PrecisionLender demo stations.

Then the evening switched from modern banking to 80’s music, as the party moved to the Cedar Street Courtyard, where the Spazmatics played a decade’s worth of hits, from Prince to Michael Jackson, with even a little a-Ha mixed in.

On Tap for Today

BankOnPurpose gets going in earnest today, with presentations from top bankers as well as thought-provoking talks on business, culture and purpose.

Speaking of purpose …

Roy Spence, best-selling author and co-founder of advertising agency GSD&M, will give the first keynote of the day, speaking about the importance of purpose-inspired business. He’ll share stories and insights gleaned from his groundbreaking work with major corporations such Southwest Airlines, Walmart and BMW.

Next up is Lisa McLeod, business consultant and author of Selling With Noble Purpose. She’ll explain how leaders who put purpose first outperform competitors who primarily focus on sales targets and profitability.

After lunch, the bankers take center stage.

First up will be Andy Max, Director of Pricing Strategy & Performance for First National Bank of Omaha. In his presentation “Think Small, Not Big,” Andy will share how FNBO has used new tools and processes to reshape their commercial customers’ experience. It won’t be all rosy though, as Andy will also recount some of the painful lessons they learned and adjustments they made along the way.

Then Greg Demas will talk about “Moving From Defense to Offense.” Demas, the Director of Finance & Strategic Planning at Popular Community Bank, will explain why it’s time for banks – which were on the defensive in the aftermath of the financial crisis – to shift their focus back to growth.

The last session of the day will be a panel discussion: “Making Truly Meaningful Change – Why It’s Worth the Pain.” Andy Heusel of Hancock Bank, Kyle Koelbel of Rabobank and John Tull of Union Bank & Trust will talk about the difficulties of taking on big projects at the bank and share their recommendations on how to steer those projects through to completion.

Then it’s time to head out for dinner at some of the top restaurants in Austin!

The post BankOnPurpose: Day One Recap appeared first on PrecisionLender.

About the Author

Jim Young, Director of Content at PrecisionLender, is an award-winning writer with experience in a range of positions in media and marketing, from reporter to website editor to content marketer. Throughout his career Jim has focused on the story – how to find it, how to understand it, and how best to share it with others. At PrecisionLender, he manages the many ways in which the company shares its philosophy on banking and the power of relationships. Jim graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Duke University and holds a masters degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Follow on Linkedin More Content by Jim Young