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Sunny Arizona
Our editorial team is always excited about traveling to Bank Director's Acquire or Be Acquired Conference — and it’s not just about the promise of sunshine and warm weather in Phoenix. (Though the desert looks even more enticing after Nashville’s recent ice storm, which shut down middle Tennessee — and the power at my house — for several days.)
We’re looking forward to generating ideas through conversations with industry leaders from across the country. Here are some of the questions I hope to get answered at the conference, which kicks off tomorrow.
How are bankers feeling about the economy?
We always quickly get a sense at the conference for the general mood of the banking community. In early 2025, there was a lot of enthusiasm; 92% in an audience survey were optimistic about their institution’s growth prospects. And that bore out: Industry-wide profitability trended up last year, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Bank stocks broadly have performed well year over year. So, will that optimism hold?
How are banks responding to the competitive landscape?
For several years in Bank Director’s annual Technology Survey, industry leaders have pointed to concerns about competition in their backyard from nearby financial institutions rather than tech companies and similar competitors. But as I wrote a few weeks ago in this newsletter, the payments juggernaut PayPal Holdings is pursuing an industrial loan charter, and now buy now, pay later lender Affirm is seeking one, too. Block announced late last year that it will leverage artificial intelligence to automate tasks for small business owners. The fintech owns Cash App and Square, which already has an industrial bank charter.
How are banks responding to these dynamics? That could include technology adoption, cultural shifts or revisiting strategic plans.
How many banks have an independent streak?
There could be some deals struck in the hallways at the conference this year — Grasshopper Bancorp’s acquisition by Enova International apparently started as a conversation at this event in 2025, as Director of Research Laura Alix revealed in an article this week.
But many are looking to grow — whether that’s through acquisitions or organically. That’s why questions about optimism and how banks will respond to competition matter. How the industry addresses these concerns could provide a clue as to how effective bank leaders will be in executing on strategy.
I’d love to hear what’s on your mind. If you’d like to connect at the event — or anytime — you can contact me at emccormick@bankdirector.com.
• Emily McCormick, vice president of editorial & research for Bank Director
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