IBANYS 49th Annual Convention Summary

The Independent Bankers Association of New York State (IBANYS) successfully hosted its 49th Annual Convention, a well-attended and engaging event held from July 14–16, 2025.

Highlights included:

• A sold-out tradeshow and a highly successful silent auction featuring unique items such as an autographed Thurman Thomas football helmet, Steelers vs. Bills tickets, golf at Oak Hill, and more.
• The convention kicked off Monday with a fun (albeit hot and muggy) golf outing, followed by a tradeshow opening with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a poker run for cash prize drawings.
• Tuesday's agenda featured a strong lineup of expert speakers and concluded with remarks from Senator Sanders, Chair of the NY Banking Committee. The evening ended with a dinner and a captivating performance by Michael the Mentalist, earning a standing ovation.
• Wednesday's sessions focused on technology, AI, and the IBANYS Innovation Co-op.

Special thanks go to all speakers, vendors, sponsors, donors, and attendees for making the event a success.

Save the date: The 50th Annual Convention will be held June 8–10, 2026, at Resort World Catskill.

John

PICTURES FROM THE CONVENTION

Monday, July 14 - Scenes from the Kaluhyat golf course. 

Monday, July 14 – Happy hour sponsored by BHG Financial, Lee & Mason, PW Campbell and KlariVis 

Monday, July 14 – Scenes from the tradeshow floor. 

Monday, July 14 – Phil Pecora, President & CEO, Genesee Reginal Bank introduces Lucas White, ICBA Immediate Past Chair, President & CEO The Fountain Trust Company, addresses NY Community Banks – Michael the Metalist with the help of Faith Lutat identifies items held while blind folded with duct tape.

Pictures of some of our speakers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Platinum Sponsors

FHLBNY – Dinner Tuesday

BHG Financial - Michael the Mentalist

Gold Sponsors

Wolf and Company - Tuesday Luncheon

Hartman Executive Advisors - Dinner Wine - Monday Evening

NBS Group - Dinner Wine - Tuesday evening

Silver Sponsors

ICBA Securities – Breakfast Tuesday

NES Group – Breakfast Wednesday

Info Agora – Program Book

ACBB – Refreshment Breaks

Roosevelt & Cross – Poker Run and Drink Cart

Genesis PPG - Credit Card Machine

The Bonadio Group - Lanyards

Golf Sponsors

NEACH – Golf Prizes

Piper Sandler - Golf Balls

Roosevelt & Cross – Drink Cart

Performance Trust - Golf Carts

PW Campbell - Golf Lunch Boxes

Other Sponsors

COCC

Heilbronner Consulting

The Long Group

T.Gschwender & Associates

Lee & Mason

CBIZ

Directlink

The Kafafian Group

Bankers Cooperative Group

Booth 1: Pioneer-360

Booth 2: Advantage, powered by JMFA

Booth 3: Visa

Booth 4: NES Group

Booth 5: Upgrade

Booth 6: Diebold Nixdorf

Booth 7: ICBA

Booth 8: Directlink

Booth 9: Ncontracts

Booth 10: Hartman Executive Advisors

Booth 11: KlariVis

Booth 12: Ned

Booth 13: Dox Electronics

Booth 14: Barret School of Banking

Booth 15: UFS Tech

Booth 16: Travelers

Booth 17: OCC

Booth 18: BHG Financial

Booth 20: PW Campbell

Booth 21 :Magee

Booth 22: Wolf & Company, P.C.

Booth 23: PentEdge, LLC

Booth 24: Genesis PPG

Booth 25: FHLBNY

Booth 26: RelPro

Booth 27: Neach Payments Group

Booth 28: Info Agora

Booth 29: IntraFi

Booth 30: The Long Group

HR Management 2025

Aug 13-14, 2025 

Virtual/Live Training

TOPICS INCLUDE

• Employee Recruitment, Selection Culture and Placement
• Creating an Accountability
• Situational and Behavioral Interviewing
•  Driving Employee Engagement

This workshop is designed to provide intensive training for employees involved in Human Resources, On-Boarding, and Employee Engagement. 



Instructor, Kerry Sauley, is the Marjorie B. Ourso Excellence in Teaching Professor at Rucks Department of Management, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. 

AUDIENCE

• Human Resource Managers
• Branch Managers
• Department/Division Managers
• Management/Hiring/Coaching/Counseling Responsibilities

PRICE:

In Person: $695

VIRTUAL (VIA ZOOM): $595 

Schedule: 9:00am-11:30AM CST

Day 1: Agricultural Financial Statements

Day 2: Agricultural Financial Statements and Ratio Analysis

Day 3: Problem Loans in Ag Lending

Day 4: Effective Loan Structuring and Class Exercise 

IBANYS JULY WEBINARS

ICBA Information

LEAD FWD registration opens

Registration is now open for ICBA’s LEAD FWD Summit, scheduled for Sept. 8-9 in Bloomington, Minn.

Details: LEAD FWD is the nation’s top leadership conference for community bank professionals. LEAD FWD is designed to help community bankers in operations, credit, IT, retail, marketing, and finance activate their potential and move their career—and bank—forward.

Programming: This year’s LEAD FWD will delve into key community banking strategies, with a focus on fraud mitigation, CAMELS ratings, current management and strategy tactics, customer experience management, and using data to make informed decisions.

Location: LEAD FWD will be held at the Radisson Blu Mall of America, a hotel directly connected to Mall of America, the largest indoor shopping and entertainment complex in the United States.