The Bank Leader Link

Join Randy Hultgren as he deep dives with Joyce Marter, author of The Financial Mindset Fix, on addressing the many ways that mental health needs to be front of mind today. Whether for yourself, your staff, or your customers, wellness must be a priority. Learn how mental and financial health create a unique cross section of specific awareness for our industry.

Joe Micallef, President (and Professional Coach) of Grow UP Sales, joins IBA President & CEO Randy Hultgren for a lightening round of hot coaching tips. In times of uncertainty, learn how to grow your customers and coworkers in a strategic way while promote a coaching culture. After this podcast, tap into Joe's multitude of free resources by visiting https://www.banktalenthq.com or https://growupsales.com!

Donna Flynn, Founder & CEO of SkillsMastery Group, joins Randy in a thoughtful discussion about the value and importance of our development as leaders. Her useful coaching tips provide a quick guide on self-care and how to connect and grow as leaders while "living in the uncomfortable." Donna's honest approach to leadership and how to lead, as well as how to create opportunities for future leaders, will be a repeat listen!

Join Randy with IBA's EVP of Government Relations, Ben Jackson, as he takes the pulse of the Illinois current spring legislative session and what our industry is facing.  Listen as they discuss introduced legislation, the unintended consequences it may present to our membership, and how we are working to protect Illinois banking.  They also address other pressing industry issues, such as check fraud, and our efforts on those fronts.

Randy Hultgren visits with the IBA Education leadership team, Callan Stapleton and Lyndee Fein.  As you work on your bank's strategic plan for 2023 for your current and emerging leadership team, consider the valuable IBA education resources, right at your fingertips!  Whether enrolling your up-and-coming trailblazer in the Future Leaders Alliance or sending your team to one of our many outstanding conferences, the IBA offers something for everyone.  We look forward to seeing our family of Illinois bankers at one (or some) of these programs!

Kirby Davidson, President & CEO, and Kathy Berman, VP of Communications & Marketing, both with the Graduate School of Banking (GSB) in Madison, WI, join host, Randy Hultgren, to share about the leadership development through GSB.  Whether you're interested in the deep dive three-year program or one of the many specialty schools, now is the time to plan for your personal growth and your bank's personnel development in educating its current and future leaders.  Listen today to learn how you join the more than 23,000 alumni!

Bank Leader Link host Randy Hultgren visits with Michael Steelman, Chair Emeritus and Senior Counsel for the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Bushnell, and Dave Feldhaus, Senior Vice President, External Affairs with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.  Listen as Mike and Dave dig deep into the many reasons why the FHLBC continues to be a necessary partner with our community banks and the customers they serve.  They address many questions about the progression of how the FHLBC will continue its mission and why this valuable resource should not be taken for granted. 

Randy Hultgren visits with longtime friend, ABA's Chief Political Strategist Rob Engstrom, and invites Rob to share his extensive perspectives on our country's past political environment and tomorrow's potential landscape.  Rob discusses his time working for Speaker Gingrich during the Clinton Administration as well as his current service with the American Bankers Association.  Hear his thoughts on our current legislative pulse and what he and Randy anticipate our experiences will be over the next two years. 

Join our trusted advisors Mike Mahorney, Senior Trust Advisor with the Illinois Bankers Group Insurance Trust, and Adam Walsh, Vice President of the Illinois Bankers Insurance Services, as they engage with host Randy Hultgren in a robust discussion covering our wide array of insurance offerings.  Whether you are looking for staff, director, or institution coverage, the IBA offers a solution to make sure that your staff and facilities are covered against all threats and risks.   

Randy Hultgren talks with Brian Liebfried, Managing Director of Client Insights, with Performance Trust.  Join them as Brian shares his perspectives on how your financial institution can manage its way through this unprecedented rate environment.  Learn how to navigate this along with other pressing, sometimes conflicting, indicators.

Randy visits with Dan Watts, 2017 IBA Chair and President of Forest Park National Bank & Trust Company, on his perspectives over his 25+ year banking career.  From the development of unused industrial space in his neighborhood to his position on the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Dan provides thoughtful insight into the deep impact banking has in Illinois.  

Join host IBA President & CEO Randy Hultgren as he talks with guest Mike Tenpas, CEO of UFS, a bank technology outfitter, on how community banks can navigate this "in-between space", both from a looking back and looking forward perspective.  Mike explains how this is not necessarily a technology topic but more of a leadership topic.  If this issue keeps you up at night, this is a podcast for you!

Guest Carolyn Settanni, IBA Executive Vice President & General Counsel, joins Randy to provide an update on our recent CRA Comment Letter.  Also, hear about other pressing legislative issues, free compliance resources, and key compliance programs right around the corner!

Guest John Behringer, CPA, Partner, National Financial Institutions Consulting Leader, RSM US LLP shares his perspectives on current banking risks.  Learn how a strong partner can help your bank navigate these risks and create solutions for your team.

Ed touches on a multitude of ag-related topics including the Farm Bill, the ECORA Act, credit union and Farm Credit taxation hurdles, and much more.  If you work with ag customers, this is a must-listen episode!

We invite you to get to know our new IBA Chair - Betsy Johnson, President & CEO of Solutions Bank, located in Forreston, IL.  Betsy provides a birds eye look at her banking career path which ultimately culminated in her serving as the President & CEO.  She also discusses her goals for her term as Chair and touches on the IBA's newly crafted strategic plan.  And, finally, you will hear a bit about her second favorite (after the IBA!) professional passion - the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin.

Tune in to hear the latest on the 2022 campaign projections, current state and federal banking legislative issues, and legislative perspectives in the industry.

Outlook for Bank Earnings in 2022 and into 2023 with guest Kent Musbach, SVP, BOK Financial

• Unrealized loss in the investment portfolio
• Markets outlook for interest rates and yield curve
• Loan price lagging
• Deposit side risks and other higher-yielding options
• Rate rising environment

Cybersecurity: Chad Knutson, President, CISO, and Partner, SBS CyberSecurity

What to expect in the months to come from a cybersecurity perspective

Biggest cybersecurity challenges in 2022

Federal Reserve's FedLine Assurance Program

How institutions need to stay ahead of cybercrime

What keeps Chad up at night

Strengths and weaknesses of banks current cybersecurity programs

Banker Perspective: Mick O’Rourke, President, Signature Bank

Relationships with a capital R

The Secret Sauce

INVEST in Technology

Serving your Stakeholders

Liquidity, Low Interest Rates, Employment and looking forward to the future.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Cedric Thurman, EVP and Chief Diversity Officer and Leslie Drish, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

What to be thinking about

Understanding the why

Build DEI Culture

Have the conversation

• Changes banks will see from the Biden Administration

• Will the bigger challenge be new federal laws or a change in tone from new regulators?

• What is on the horizon that banks need to research and be prepared for?

• How can banks be prepared for a more active CFPB?

• The proposal for a state CRA

Episode #3: NAVIGATING THE WORKPLACE DURING COVID-19 – Hope McAllister, Executive Vice President of Human Relations – Busey Bank

• Current COVID-19 updates, and how Busey Bank is keeping employees safe
• Keeping company culture strong while working remote
• The importance of mental and emotional health in your employees
• How can the HR staff at a bank find resources to help guide them through COVID-19
• Conversations about the COVID-19 vaccine

• Can we rely on current polling?

• Is the election heading towards being a tight race or a landslide win?

• What to watch for on election night?

• When will we know the results?

• What key races, other than the presidency, should we be watching?

• Why exercising your right to vote is important!