When Fintech Meets Community Banking

Since 1800 America at 250, and the Story of the Nation's Oldest Community Bank As America marks its 250th anniversary, This Month in Banking looks back at how banking grew up alongside the country — through the eyes of the institution that has been there for nearly all of it. Our guest is Ned Handy, Chairman and CEO of The Washington Trust Company, recognized as the oldest community bank in the nation. Washington Trust opened its doors in Westerly, Rhode Island on August 22, 1800, just 24 years after the Declaration of Independence and nine years after the First Bank of the United States was established in Philadelphia. Local entrepreneurs wanted a bank close to home to serve the farming, fishing, and mill communities along the Pawcatuck River, rather than making the long trip by horse and wagon to Providence or New Haven. Its charter called the region "peculiarly fitted by nature" for industry, lacking only "those little assistances" that banks could give. Named for George Washington, the bank was the first to put his likeness on currency — 69 years before he appeared on the federal one-dollar bill. Ned walks us through how Washington Trust endured the panics of the 1800s, the Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression, and the Great Recession — and remained independent while many of its peers merged or failed. We trace how banking itself evolved over two centuries, from issuing bank notes and opening a savings department in 1854, to the first drive-up teller window, the first ATM, online banking, and today's digital tools, all while keeping the same focus on local decision-making and relationships. We close by asking what 226 years of history teaches about the next 25 — and what it takes for a community bank to still be standing, and still independent, when the country turns 275.

Keeping Deposits Home Tokenized Deposits, the BankChain Alliance, and the Case for Banks Owning the Rails Last month on This Month in Banking, Alice Frazier, President & CEO of Potomac Bank and ICBA Chair, walked us through what the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts could mean for community bank deposits as stablecoins move into the mainstream. This month we pick up right where that conversation left off — with the industry's answer. Our guest is Kathy Kraninger, Interim Chair of the BankChain Alliance and President & CEO of the Florida Bankers Association, who previously served as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In August, 39 state bankers associations announced the formation of the Alliance: an industry-owned, industry-designed and industry-governed network built on a common blockchain platform, targeting a 2027 launch and supporting tokenized deposits, bank-issued stablecoins, smart payment tools, and automated settlement. Kathy explains what a tokenized deposit actually is and how it differs from a stablecoin — it stays a deposit, a direct claim on the bank, FDIC-insured, potentially interest-bearing, and on the bank's balance sheet where it can fund local lending. She also makes the case for why scale and shared ownership matter: by joining forces, the state associations give a community bank in a rural market a practical path to participate in new financial technology alongside thousands of institutions of every size, rather than waiting on a core provider or going it alone. We close on what community bankers should actually do between now and 2027 — what to tell their boards, what to tell their customers, and why, as Kathy puts it, this is about banks of all sizes building their own future.

On this episode of This Month in Banking, we welcome Alice Frazier, President & CEO of Potomac Bank and ICBA Chair, for a timely discussion on what the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts could mean for community banks. The conversation moves beyond the traditional cryptocurrency debate and focuses instead on the practical banking implications of stablecoins, digital wallets, payment-focused digital currencies, and the choices community banks may need to make as regulatory clarity develops. The episode frames the central question for community bank leaders: what are the unintended consequences if stablecoins become a mainstream payment and deposit alternative? Alice and the hosts explore whether stablecoins should be viewed as another payment rail, a potential competitor to traditional deposits, a broader challenge to the customer relationship, or an opportunity for innovation in banking. The discussion also asks how community banks can adapt, participate, and potentially build on emerging digital-currency infrastructure rather than treating the shift as something they can simply stop. Listeners will hear a strategic, banker-focused conversation about deposit gathering, liquidity management, funding costs, franchise value, regulatory clarity, reserve verification, customer disintermediation, tokenized deposits, custody and reserve-service opportunities, merchant adoption incentives, and how bank executives and boards should be preparing for a digital-first financial system. 👤 Wolf Hosts Tara Wean | LinkedIn Jeff Marsico | LinkedIn Marissa Scicchitano, CPA | LinkedIn 

In this episode of This Month in Banking, presented by Wolf & Company, we sit down with Wade Johnson, CEO of Durden Banking Company, to discuss how a community bank has achieved standout performance in two metrics that matter deeply in today's banking environment: efficiency ratio and cost of funds. Wade shares his journey from growing up in rural Georgia to leading the bank as CEO, while providing insight into the leadership philosophy, operational discipline, and relationship-based banking strategies that have helped drive the bank's success. The conversation explores what efficiency truly means in a community banking context, how strong cultures and processes contribute to long-term performance, and why customer relationships remain a competitive advantage. The discussion also takes a deeper dive into deposit pricing, funding strategies, and the practical decisions that have allowed Durden Banking Company to maintain a strong cost of funds despite a challenging rate environment. Along the way, Wade shares lessons learned from his career, perspectives on leadership and talent development, and his outlook for the future of community banking. Listeners will come away with actionable insights on balancing growth, profitability, employee engagement, and customer service while navigating the increasing pressures facing community financial institutions today. 👤 Wolf Hosts Tara Wean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarawean/  Jeff Marsico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmarsico/

In this episode of This Month in Banking, presented by Wolf & Company, we're joined by Tara Brady, Senior Vice President & Chief Experience Officer at Provident Bank, to explore how customer experience is evolving into a core strategic driver of growth and differentiation. Tara shares how her role connects across the organization—from frontline delivery to executive decision‑making—and why customer experience today goes far beyond satisfaction scores. The conversation highlights how banks can take a more intentional, enterprise‑wide approach to experience by aligning people, processes, and technology. We also discuss what's changing in customer and employee expectations, where institutions tend to get stuck when trying to execute on experience initiatives, and what it takes to build a culture rooted in empathy and consistency. The group dives into the challenges of organizational alignment, particularly in periods of change such as mergers and integrations, and how leadership teams can keep the customer at the center during times of transformation. This episode offers practical insight for bank executives, customer experience leaders, and boards looking to better connect strategy with the customer journey—and turn experience into measurable business impact.   👤 Wolf Hosts Tara Wean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarawean/  Jeff Marsico: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmarsico/ Ben Crowley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencrowley/ 🎙️ Guest Tara Brady – SVP & Chief Experience Officer, Provident Bank LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-a-brady/  

In this episode of This Month in Banking, presented by Wolf & Company, we're joined by Ed Barry, CEO of Capital Bancorp, to explore how one community bank built a distinctive growth model by expanding into specialized, nontraditional lines of business. Since joining in 2012, Ed has led Capital Bank's transformation from a $300 million institution into a $3.5 billion diversified platform spanning commercial lending, mortgage banking, credit cards, and fee‑based service businesses. The conversation highlights how an FDIC‑assisted acquisition unexpectedly led to the creation of a national credit card platform, and how that business—alongside other niche verticals—helped drive strong performance, deposit growth, and diversified revenue streams. Ed also shares insights on identifying acquisitions that add true capabilities, building and scaling new business lines with the right mix of talent and technology, and maintaining alignment between strategy, culture, and risk. The discussion touches on renewable energy lending, SBA servicing, and how community banks can compete effectively by focusing on targeted niches rather than trying to be everything to everyone. For bank executives, board members, and strategy leaders, this episode offers a practical look at how differentiation, discipline, and innovation can drive long‑term growth in an increasingly competitive industry.  Guest Ed Barry CEO, Capital Bancorp / Capital Bank N.A. 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-barry-935b7b6/  🔗 https://capitalbankmd.com/  Learn More Discover how Wolf & Company helps financial institutions drive strategy, growth, and innovation: 👉 https://www.wolfandco.com 

In this episode of This Month in Banking, presented by Wolf & Company, we explore how financial institutions are moving beyond AI experimentation and toward practical, enterprise‑ready adoption. Host Tara Ween is joined by John Kowal, Senior Vice President, Managing Director & Chief Technology Officer at Peapack Private Bank & Trust, along with Wolf & Company experts Jeff Marsico and Nelson Obando. Together, they unpack what responsible AI implementation really looks like inside a bank—cutting through the hype to focus on governance, risk awareness, and real‑world value. The conversation examines where most banks stand today with AI, why data and operating foundations matter more than flashy tools, and how institutions can scale AI safely while meeting regulatory expectations. The group also discusses emerging use cases, workflow automation, "digital employees," and how AI can improve productivity while allowing bankers to focus more on clients. This episode offers bank executives, technology leaders, risk professionals, and board members a grounded roadmap for adopting AI thoughtfully, competitively, and responsibly in the year ahead. Discover how Wolf & Company helps financial institutions navigate AI, governance, risk, and technology strategy: https://www.wolfandco.com

In this episode of This Month in Banking, we're joined by Matt Burke, Chairman & CEO of Mutual Bancorp, the mutual holding company for Cape Cod Five, Fidelity Bank, and soon Bluestone Bank. Matt brings a front‑line perspective on how community banks can rethink growth in today's challenging environment—where deposit behavior, technology expectations, and consolidation pressures are reshaping the industry. We dig into how mutual institutions are approaching expansion, why shared‑services holding companies are becoming a strategic alternative to traditional bank mergers, and what really drives successful mutual‑to‑mutual partnerships. Matt also shares the importance of cultural alignment, diversification, and trust when combining institutions without a monetary exchange. Looking ahead, Matt outlines the conversations he believes bank leaders must be having today—around growth strategy, relationship development, efficiency, community presence, and organizational structure—to stay competitive over the next 12–24 months. Whether you're a bank executive, board member, or part of a strategic planning team, this episode offers practical insights into the evolving growth models shaping community banking.

In this episode of This Month in Banking, the team explores what happens when fintech meets community banking. Guest Emmett Shipman, Fintech Strategy & Growth Senior Manager at Wolf & Company, joins the conversation to discuss evolving fintech–bank partnerships, the shift from efficiency to reinvention, and how community banks can strategically position themselves for a digital future. The discussion also dives into stablecoins, digital assets, and what bank leaders should be prioritizing in the year ahead.

TKG Joins The Pack - Wolf x TKG Hosts - Jeff Marsico, Principal, Wolf & Company, P.C.         Scott Baranowski, Principal, Wolf & Company, P.C.