Three Questions to Ask Before a Strategic Push

Yousef Valine, retired exec and a Live Oak Bancshares director, discusses how to prep for big projects. We also take a look at bank M&A and BaaS activity.

Hello again, Bank Slaters!

I know that many of you enjoyed an extended weekend — just four days stand between us and another break. I know you can make it!

I’ve been getting ready for the Fintech | Insurtech Generations conference, which is taking place on June 12-13 in Charlotte. This year’s theme is #authentech, bringing together industry leaders, visionaries, and disruptors to delve deep into the real innovations shaping the future of finance and insurance.

I will be running a workshop, along with Babette Reynolds at Bank of America, that focuses on ways to build a strong compliance foundation — at both banks and fintechs. Other speakers include Darrell Esch, former global head of Venmo, and Frank Holding, CEO of First Citizens Bank.

There’s still time to register! Just click here — subscribers to The Bank Slate can get a 20% discount with the promo code TBSFIG24. Register and make time to catch up with me at the conference!

Let’s talk about strategic planning.

I recently chatted with Yousef Valine, retired chief operating and risk officer at First Horizon (and current director at Live Oak Bancshares). It was a great discussion that will yield some amazing context for content I’m working on for Bank Director and the ABA Banking Journal.

During our conversation, he shared a simple, yet insightful, look into how his approach to strategic decisions. “You have to take a step back … before you get into the weeds,” Valine says.