Bank Automation Summit Brings Industry Leaders Together to Explore the Future of Banking

The Bank Automation Summit brought together banking professionals, technology experts, and thought leaders from around the world earlier this month. We discussed the latest developments in banking automation and explored new opportunities for innovation in the financial industry. The two-day event was held  March 2nd – 3rd in Charlotte, NC, and featured panel discussions, keynote presentations, and networking events, all focused on the latest trends and technologies in banking automation.

As the financial landscape continues to evolve, traditional banks and fintechs are increasingly looking to harness the power of client data. The summit explored the latest trends and best practices for data automation, analysis, and utilization. Topics ranged from artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital banking, and more.

Summit Sessions and Content

Terrence A Thomas from First Bank (FNBC), who spoke on a panel entitled, “ Automation and the Pursuit of Efficiency: A Frank Discussion On Cost And Benefit,” described the event as an “insightful conversation about automation in banking”. Whitney McDonald, one of the event’s organizers, said, “We’re excited to bring together the brightest minds in banking and technology. We’ll discuss the future of our industry and how to create new opportunities for growth and innovation.”

A key takeaway was that financial institutions use data to meet regulatory compliance requirements and provide a superior customer experience. Data also helps identify which products and services to offer. Meanwhile, fintechs use data to drive innovation and gain a competitive edge in the market. We heard how banks and tech companies leverage big data and actionable steps to maximize the value of this information.

Ninish Ukkan, Chief Technology Officer at Arvest Bank, discussed “how to approach legacy core systems through integration and modernization.”  He shared the stage with Gabriel Skelton, Director of Banking Mortgage & Insurance Automation Options at OpenBots. Skelton discussed “diving deeper into best practices banks can use to bring in automation in a cost-effective way.” 

“Solving business problems is not solely about bringing in high-quality technology,” he said. “It’s about finding the right mix of cost-effective technology & people to address specific business cases.”

The BI Panel

I spoke on the panel, “Technology Track: Innovations in Business Intelligence for Banking,” alongside two esteemed banking colleagues; Steve Smith, President & Chief Executive Officer, 22nd State Bank, and Lekha Banerjee, Technology Executive, Truist. We had a riveting discussion on how fintechs provide value to lenders, current challenges, and how aligning is a win-win. We heard a CEO’s perspective and an IT expert’s perspective on the issues.  the challenges we all face, and how coming together in alignment creates a win-win opportunity.

The Bank Automation Summit was a valuable event for anyone looking to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in banking automation. Stay tuned for more details on the insights shared during the event and a recap of my panel.