Want to make better decisions and be a better leader? Understanding system thinking is a great unlock. Last week (HERE), we discussed the importance of system thinking and described the four main types of systems (below) that bankers need to recognize before solving a challenge. In this article, we provide a framework for managing problem...

Knowing the correlation of interest rates to your bank funding cost is critical. For years, community bankers believed that their deposit base is sticky, relationship-driven, and too lightly priced to move much when interest rates change. By corollary, if your cost of funds barely budges when the Fed acts, you can hold longer-dated fixed-rate loans...

The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) is a 1977 U.S. statute granting the President sweeping authority to regulate foreign commerce and impose economic sanctions. In February 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6–3 decision that IEEPA does not authorize the executive branch to unilaterally impose import tariffs without explicit congressional approval. This...

In this episode, Chris Nichols sits down with Gwen Wertz, SVP of Retail Banking at Provident Bank, to discuss how her team drives deposit growth and manages funding costs in a competitive environment. Gwen shares practical insights from her experience leading deposit strategy meetings, building a culture of collaboration, and balancing acquisition with retention. The...

Today our own Chris Nichols sits down with Nathan Stovall from S&P Global Market Intelligence. They discuss current trends in the banking industry including the outlook for deposit growth and costs, the forecast for credit quality, bank M&A, regulation, and many other great topics. Learn more about The Deposit Conference! The views, information, or opinions...