The Purposeful Banker

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, we're sharing a conversation that goes deeper than the usual AI headlines. In a replay of Q2's new AI-focused podcast, Cut to Context, Adam Blue and Hima Mukkamala explore where AI really sits in the hype cycle, what it is changing in software development, and why human judgment, validation, and systems thinking still matter. For bankers, it's a useful look at how AI may reshape the way financial institutions build, innovate, and compete. Related Links [Podcast] Cut to Context [Website] AI for Everyone [LinkedIn] Adam Blue [LinkedIn] Hima Mukkamala

In this episode, Nick Koutouras explores what it takes to build a repeatable operating rhythm that strengthens pricing discipline, portfolio oversight, and relationship decision-making. The conversation looks at how governance drift begins, what signals leaders should watch for, and how banks can maintain consistency even when business conditions are strong. Related Links [Blog] Designing the Operating Rhythm of a Relationship-Focused Bank [Blog] The Four Seasons of Banking [Blog] Relationship Pricing Breaks Down Silos [LinkedIn] Nicholas Koutouras

As bank M&A activity picks up, the real challenge is no longer just getting the deal done. This episode explores why technology readiness, integration strategy, and customer experience now play a bigger role in determining whether a merger creates value or creates risk. Related Links [Webinar] The M&A Tech Conversion Playbook: Steps and Considerations to Shape Long-term Value [Report] 2026 State of Commercial Banking [LinkedIn] Tim Daley

As stablecoins move from industry debate to practical planning, Alex Treece of Stablecore joins the podcast to explore what banks should be doing now to prepare responsibly and what strategic, operational, and compliance questions matter most as digital assets evolve as a payment rail. Related Links [Blog] The Value of Digital Assets in Commercial Banking [LinkedIn] Alex Treece [Website] Stablecore

Nick Koutouras, leader of Q2's Relationship Pricing and Profitability team, explains why bank silos persist even with aligned teams: because the "shared math" arrives too late. Learn how relationship-level economics, the four seasons of banking, and delivery-to-promise reviews help leaders prevent drift and make better decisions. Related Links [LinkedIn] Nicholas Koutouras [Blog] Q2.com  [Podcast] Take the Emotion Out of Relationship Management

Todd Klapprodt joins the podcast to provide a practical primer on stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and other digital assets—what they are, why commercial banking is paying attention, and how financial institutions can explore use cases safely. Related Link [LinkedIn] Todd Klapprodt https://www.linkedin.com/in/tklapprodt/ 

Digital banking in 2026 is shaping up to be an efficiency race driven by ERP connectivity, instant payments, and the shift toward small business "hub" experiences. In this episode, Debbie Smart previews what the 2026 State of Commercial Banking reveals about where AI is becoming practical, why integration is the real battleground, and what banks need to deliver to stay primary in the relationship. Related Links [Webinar] 2026 State of Commercial Banking https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5161232/8BB4637FACD9F95388E41F4A3B668E53  [LinkedIn] Debbie Smart https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiesmart/ 

 In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Jim Young sits down with Anna-Fay Lohn for a quick preview of the State of Commercial Banking analysis based on 2025 Q2 PrecisionLender data. They unpack the liquidity rebound, shifting deposit dynamics, accelerating pricing activity, spread compression, and what fixed-rate roll-offs mean for margins heading into 2026. Related Links [Webinar Registration] 1 p.m. February 10, 2026 State of Commercial Banking [Blog] Monthly Commercial Loan and Deposit Pricing Market Updates [LinkedIn] Anna-Fay Lohn

This episode features a replay of a Q2 webinar exploring how financial institutions can turn fraud strategy into a competitive edge by using connected fraud intelligence to spot risk earlier, move faster than attackers, protect account holders in real time, and actually improve the digital experience along the way. [LinkedIn] Jeff Scott [LinkedIn] Ben Cash [On-Demand Webinar] Building Trust, Not Friction: The Future of Fraud Prevention [Website] Fraud Intelligence [Survey] q2.com/podsurvey 

This replay of a recent panel discussion focuses on what separates top-performing banks from the rest. Hear how leading institutions are driving durable growth in commercial banking, elevating treasury management as a strategic engine, using real customer research to redesign small business offerings, and building cultures that attract top talent while accelerating digital innovation. Related Links [LinkedIn] Kirk Coleman [LinkedIn] Alison Townsend [LinkedIn] Nate Dube [LinkedIn] Brittany Adams [On-Demand Panel Discussion] Lessons From America's Top-Performing Banks [Survey] q2.com/podsurvey

At Q2's Dev Days 2025, CTO Adam Blue challenged attendees to see AI as art, not automation. In this episode, he joins The Purposeful Banker to explore creativity, orchestration, and how financial institutions, developers, and communities can harness AI to build the future together. Related links: [Blog] Smarter Support Starts With AI https://www.q2.com/blog/smarter-support-starts-with-ai  [Blog] Going Beyond Chat to Bring a Human Touch to Digital Banking https://www.q2.com/blog/going-beyond-chat-to-bring-a-human-touch-to-digital-banking  [Blog] What If You Could Code Without Coding? https://www.q2.com/blog/what-if-you-could-code-without-coding  [Blog] Turning Partnerships Into a Living AI Ecosystem https://www.q2.com/blog/turning-partnerships-into-a-living-ai-ecosystem  [Website] AI for Everyone | Q2 https://www.q2.com/ai-for-everyone  [LinkedIn] Adam Blue https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-blue-537810/  

Gen Z is redefining loyalty, purpose, and primacy in banking, and fintechs are leading the charge in creating experiences that resonate with the Gen Z audience. In this episode, Spiral CEO Shawn Melamed joins The Purposeful Banker to share a fintech playbook that helps banks and credit unions attract and engage Gen Z through gamified, purpose-driven experiences that grow deposits, deepen relationships, and make banking feel personal. Related links: [Website] Spiral | Grow Deposits and Engage With Impact [LinkedIn] (8) Shawn Melamed | LinkedIn [Survey] q2.com/podsurvey [Transcript] https://hub.q2.com/resources/col/pf/inside-gen-z-a-fintech-playbook

Fraud is evolving fast, and so must the ways financial institutions fight it. In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Jeff Scott, Q2's VP of Fraudtech Solutions, discusses "Fraud Intelligence," a smarter, trust-first approach to fraud prevention. We explore how financial institutions can build trust without adding friction, the "See It, Stop It, Solve It" framework, and how AI fits into the future of fighting fraud. Related Links: [Webinar] Building Trust, Not Friction: The Future of Fraud Prevention [Ebook] Fraud Intelligence: Build Trust, Not Friction [Website] Fraud Intelligence [Website] AI for Everyone [LinkedIn] Jeff Scott [Survey] q2.com/podsurvey

How financial institutions can best serve Gen Z accountholders is a popular topic in the industry. In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, we look past the buzz to unpack the data about this segment and talk about the gaps between expectations and behavior. Related Links [Podcast] Inside Gen Z: Lessons in Loyalty https://hub.q2.com/resources/col/pf/inside-gen-z-lessons-in-loyalty [Survey] q2.com/podsurvey https://qtwo.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eWd84WStnuoZSXY

This episode of The Purposeful Banker podcast is one in a series of episodes focused on better understanding Gen Z consumers and business owners. In this replay of our "Lessons in Loyalty" panel discussion, three Gen Z consumers unpack the multibank mindset, the importance of personalization, the digital-branch balance, incentives, and the role of education in trust. Related Links: [On-Demand Panel Replay] Lessons in Loyalty: A Live Q&A With Gen Z Consumers https://hub.q2.com/resources/col/pf/lessons-in-loyalty [LinkedIn] Stacy Armijo https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyarmijo/ [LinkedIn] Stuart Featherston https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-featherston-3170745/

Commercial banking runs on relationships, but too often, "gut feel" drives decisions and muddies results. In this episode, Q2's new VP of Product Management, Nick Koutouras, shares how to take the emotion out of relationship management without losing the human touch. We dig into a simple, repeatable operating rhythm—account planning, pricing, measurement, and stakeholder readouts—that builds consistency, confidence, and better outcomes for bankers and leaders alike. Related Links: Nick's LinkedIn: (16) Nicholas Koutouras | LinkedIn [Blog] Commercial Loan and Deposit Pricing Market Update: August 2025 https://hub.q2.com/resources/col/pf/commercial-loan-and-deposit-pricing-market-update-august-2025 [Blog] Commercial Banking Leaders: Becoming a Smarter Bank Requires Smarter Pricing https://hub.q2.com/resources/col/pf/commercial-banking-leaders-becoming-a-smarter-bank-requires-smarter-pricing [Website] Q2 Relationship Pricing and Profitability https://www.q2.com/products/relationship-pricing-and-profitability

Small business owners rely on digital tools to run their businesses, but how does their banking experience measure up? In this episode, hear real-world stories from business owners with diverse needs as they describe their experiences and challenges, and hear from financial institutions that are taking these needs to heart. Related Links [Blog] Small Business Tools, Tactics, and Transformation https://hub.q2.com/resources/col/pf/small-business-tools-tactics-and-transformation?pflpid=61254&pfsid=62E2iBv4Jj [On-Demand Webinar] Why and How to Become the Business Hub for Your SMB Customers https://hub.q2.com/resources/col/pf/why-and-how-to-become-the-business-hub-for-your-smb-customers-2?pflpid=61254&pfsid=62E2iBv4Jj [LinkedIn] Ben Cash https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-cash-03312292/ [LinkedIn] Katrina Leach https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaleachufcu/ [LinkedIn] Shon Cass https://www.linkedin.com/in/scasstsb/ [LinkedIn] Thomas Eorgan https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaseorgan/

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Corey Gross from Q2 and Louann Habenicht from Susser Bank discuss how AI is being used to battle the ongoing check fraud problem. They walk through how positive pay has evolved, how machine learning fits into the process, and what it takes to build not just a tool, but a broader fraud prevention strategy that actually works in the real world. Related Links [Website] Q2 positive pay solution https://www.q2.com/products/risk-and-fraud-management/positive-pay-and-account-reconciliation [LinkedIn] Corey Gross https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreygross/  [LinkedIn] Louann Habenicht https://www.linkedin.com/in/louann-habenicht-55392717/  [Survey] q2.com/podsurvey https://qtwo.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eWd84WStnuoZSXY 

Most banks know they should revisit their treasury pricing annually—but few actually do. Why? Because the process is so complex, manual, and error-prone that it often gets pushed aside. In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, we talk with Todd Klapprodt from Q2 about the real cost of doing nothing, why annual repricing is more strategic than you think, and how automation can unlock both efficiency and growth. Related Links [LinkedIn} Todd Klapprodt https://www.linkedin.com/in/tklapprodt/ [Website] Q2 PrecisionLender https://www.q2.com/products/relationship-pricing-and-profitability

What if we could digitize the end-to-end journey for small businesses? What would that look like, and what would we need to take into consideration? This panel discussion from the CONNECT 25 customer conference tackled that question and revealed some big opportunities to serve this segment better. Related links: [Blog] https://hub.q2.com/blog/serving-small-businesses-starts-with-listening-to-them [LinkedIn] Dean Jenkins https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-jenkins-4b69438/  [LinkedIn] Deidre Barret https://www.linkedin.com/in/diedre-barret-75a77110/  [LinkedIn] Ryan Hill https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanbhill/  [LinkedIn] Kevin Miyamoto https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmiyamoto/  [Survey] q2.com/podsurvey https://qtwo.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eWd84WStnuoZSXY

What do upper middle market and large corporate clients really need from their financial institutions? Get the inside scoop from industry experts and banking leaders as they draw from recent research and real-world experiences to discuss market trends, competitive dynamics, and the evolving expectations of sophisticated commercial clients. Related Links [Blog] Leveraging the Power Trio of Serving Large Commercial Clients https://hub.q2.com/blog/leveraging-the-power-trio-of-serving-large-commercial-clients Dean's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-jenkins-4b69438/ Christine's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-barry-2852351/ Alan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koenigsberg/ Chad's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadparramore/ Rob's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-n-5642541a2/

Hey listeners! Take our podcast survey to help us choose the content and conversations you'll find most beneficial. Only 10 questions: q2.com/podsurvey In this episode, John Min, chief economist at Monex USA, joins the podcast to talk about how community banks are missing out on an opportunity to strengthen business relationships while impacting the bottom line by not offering foreign exchange services. Related Links: Q2 Innovation Studio: https://www.q2.com/products/digital-banking/innovation-studio Monex: https://monexusa.com John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-min-4941634/

Listeners, give us your feedback to help us make The Purposeful Banker more meaningful for you! Take our brief, 10-question survey at q2.com/podsurvey  In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Sara Seguin from Alloy joins Jim Young to talk about the increasing threat of account takeover and email compromise and how financial institutions can help their business customers fight back. Related Links Sarah's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraseguin/ Ongoing Fraud Monitoring from Q2 https://hub.q2.com/product-overview/ongoing-fraud-monitoring    

Listeners, give us your feedback to help us make The Purposeful Banker more meaningful for you! Take our brief, 10-question survey at q2.com/podsurvey  In this episode, Dave Brebner returns to The Purposeful Banker to continue discussing how financial institutions can boost their small business portfolio using a strategic framework. Related Links Small Business Strategy Scorecard: https://hub.q2.com/whitepapers/small-business-strategy-scorecard Dave's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-brebner-9a2543/  

Mary Gilmeister, the CEO of PaymentsFirst (formerly MACHA), joins the podcast to talk about the organization's Instant Payments Cookbook, who needs to read it, and how it came together. Related Links: The Instant Payments Cookbook (Use promo code Q22025 for discount) PaymentsFirst website Mary's LinkedIn

Joe Cody, principal digital solutions strategist at Q2, joins the podcast to talk about three important focus areas for winning and keeping commercial business in the current financial landscape. Related Links [Webinar] The Commercial Banking War Room: Tactics That Win [Survey] The Purposeful Banker listener survey

Listeners, give us your feedback to help us make The Purposeful Banker more meaningful for you! Take our brief, 10-question survey at q2.com/podsurvey  This episode, featuring Dave Brebner from Q2 Strategic Advisory Services, is the first of a two-part series that details how financial institutions can boost their small business strategy -- or any portfolio strategy -- based on a proven success framework. Related Links Small Business Strategy Scorecard Dave's LinkedIn Cheryl's LinkedIn

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Jim Young welcomes Sara Seguin from Alloy to talk about some of the important takeaways from Alloy's 2025 State of Fraud Report. Related Links [Report] Alloy's 2025 State of Fraud Report [LinkedIn] Sara Seguin [Solution Information] Q2/Alloy

Jim Young welcomes Jim Mortensen from Datos Insights for this mini-episode providing a preview of a March 13 webinar on fraud orchestration and how it can help financial institutions build stronger defenses. Register for March 13 webinar: Fraud Orchestration: Staying A Step Ahead of Financial Fraudsters Jim Mortensen's LinkedIn

The Purposeful Banker welcomes Caroline Vahrenkamp from Filene Research Institute to talk about the business banking opportunity for credit unions, how they can take advantage, and the market impact. Related Links Caroline's LinkedIn Filene Research Institute on LinkedIn [Podcast Series] Experience Factor with Jim Marous [Webinar with CUInsight] Innovation for the Win: How Cyprus Credit Union Uses Data to Improve Lives [White Paper] Q2 Engage: Building Lifetime Relationships With Dynamic Personal Experiences  

The Purposeful Banker welcomes Christine Held and Jessica Salerno from Bank of Ann Arbor to talk about why their bank is a strong proponent of positive pay to help business customers battle payments fraud and how it has shaped cutomer relationships. Related Links: [2024 Datos Report] The Opportunity Your FI Is Missing by Not Effectively Selling Positive Pay Christine Held on LinkedIn Jessica Salerno on LinkedIn Cheryl Brown on LinkedIn Bank of Ann Arbor on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Jim Young and Anna-Fay Lohn, Q2 senior strategic business advisor and co-author of the 2025 State of Commercial Banking report, preview some of the takeaways in this year's report, which is based primarily on the proprietary pricing data in Q2 PrecisionLender. [Webinar] 2025 State of Commercial Banking

This week's The Purposeful Banker shares Tania Katan's talk from the 2024 BankOnPurpose executive leadership conference, where she demonstrated how creativity and humanity drive passion and innovation—even in the banking industry. [Website] BankOnPurpose [LinkedIn] Tania Katan [Ted Talk] Giselle Mota

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, we share Sam Maule's keynote from the 2024 BankOnPurpose executive leadership conference, where he likened the pressurized environment of a submarine to the pressures of the banking industry. Related Links BankOnPurpose Sam's LinkedIn

The Purposeful Banker welcomes Matt Ross from Accenture to talk about how small businesses' banking needs have changed and how financial institutions are responding. Related links: [Dec. 9 Webinar] The Future of SMB Banking: Partnership and Innovation Matt's LinkedIn

The Purposeful Banker welcomes back Stacy Armijo from Amplify Credit Union to talk about the credit union's unique approach to customer experience, non-interest income, and commercial banking.  [Client Success Story] Q2 Helps Amplify Credit Union Go Fee-Free [Podcast] The Quest for Deposits: What's Working Now and What Will Work Eventually  [Website] Amplify Credit Union Jim's LinkedIn Stacy's LinkedIn

The Purposeful Banker welcomes back Sam Maule from Moov, a speaker at our upcoming BankOnPurpose leadership conference and a self-proclaimed "technology optimist," to talk about AI, fraud, and the profound effect technology is having on business.

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Dallas Wells welcomes Q2 Chief Availability Officer Lou Senko to discuss the impact of fraud on the industry and Q2's approach to security and cybercrime.

What does bank technology have in common with a semi truck? And how does business nihilism get in the way of digital transformation? Find out as Q2 Chief Technology Officer Adam Blue joins Dallas Wells for this episode of The Purposeful Banker.

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Dallas Wells welcomes Hunter Moses, head of Q2's Strategic Advisory Services team, to discuss how segmentation and personalization can make a big difference in attracting and keeping small and medium-size business accounts.

In honor of Q2's 20th anniversary, Dallas Wells welcomes our founder Hank Seale to the podcast for a look back at how his mission of empowering financial institutions through technology has come to fruition and how he's bringing the next part of his vision to life.

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Dallas Wells welcomes Kathy Dwyer from the Q2 product team to discuss the growing demand for integration between companies' ERP accounting systems and their digital banking platforms.

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Dallas Wells welcomes Beth-Anne Bygum, Q2's chief information security officer, to discuss the implications of GenAI on security and compliance and what financial institutions should consider for successful adoption. 

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Dallas Wells welcomes Corey Gross, VP of Product Management at Q2, to talk about the impact of GenAI on banking, including current use cases and those expected to develop.

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Dallas Wells welcomes Q2 CMO Carlos Carvajal for a discussion about how marketing in banking has evolved and how to make more meaningful, profitable connections with customers.

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Dallas Wells sits down with Q2 President Kirk Coleman to get his perspectives on some of the most pressing topics in banking.

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Dallas Wells talks with Ben Cash from the Q2 product team about the expanding role of technology in treasury and cash management.

Alex Habet welcomes Dallas Wells back to the podcast to catch up on the latest hot topics in bank technology, including AI, fraud, and payments.

In this episode of The Purposeful Banker, Jim Young welcomes Keith Gray from The Clearing House for an update on how banks and businesses are adopting the instant payments rails.