​“If you can’t beat them, join them.”

​This is a prevalent line of thinking in the community banking space. 

​The premise is simple — community banks can’t compete with fintech companies or big banks. Therefore, they must either become bigger banks themselves (through M&A) or rent out their charters for fintech companies to build on top of (through Banking-as-a-Service).

​This premise is false.

​Community banks can compete with fintech companies and big banks and they can win when they combine an obsessive focus on their target customers with the thoughtful application of disruptive technology.

​In this webinar, you will:

• ​Learn how to define “disruption" for the middle market in banking: do they win with a mosaic of best-of-breed point solutions, or investing in a full platform? 

• ​Watch a discussion on how smaller banks and credit unions can mirror (and augment) their close community relationships with a superior digital presence. 

• ​Anticipate how trends in the wider economy will affect community banks and credit unions with respect to M&A, regulation, and industry/market headwinds. 

​And a huge THANK YOU to Narmi for making this event possible! Narmi exists to help community financial institutions win against megabanks and fintechs. The Narmi One platform is designed to address all functions for banks and credit unions, from account opening to digital banking and back-office administration – enabling unprecedented bank primacy, operational efficiency, and growth opportunities.

​​Alex Johnson

​​Alex Johnson is the founder and author of Fintech Takes, a media brand focused on the collision of banking and technology. In his 2x weekly newsletter and weekly podcast, Alex explores the ideas and companies changing the way that money works, with plenty of analogies and pop culture references along the way!

​​​​​Prior to joining Workweek, Alex spent 15+ years in various marketing, strategy, and market research roles at companies including Cornerstone Advisors, FICO, and Mercator Advisory Group.

​​​​​He is a recognized financial industry expert and his analysis has been featured in American Banker, The Wall Street Journal, and NBC Nightly News. Alex lives in Montana and spends his spare time hiking and chasing his young children around.

​Chris Griffin, Co-Founder at Narmi

​Chris Griffin is the Co-Founder and Head of Product and Engineering of Narmi, a financial technology firm headquartered in New York City that builds enterprise digital banking solutions. Chris is a lifelong technologist and graduate of Georgetown University. Prior to founding Narmi, Chris worked at both small and large financial institutions in roles spanning from Teller to Delta One Equity Trader to Chief Information Officer. Chris currently resides in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and daughter.