Plugged In - A Banking Podcast

Hosted by Al Dominick and Steve Williams

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May 2026

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About the show

Plugged In brings you raw, honest takes on all things in the banking industry. That means you aren’t going to get some buzzword-filled, cliche podcast – you’re getting an unfiltered look into topics in the financial world no one else is talking about. Your hosts, Al Dominick and Steve Williams, will talk to top players in the industry about what matters now, and what will shape the future. To groove along with Al and Steve's song references in each episode, check out the official Plugged In Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Z7NWPIQuaXQlfHxLWJb3g?si=o552CzjwTr6R4mx13NmOBA Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://qrco.de/bgfV5g

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May 6, 2026Episode 5025 min

Starting a Bank in the Age of AI

We’re at a wake-up moment. In ten years, banking has changed more than it did in the century before. So, Al and Steve pose a question: If you created a bank from scratch in 2026, how would you build it? Their answer: cleaner data models, AI agents embedded from day one and a workforce already fluent in the tools. Plus, Al and Steve highlight what established banks can embrace right now to stay competitive at a time of turbulent change. Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://qrco.de/bgfV5gChapters[00:00] Intro: Building a Bank From Scratch[02:00] AI Is Changing Everything[03:30] If We Started a Bank Today…[05:30] Data as the Foundation[07:00] The “Tiger Team” Approach[09:20] Tech vs Banks: Who’s Learning Faster?[11:30] Why Small, Fast Teams Win[13:00] AI Experiments & Real-World Examples[14:30] Rethinking Bank Performance Metrics[16:00] Service as Software[17:30] AI, Stablecoins & Cost of Funds[19:30] Advice for Existing Banks[21:30] The Future Bank Leadership Team[23:00] Why Curiosity Matters Now[24:30] Final Thoughts: Adapting to What’s Next

April 1, 2026Episode 4925 min

The Long Game (with Bourbon on the Side) // CEO Ja Hillebrand

Banking keeps getting easier and faster. But according to Stock Yards Bank & Trust Chairman and CEO Ja Hillebrand, none of these technology upgrades can replace relationships. As he says: “You still have to wear out the shoe leather.” On the show, Ja joins Al and Steve to discuss why the fundamentals of banking haven’t changed and how his bank continues to deliver consistent earnings growth. Plus, Ja shares pro tips for attending the Kentucky Derby and talks about his favorite bourbons. Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://qrco.de/bgfV5g Chapters[00:00] Bourbon, Banking & the Origin Story[02:55] Playing the Long Game in Banking[03:35] Bourbon Picks & Personality Break[05:49] Strategy vs. Execution Gap[06:38] Winning = Thinking 20 Years Ahead[07:38] Why Relationships Still Win[10:44] Service That Never Goes Out of Style[13:09] M&A, Growth & Staying Independent[16:04] Focus vs. Over-Diversification[20:10] AI, Competition & the Future[23:16] Kentucky Derby Tips & Wrap-Up

January 14, 2026Episode 4821 min

Not Your Typical Q1 Outlook

They’re back. Al and Steve kick off the year by discussing the biggest forces shaping banking right now, including something particularly challenging: growth.From how banks are allocating capital to how leaders ought to measure results, they unpack what’s working, what isn’t, and preview themes from Ron Shevlin’s upcoming 2026 What’s Going On In Banking report. Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in Chapters:[00:00] Welcome to 2026 & “I’m Still Standing”[01:15] Why Bank Size Doesn’t Equal Ambition[02:30] Growth Is Harder Than It Looks[03:35] “Grow or Go” Is Too Simple[04:40] Capital Allocation is more important than Asset Growth[06:05] Discipline Beats Scale[07:40] Making Technology Pay for Itself[09:45] When to Kill a Tech Investment[11:05] “Running Up That Hill” & Tech Roadmaps[15:55] What Banks Must Get Right Next

December 17, 2025Episode 4727 min

Don’t Call It a Comeback w/ Jim Reuter

What inspires a seasoned bank CEO to come out of retirement? As Jim Reuter, CEO and president of First Interstate Bank, tells Al and Steve on the show: “There’s a saying . …that musicians don’t retire until there’s no music left in them. There was still some music left in me.”They discuss his career, succession best practices and some of the biggest forces reshaping regional banking. Plus, they offer up their 2026 predictions.Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in Chapters: [00:00] Jim Rueter Returns to Plugged In[01:00] From FirstBank to First Interstate[02:10] Vinyl Vault & Music Themes[03:00] Why Jim Came Out of Retirement[05:00] Leadership Lessons & Succession[06:40] Growth Barriers & Competition[08:20] Brand Density and Digital Strategy[11:30] Deposit Displacement Reality Check[16:00] The Scale Debate in Banking[19:15] The ROI of Technology[23:50] 2026 Banking Predictions[26:40] Closing Thoughts & Wrap-Up

December 3, 2025Episode 4624 min

The Beat Goes On in Banking w/ Archie Brown

Regional banks don’t often get compared to pop music, but maybe they should.On the show today, First Financial Bank President and CEO Archie Brown explains why great banks survive turbulence by evolving with the times, just like great pop artists. He talks with Al and Steve about what credit risk actually looks like today and how midsize banks can hold their own against the industry’s giants. Plus, they explore the value of only focusing on what you can control. As Archie puts it: “There’s nothing else you can do.”Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in Chapters:[00:00] Intro – Welcoming Archie Brown [00:54] Optimism, Adversity & “Better Days” [02:00] Why High-Performing Banks Don’t Get Respect [04:45] Credit Risk: The Market Gets It Wrong [08:22] Competing With the Big Banks: Talent & Tech [11:29] Tech Investment & AI: Moving Faster Than Goliath [14:06] Knowing When to Double Down vs. Walk Away [17:17] Pop Music, Banking & Evolving Without Losing Identity [20:36] Leadership in a Digital-First World [23:42] Closing Thoughts & What’s Next

October 7, 2025Episode 4519 min

A.I. Promises, Banking Realities, and a Few Hidden Gems

Today on the show, Al and Steve reunite in the Arizona desert to unpack the themes they have been hearing at banking conferences and boardroom meetings nationwide. Two big standouts: the practical use cases of A.I. (yes, there are some) and the surge in M&A activity. Plus, they dig into the generational shift in banking where younger consumers play the field in which financial providers they use.Chapters:[00:00] Back in the Desert — Kicking Off Plugged In[00:41] Coast to Coast: Travels and Boardroom Insights[03:09] The AI Hype Curve — Entering the Trough of Disillusionment[05:22] Real AI Wins: Chatbots, Fraud Detection & Efficiency Gains[07:24] The CFO Reality Check — Why AI Might Cost More[08:50] Finding Your Voice with ChatGPT[10:16] The Next Generation of Banking: Gen Z & Liquidity Shifts[12:54] Creating Capacity and Strengthening Franchise Value[14:08] The M&A Wave: Big Brands, Big Bets, and Faster Deals[18:15] Speed, Purpose, and the Future of BankingSubscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in

August 6, 2025Episode 4421 min

“Brace” Yourself for the Shenanigans in Banking

Deal-making is heating up.On the show today: Al and Steve sit down with Mike Maddox, CEO and president of the newly expanded $20B-asset Busey Bank, which merged with CrossFirst Bank earlier this year. They dig into scale, succession and strategy.They also discuss what stablecoins mean for banking, Busey’s $14B wealth management platform and why Mike thinks that regional banks should act more like professional services firms to serve their markets best.Chapters:[00:00] Welcome & Ozzy-Inspired Kickoff[00:41] Meet Mike Maddox: Regional Banking Veteran[01:12] The State of Bank M&A: Scale and Strategy[04:04] Solving for Succession: Leadership Transition[06:13] Market Expansion: From Midwest Roots to Sunbelt Growth[07:32] Preserving Regional Culture in a Growing Bank[10:58] The $14 Billion Wealth Platform Advantage[14:17] Banking Innovation: Tech, Payments & FirstTech[18:50] Looking Ahead: Post-Merger Integration & Opportunity[19:48] Wrap-Up: Culture, Metrics & Modern Banking VisionSubscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in

July 2, 2025Episode 4317 min

Ep 43: Cruel Summer: Stablecoins, GenAI, M&A

Banking is only getting hotter. On the show today, Al and Steve break down midyear trends, from GenAI's impact on creativity (it isn’t good) to stablecoins and a potential surprising M&A rebound. Plus, they explore one of the biggest industry questions right now: In a deregulatory environment, where can banks win and lose? TBD. But as Al says: “Fundamentals never go out of style.”Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in

May 21, 2025Episode 4225 min

Ep 42: The Balance Sheet Restructure That Transformed the Bank // CEO Chip Reeves

Today on the show, Al and Steve catch up with Chip Reeves, CEO of MidWestOne Bank, to get the inside story into how the Midwestern bank managed to not lose a single top client when it overhauled its balance sheet in a short amount of time. Chip also shares how the institution recruits top talent and its approach to competing with the likes of Chase, the banking giant that’s been plopping down branches in MidWestOne's turf (otherwise known as the land of star basketball player, Caitlin Clark). And yes, there’s some singing by Al to an 80’s banger.🎧📺 https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in

May 9, 2025Episode 4122 min

Ep 41: Numbers Don't Lie - How This $5.5B Bank in Kansas Was Built // CEO Brad Elliott

On the show today: Al and Steve speak with Brad Elliott, founder, chairman and CEO of Equity Bank, about building a $5.5 billion institution through an aggressive M&A strategy.Brad shares how the bank attracts and develops talent as well as offers his take on GenAI and how to cultivate trust in digital and physical channels.