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

05/09/25 • 22 min

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.

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.

Previous Episode

Ep 40: Embracing Entrepreneurship in a Disruptive Market

Generative A.I. is an intervention moment for the financial services industry.

Today on the show, Al and Steve chat about A.I. playbooks and what banks are doing with GenAI right now (namely tepid things, like testing Microsoft Copilot with their employees). They present a bigger question: should banks pursue A.I. strategies right now?

Al and Steve also explore the other timely hot word in financial services: uncertainty. What happens next with the economy remains to be seen, but Al and Steve offer up reasons why the C-suite ought to cultivate creativity whichever direction the market moves.

Show notes

Why most Companies Shouldn’t Have an AI Strategy (WSJ article; subscription required)

Next Episode

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.

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