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Hi, I’m Al Dominick (@aldominick) and with my "About That Ratio" blog I share my perspectives on the big, transformative opportunities available to — and risky, complicated challenges found at — financial institutions today. While my role as President at Bank Director certainly influences my perspectives, these views reflect my own personal opinions, and not those of my company.

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3 Challenges That Comes With Technology In this brief video, I share three major areas of risk facing financial institutions today.  Filmed during yesterday's 

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3 Key Takeaways from Bank Director’s Audit & Risk Conference

A quick check-in from the Swissotel in Chicago, where we just wrapped up the main day of Bank Director’s 10th annual Bank Audit & Risk Committees Conference.  This is a fascinating event, one focused on key accounting, risk and regulatory issues aligned with the information needs of a bank’s Chairman, CEO, Bank Audit Committee, Bank Risk Committee, CFO, CRO and internal auditor.  Risk + strategy…

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The FinTech Ecosystem

Last Friday, I had the pleasure to be invited to the White House’s FinTech Summit, where, as the Wall Street Journal reported, the half-day event “largely focused on how government agencies can tap into the innovation, in which new firms are offering small-business owners and consumers faster forms of loans and digital payments.”  Certainly, collaboration between technology companies and…

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Banks Have to Grow to be Competitive

Banks Have to Grow to be Competitive

As I reflect on my time at Bank Director’s Growing the Bank conference, I can’t shake the fact that many banks across the United States continue to struggle to grow their deposits and/or expand asset bases.  What follows is a piece authored by Tim Melvin, a gifted writer who joined us at the Four Seasons outside of Dallas.  Tim specializes in value investing and has written numerous articles in…

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Creativity and collaboration took center stage at Bank Director’s Growing The Bank conference this Monday and Tuesday at the Four Seasons Resort & Club at Las Colinas Irving, TX.  There, leadership teams from banks, non-banks and financial technology companies alike focused on opportunities to grow revenue, deposits, brands, market size and market share through innovation and collaboration.  Below, a few of the photos taken for us by John Sloan of  Foxtrot Photography.

we so very appreciate the 240+ that joined us in Dallas

Bank Director magazine’s editor, Naomi Snyder

Digging the FinXTech signage that joined the BD family!

Talking the future of bank branches with fellow college baseball player, Brian Read, Executive Vice President, Retail Banking, Umpqua Holdings Corp. and Umpqua Bank

Josh Glover, SVP Community & Regional Financial Institutions, nCino

Great to hear from Jim McAlpin Jr., Partner, Bryan Cave LLP

Our Chief Brand Officer, Michelle King

Laura Proffitt and Mika Moser doing what our team does best

Shawn Ward, CEO & Co-Founder, Geezeo (and fellow RedSox fan)

“Super” Mario Garcia, Chief Experience Officer, Nymbus

Nima Ghamsari, CEO & Co-Founder, Blend

a personal favorite – moderating our point/counterpoint session

omg, our Publisher, Kelsey Weaver, trying to “get big” too!

Thanks to Rebecca – and Jackie (her first conference with us!)

Jill Castilla, President & CEO, Citizens Bank of Edmond and Jay Tuli, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Leader Bank, National Association

Steve Powless, CEO, Computer Services, Inc.

Mika owning the podium

Thomas Jankovich, Principal & Innovation Leader, US Financial Services Practice, Deloitte Consulting

Trying to “get big” – based on our recent two-day workshop

Putting into practice what Schatzie Brunner suggested

Joe Bartolotta, EVP/Strategic Partnerships, Eastern Bank

Proud of our team’s efforts — Laura Schield runs our events and she and the team did an awesome job!

For more on the issues and ideas surfaced throughout the event, check out BankDirector.com and FinXTech.com.

Growing the Bank – Photo Recap Creativity and collaboration took center stage at Bank Director's Growing The Bank conference this Monday and Tuesday…

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Early Takeaways from Bank Director's Growing the Bank Conference

Early Takeaways from Bank Director’s Growing the Bank Conference

With continuous pressure on bankers to grow earnings, developing clear strategies, repeatable practices and incorporating exceptional user-experience technologies has to be high on almost every executives to-do list. How do you bank? By taking a pause before answering this question, you will appreciate how, regardless of age, we all expect greater pricing transparency, an ease of use/always-on…

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Blockchain 101 – a Primer for a Bank’s CEO and Board The rapid transformation of the financial services industry -- due to technological innovations and shifting customer expectations -- is quite remarkable.

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A Bank's Future Is _____

A Bank’s Future Is _____

Today’s pop quiz A bank’s future is: (a)  Bright (b) Non-existent (c) Technology-dependent (d) Unclear By deliberating before answering this question (and subsequently leaving a reply below), you will better understand how + why my team at Bank Director developed the agenda for our Growing the Bank Conference. Next Monday and Tuesday, at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Las Colinas in Dallas, we…

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The Digitization of Banking

The Digitization of Banking

TransferWise, a fintech not shy in touting its “Bye Bye Banks” slogan, recently announced it is shifting course and now intends to partner with banks.  From anti-bank to partnership ready.  Hmm… the times really are a-changin’ Since I filmed this recap at Nasdaq, it has become more and more clear that innovation knows no size.…

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For those who have worked with me, you know that I favor the proverb “to go fast, go alone… to go far, go together.”  This idea certainly applies to our business culture and extends to the work we do on behalf of our communities.  

Earlier this week, I received some wonderful news from Mika Moser, Linda Endres and Emily McCormick (the three ladies in the picture above).  They represented Bank Director at the 2015 United Way Williamson County awards ceremony and came back to the office with some serious hardware:

We won a “Circle of Caring” award, which is given for outstanding company campaigns baed on (1) organization and growth (2) level of corporate and employee giving and (3) year-round commitment to United Way programs.

In addition, we received a “Greatest Campaign Participation” award which is made to those companies with 90%+ participation (*we had 100% FWIW).

Most impressive, we took home this year’s “Best Campaign Award” for a company with under 100 employees.  Of note, I am so exceptionally proud of the fact that we donated $38,000 (on average, $1,650 per employee) to United Way in 2015.

Ironically, these awards we made just a few days before nearly all members of our Nashville office volunteered at a Community Housing Partnership day.  Some pictures from the fun (that also shows its not just money that we’re donating to help improve our local communities):

Getting set for a good morning together

Laura Proffitt looking like a pro

Clean up time

Curious if Linda planted this on her own?

Ryan being put to work (again)

Detailing the house

Teamwork

I am incredibly proud of my colleagues and what we’ve done year after year for United Way, which in the company’s hometown supports 48 programs through 32 partner agencies.  Congratulations to our campaign leadership and the entire team who have made our annual United Way campaign so much of who we are!  Way to go!!

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Al Dominick is the President & CEO of Bank Director, a privately held media & publishing company designed around strategically important business issues that a CEO, executive and/or board member(s) need to know — and be prepared to address.  An information resource to the financial community since 1991, the company publishes Bank Director magazine every month, hosts major industry conferences like “Acquire or Be Acquired,” conducts board-level research, provides board education & training programs, runs BankDirector.com… and recently launched FinXTech.

Recognizing Bank Director’s Efforts to Create Positive Change For those who have worked with me, you know that I favor the proverb “to go fast, go alone... 

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Takeaways from Commerce Street Capital's Banking Conference

Takeaways from Commerce Street Capital’s Banking Conference

Insight and ideas come from many sources; today’s, from Commerce Street Capital’s 14th annual Bank Conference at the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas (home of the Byron Nelson golf tournament — hence today’s picture). Commerce Street chose “The Sky’s the Limit” as this year’s theme — so I will play off of the investment banking firm’s message and keep my takeaways at a 30,000 foot level: Dory…

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A fun departure from my recent posts in order to share pictures with various members of my team from the first ninety days of 2016.  As the weather warms and New Year’s resolutions (remember those) yield to Spring routines, I am very proud that my colleagues at Bank Director continue to navigate their days with curiosity, optimism and I hope a sense of humor. There are three cultural values that drive the way we work:

Make others successful The most powerful word we use is “WE” Individual ownership supports collective responsibility

So as I reflect on individual efforts and the time spent crafting memorable experiences that occur online, in-person and/or in print, some of my favorite photos from the start of the year reflect the team dynamic I am so proud of.

Room set for 935 attendees at the Arizona Biltmore

Setting up for Acquire or Be Acquired

Robert is amazed that we’re in Arizona for AOBA again

The classic car auction at the Arizona Biltmore was a nice touch for this year’s AOBA

On sale at AOBA setup

On display during AOBA setup

Team Bank Director out on the golf course

Mika and me at the Breakers

Lucy and me at the Breakers

Breakfast at our Chairman/CEO Peer Exchange

Mika and Jack holding it down

My sister, Suzanne, with a surprise appearance at Nasdaq

Ringing the closing bell with some of our friends

Closing bell ceremony on March 1

FinTech Day at Nasdaq on March 1

Michelle and Lucy welcoming folks to NYC

Moderating a discussion on the value of colorful socks vs creative pocket squares

Bill King and Kelsey’s Day showing up in NYC

Appreciating Nasdaq’s hospitality

three of the four guys represented here (sad?)

Throwing on the pastels in Arizona

One of my favorites, Michael Shepherd

Braving the cold and snow right before AOBA (1 reason we hold it in AZ each year is to escape this type of wintry mix!)

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Al Dominick (thats me above) is the President & CEO of Bank Director, a privately held media & publishing company designed around strategically important business issues that a CEO, executive and/or board member(s) need to know — and be prepared to address. An information resource to the financial community since 1991, we publish Bank Director magazine, host conferences like “Acquire or Be Acquired,” conduct board-level research, provide board education & training programs, run BankDirector.com… and recently launched FinXTech.

Our First Quarter (In Pictures) A fun departure from my recent posts in order to share pictures with various members of my team from the first ninety days of 2016.  

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The Convergence of Bob Dylan and Banking

The Convergence of Bob Dylan and Banking

Some of the most visible innovations in the banking world today are platform-based, data intensive and capital light.  Personally, I’m just as encouraged by “incumbent” institutions supporting new fintech entrants — with infrastructure and access to services — as I am creative new companies (like Nymbus, nCino, etc.) providing smaller and mid-sized banks with sophisticated new capabilities.…

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Cybersecurity and the Fintech Wave

Cybersecurity and the Fintech Wave

Earlier this month, at Bank Director’s FinTech Day at Nasdaq’s MarketSite in New York City, I noted how many technology firms are developing strategies, practices and tools that will dramatically influence how banking gets done in the future. Concomitantly, I expressed an optimism that banks are learning from these new players, adapting their offerings and identifying opportunities to collaborate…

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Banking on Fintech DNA

Banking on Fintech DNA

As we talked about at FinTech Day last Tuesday, technology will play a fundamental role in changing the dynamics of banking, be it shining a light on out-dated practices to dramatically enriching the services and experiences being offered to customers. By Al Dominick, President & CEO, Bank Director As our editor-in-chief recently wrote, “technology has always been integral to banking, bringing…

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3 Quick Takeaways from #fintech16 (aka Bank Director's FinTech Day at Nasdaq's MarketSite)

3 Quick Takeaways from #fintech16 (aka Bank Director’s FinTech Day at Nasdaq’s MarketSite)

As evidenced by the various conversions at yesterday’s FinTech Day, the next few years promises to be one of profound transformation in the financial sector. By Al Dominick, President & CEO, Bank Director At a time when changing consumer behavior and new technologies are inspiring innovation throughout the financial services community, I had a chance to open this year’s FinTech Day program with a…

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March 1 is FinTech Day

March 1 is FinTech Day

Tomorrow is FinTech Day… here is what you need to know in advance of this exclusive one-day event. What: Bank Director’s FinTech Day When: Tuesday, March 1 2016 Where: Nasdaq’s MarketSite (4 Times Square – 43rd & Broadway) Overview: The next few years promises to be one of profound transformation in the financial sector. Clearly, the fabric of the industry continues to evolve as new technology…

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