We’re at a once-in-a-generation inflection point—AI is accelerating scale, barriers are falling, and banks have an outsized opportunity to power the next wave of small business growth.
The next wave of artificial intelligence goes beyond better tools—it gives them autonomous agents. This session explores what agentic AI means for the future of relationship managers, and how institutions are deploying AI systems to proactively identify cross-sell opportunities, flag at-risk relationships, prepare call briefs, and automate follow-up at scale. Industry leaders will debate where autonomous AI delivers the greatest competitive advantage, where human judgment remains irreplaceable, and how banks are building the governance frameworks needed to deploy agentic systems responsibly. The discussion will examine what the institutions moving first are learning—and what everyone else risks by waiting.
Small businesses are turning away from financial institutions and seeking better, more affordable services from rival fintechs and neobanks. This session explores how banks can regain competitive advantage in the new battleground for the SMB relationship. At issue: how banks bring accounting, payroll, and e-commerce services to small business clients who are eager to manage cash flow more effectively. Industry leaders will debate where the embedded finance opportunity is greatest, where the threat of disintermediation is most acute, and what a winning app or platform strategy looks like for large and small banks and credit unions. The discussion will examine how banks are deciding whether to build or partner, and how to stay at the center of the small business banking relationship.
Small business deposits are among the most valuable assets in banking—low-cost and relationship-anchoring. They are also increasingly under siege. Neobanks and platform-native financial services are targeting small business owners with digital-first experiences and seamlessly integrated tools that many traditional institutions still cannot match. The banks and credit unions winning the deposit battle in 2026 are competing not just on rate, but on speed, simplicity, and the genuine sense that their institution is invested in the success of the businesses they serve. This session delivers a practical, immediately applicable toolkit for winning new small business deposits and—more importantly—retaining the relationships you already have, including what is working right now, what has failed, and what every institution needs to do differently to stop losing ground.
While the SBA has expanded capital access for high-growth businesses, its recent rule changes could present challenges for banks. While SBA borrowers can now combine 7(a) and 504 loan limits for up to $10 million—double the previous limit—banks must now meet more rigorous SBA-specific loan guidelines, reducing underwriting flexibility.
This session explores the specific implications of the SBA’s rule changes and how they will affect national and community banks. Industry practitioners will examine what has changed in underwriting standards, program eligibility, and compliance requirements—and what banks need to do to stay out in front of the wide-ranging implications of the new rules in place. The discussion will address how the most forward-looking lenders are turning regulatory change into a competitive advantage, and what their new small business lending playbook looks like.
- Modernizing Your Technology Stack
- Competing for and Keeping Small Business Members
- Scaling Small Business Lending to Compete With Banks and Alternative Lenders
- Managing Fraud, Risk and Regulatory Complexity
- Reaching Underserved Small Business Members Profitably
- AI and the Reinvention of Small Business Banking
- Cash Flow, Credit, and the Future of Lending
- Payments, Deposits, and Treasury as Growth Engines
- Fraud and Cybersecurity in the AI Era
- On-Chain Finance, Stablecoins, and the Next Financial Infrastructure
Small business owners do not wake up thinking about banking. They wake up thinking about making payroll, managing cash flow, finding customers, retaining employees and growing their businesses. Yet as economic uncertainty, technological change and competitive pressures continue to accelerate, the role banks play in helping business owners navigate these challenges has never been more important.
In this keynote session, Heather Kesner will challenge attendees to view the future of banking through a different perspective: the perspective of the owner. Drawing on insights from serving millions of small businesses, Kesner will explore how banks can build stronger relationships and deliver more meaningful value by understanding the day-to-day realities entrepreneurs face.
Small businesses are the fastest-growing target of financial fraud and most of them aren’t adequately—if at all—protected. This session explores the rapidly evolving fraud landscape confronting small business owners, from business email compromise and synthetic identity fraud to account takeover and payment scams. Industry leaders will examine why small businesses have become the primary target of sophisticated attackers, how treasury management solutions are emerging as a critical line of defense for visibility, and how to gain greater control over payment flows. The key for banks: moving from reactive loss management to proactive, relationship-defining protection. The discussion will address how institutions are turning their commitment to small business security—and the treasury management tools that support it—into a competitive differentiator that fosters loyalty and drives retention
Small businesses rarely fail from lack of demand—they fail from delayed access to cash. This panel explores whether on-chain finance can fundamentally reshape SMB liquidity through tokenized invoices, real-time settlement, and programmable working capital. Industry leaders will debate whether these models truly reduce friction and expand access to capital, or simply introduce new operational, regulatory, and adoption challenges. The discussion will examine how banks, fintechs, and digital asset infrastructure providers are rethinking supply chain finance, receivables, and the future of SMB liquidity.
Small business owners expect instant, seamless payments from their banks—anything less could be a deal breaker. This session explores the practical steps needed to close the payments gap—which is impacting some institutions’ small business relationships—and deliver a better, faster, more integrated customer experience for small businesses.
The gap between what small businesses want from their bank and what most deliver has never been wider—or more critical. They want transparency around finances, tailored guidance, and access to capital. Yet many banks fail to deliver these, opening the door for small businesses to turn to fintech rivals.This session explores the latest on small business owner attitudes, expectations, and banking behaviors that provide a data-driven picture of where the market segment is headed. Industry leaders will examine what small business owners most want—instant credit decisions, proactive fraud protection, seamless payments, and genuine advisory support—and why so few banks are consistently delivering it. The discussion will address the specific changes in product design, service model, and digital experience that will determine who wins and who loses the small business relationship.
The gap between what leaders intend to prioritize and what teams actually execute has never been wider, or more consequential. In a fast-moving environment, the line between what is interesting and what is truly important can blur, making it harder to sustain focus while keeping teams engaged and motivated. This fireside chat explores how leaders can drive meaningful colleague engagement while maintaining disciplined sales execution. Patrick Cristino will share perspectives on navigating competing priorities, distinguishing high-impact work from distractions and balancing inspiration with accountability. The discussion will examine how leaders can create clarity, reinforce ownership and translate engagement into measurable performance—ensuring teams stay energized while delivering consistent, results-driven execution.
