| | NCEL Newsletter | October 2025 |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | Gearing Up for the 2025 NC Emerging Leaders Conference |
|
|
|
| | Two days of learning, networking, and leadership development in beautiful Asheville, NC. |
|
|
|
| | | The countdown is on for the 2025 NC Emerging Leaders Conference, taking place November 3–4 in Asheville. One year after Hurricane Helene, we are returning to Western North Carolina for two days of insight, connection, and hands-on development. | | From leadership training and industry sneak peeks to networking opportunities that span peer groups and senior leadership, the conference is designed to equip emerging leaders with the tools, relationships, and confidence they need to shape the future of banking in our state. | | And the conversation doesn’t stop there — stick around for the NCBA Management Forum, November 4–6, to continue building connections and gain a broader perspective from senior banking leaders across North Carolina. |
|
|
|
| | | |
|
| | | Sign up three employees from your institution and receive your fourth registration on the house. This discount will be applied automatically upon registration. |
|
|
|
|
|
| | | And lastly, don’t forget to sign up for the NCEL Mentorship Program by October 30! This six-month program pairs emerging leaders with experienced banking professionals for one-on-one guidance, skill-building, and expanded perspectives. Whether you’re looking to grow your leadership toolkit or give back to the next generation, this is a powerful way to make lasting professional connections. |
|
|
|
| | |
|
| | | | Invest in your growth and build the foundation for long-term success. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | | An Exclusive First Look at What's Ahead... |
|
|
|
| | Get ready for an exclusive preview of two standout sessions you won’t want to miss. These special presentations will be featured at the upcoming NC Emerging Leaders Conference, giving attendees an early look at new initiatives and impactful programs shaping the future of North Carolina banking: |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | Leadership Development Program Preview |
|
|
|
| | Be among the first to explore NCBA’s new Leadership Development Program launching in 2026. Neal Livingston, President of LeadPro Consulting Group, will offer a hands-on look at how this program will help bankers build emotional intelligence, team cohesion, and leadership skills that last. |
|
|
|
|
| | BankWork$ Panel: Showcasing Impact, Elevating Opportunity |
|
|
|
| | Hear directly from program experts, employer partners, and banking professionals as they share how BankWork$ is opening doors to meaningful careers and strengthening the industry’s talent pipeline. |
|
|
|
| | |
|
| | | | True leadership confidence isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about showing up with clarity, steadiness, and purpose. The most effective leaders pause before reacting, ask the right questions, and focus their energy on the people and challenges in front of them. This kind of confidence inspires trust and drives meaningful action — especially in times of uncertainty. |
|
|
|
| | |
|
| | Lessons in Leadership: Bankers Who Have Already Been There |
|
|
|
| | Kick off the conference with a candid conversation featuring top banking executives as they share real-world insights on leading through change and shaping the future of North Carolina banking. Join NCEL Chair Ryan Morgan as he hosts an interactive panel between banking leaders Hunter Westbrook, President & CEO, HomeTrust Bank; Christian Wilson, COO, First Bank; and Caroline Taylor, Chief Lending Officer, M&F Bank. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | | | | Thomas Greek, Founder of Thomas Greek Coaching, will explore how shifting from directive to coaching leadership can unlock your team’s potential. |
|
|
|
|
| | Leadership coach Paul Nunn, Founder of Paul Nunn Training, will share practical strategies to quiet self-doubt and step confidently into leadership. |
|
|
|
| | |
|
| | | From fraud prevention to cybersecurity, today’s emerging leaders must understand the evolving threat landscape and be prepared to act decisively. |
|
|
|
| | | Tune In: Taking the Fraud Prevention Message Directly to Lawmakers |
|
|
|
| | Big problems require big ideas. How about establishing a White House office of fraud and scam prevention? Or closing loopholes so telecoms stop spoof calls and texts? And ensuring social media companies quickly take down impersonation accounts?
The latest edition of the ABA Fraudcast features include host Paul Benda’s opening statement addressing these challenges and others, as delivered recently to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Benda also offers some additional analysis of the urgency of a coordinated response from lawmakers and law enforcement. |
|
|
|
| | | | Today’s banking leaders need more than vision—they need sharp, practical skills to navigate evolving risks. These sessions at the 2025 NC Emerging Leaders Conference offer hands-on training and real-world insights to help you stay one step ahead: |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | | End Cyber Risk: How Arctic Wolf Protects Financial Services Organizations |
|
|
|
| | Thomas Greek, Founder of Thomas Greek Coaching, will explore how shifting from directive to coaching leadership can unlock your team’s potential. |
|
|
|
|
| Let’s Be Frank: A Discussion with the FBI |
|
|
|
| | Roll up your sleeves for this hands-on fraud training with Beth Machado of the FBI/Raleigh PD. Go “undercover” to see exactly how check washing is carried out, learn to spot current fraud trends, and get practical tips to protect your bank and customers. |
|
|
|
| | |
|
| | | Infographic: Deepfake Media Scams |
|
|
|
| | Since 2020, the FBI has received 4.2 million+ reports of fraud, including $50.5 billion in losses, and deepfake scams are on the rise. What red flags should you and your bank's customers should be on the lookout for? |
|
|
|
| | |
|
| | | Connecting Across the Industry |
|
|
|
| | In banking, what you know is important — but who you know can be a game changer. For emerging bank professionals, networking isn’t just a sidewalk mixer or a business card swap — it’s how you build credibility, find mentors, generate referrals, and guard against isolation in a competitive field. |
|
|
|
|
|
| | Three Networking Habits That Emerging Leaders Should Start Building Today |
|
|
|
| - Show up with purpose
Choose events, associations, or committees aligned with your target goals. Before you go, decide on two or three people you want to meet and why. - Lead with value
Ask questions, listen, and offer help. Share useful articles, invite connections, or introduce people in your circle. When you add value, people will remember you for the right reasons — not just because you asked for something. - Stay active & follow through
A meeting is only the start. Send a personalized follow-up email, add context or a resource, and check in periodically. Use LinkedIn to keep up with people’s milestones, comment on their work, and stay visible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Look Out for These Networking Opportunities at #NCEL2025! |
|
|
|
| - Brewery Bus Tour — Mix conversation with Asheville’s craft beer scene on this private guided evening tour featuring tastings, pairings, and behind-the-scenes access.
- Networking with Management Conference — Meet and connect with senior banking leaders during this joint networking session, bringing Emerging Leaders and Management Forum attendees together.
|
|
|
|
| - Joint Volunteer Event (MANNA FoodBank) — Give back to the Asheville community while working side-by-side with peers and industry leaders in a hands-on service project.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Mark Your Calendars for Financial Literacy -
Bankers in High Schools Returns in November! |
|
|
|
| | | Block off your calendars for the 2025 Fall Bankers in High Schools initiative! This year's program will be held during the week of November 17-21, 2025, and we will once again welcome all North Carolina bankers to serve as volunteers. | | Volunteers will teach a 45-minute lesson on budgeting using a specially tailored curriculum created by the NC Emerging Leaders. The purpose of the program is not only to teach students basic components of financial education, but also to initiate and foster relationships between bankers and their communities. | | More details are coming soon! Keep an eye on your inbox for registration links and volunteer sign-up information. |
|
|
|
|
|
| | | | How Stablecoins Could Affect Borrowing Costs for Government, Businesses and Households |
|
|
|
| | | The Genius Act and the related Stable Act pave the way for a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. The Genius Act, which passed the Senate on June 17, 2025, mandates stablecoin issuers maintain reserves on at least a one-to-one basis, with U.S. Treasury debt explicitly allowed as reserve assets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted that demand from stablecoins could create up to $2 trillion of Treasury debt demand in the next few years. |
|
|
|
| | Others suggest that the tradeoff to lower borrowing costs for the federal government could come at the expense of reduced credit availability for Main Street. | | As banks replace lost deposits with higher-cost alternatives and worse, are forced to curtail their credit supply, the potential harm to economic activity in Main Street could negate any benefits in the form of modestly lower funding cost to the U.S. Treasury. | | [...] |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | Penny Shortage Hits Banks and Retailers |
|
|
|
| | A national penny shortage has emerged much sooner than expected, causing headaches for cash-based businesses and their lenders. | | Production of new pennies stopped months ago following the Trump administration’s decision to end penny minting, and now circulation has stalled as the Federal Reserve has halted penny distribution at 41 of its 165 coin terminals. |
|
|
|
| | A national penny shortage has emerged much sooner than expected, causing headaches for cash-based businesses and their lenders. Production of new pennies stopped months ago following the Trump administration’s decision to end penny minting, and now circulation has stalled as the Federal Reserve has halted penny distribution at 41 of its 165 coin terminals. | | Banks in affected areas are struggling to both source and offload pennies, while retailers are scrambling to handle cash transactions without clear federal guidance. Industry groups are urging Congress to pass the Common Cents Act to establish nationwide rounding rules and address the shortage. | | [...] |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | Understanding the Current Economic Landscape |
|
|
|
| | | Join us at the 2025 NC Emerging Leaders Conference for a forward-looking economic panel featuring leading voices from banking, finance, and economic development. Our panelists will break down key trends, share expert perspectives, and explore what’s ahead for North Carolina's banking industry! |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | | How Banks are Reinventing the Product Design Paradigm |
|
|
|
| | For decades, bank innovation followed a simple path: vendors built products, and banks bought them. But as computing costs have dropped and software has become more flexible, that model is shifting. Innovation is now faster, cheaper, and more collaborative. Increasingly, banks are stepping into the driver’s seat through co-creation—identifying their own needs and working directly with partners to design solutions. This agile, iterative approach is reshaping how new technologies take root in the financial sector. | | [...] |
|
|
|
| |
| | Understanding Stablecoin and Tokenized Deposits |
|
|
|
| A new wave of financial innovation is unfolding through tokenization—the digital representation of real-world assets like money market funds, real estate, and now, even bank deposits.
Since the passage of the Genius Act, major institutions have begun exploring payment stablecoins and tokenized deposits. Though similar in form, these two digital assets raise important questions about their roles, differences, and what they could mean in the years ahead. | | [...] |
|
|
|
| |
|
| | | | NC Bankers Association | 3601 Haworth Drive | Raleigh | NC | 27609 | US |
|
|
|
| | If you no longer want to receive emails regarding the NC Emerging Leaders Newsletter, please profile. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|