Believe in Banking is a podcast series for decision-makers, influencers and leaders featuring experts taking on the financial industry’s most pressing issues with insight and empathy. With the belief that banking can help us meet the moment and emerge stronger for it, the podcast features information and conversations designed to enlighten and empower.
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In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D'Ambrosio explore why a successful brand launch is only the beginning of building long-term relevance and growth. Drawing on examples from banks and credit unions across the country, they discuss how financial institutions can sustain momentum by connecting brand to culture , experiences , products, and marketing . The…
In this episode of Believe in Banking, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio discuss why branches continue to matter as centers for growth, relationship-building, and brand presence. Armed with industry insights from the new Adrenaline and Curinos report “ How De Novo Expansion Is Reshaping Retail Banking ,” the conversation explores the branching boom and the impact on banks and credit unions of…
In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D'Ambrosio are joined by banking industry veteran Don Mallory for a lively “Hot or Hype” conversation exploring the biggest themes emerging across this year’s banking conferences and events. From AI and the branch comeback to outside of industry inspiration and conference networking, the three banking experts…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio explore how Gen Z is a powerful force in banking, setting the stage for next generation banking. Now entering peak earning and decision-making years, this generation is reshaping expectations with a mix of digital fluency, financial optimism, and underlying anxiety. Drawing on Adrenaline’s report Winning Gen Z…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio welcome Tansley Stearns, President and CEO of orsa credit union and leader of the Backbone Coalition , for a compelling conversation on the power of storytelling to elevate awareness and expand impact across the credit union movement. Tansley shares how a collaborative, purpose-driven approach is helping credit…
In this episode of Believe in Banking, Juliet D’Ambrosio sits down with Bill Crane, Chief Production Officer at Beginnings Credit Union , to explore what it truly takes to lead transformational change. Bill shares the inside story of guiding CFCU Community Credit Union through a comprehensive rebrand – from research and stakeholder engagement to culture alignment and community activation –…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio explore defining forces for banking in 2026: focus, precision, and execution. Drawing on Adrenaline’s industry research, client conversations, and market activity, they discuss how banks and credit unions are navigating increased M&A momentum, rising customer expectations, and growing pressure to deliver ROI…
In this special year-end episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio spotlight standout insights from financial services leaders navigating real change across the banking industry. These conversations with guests throughout 2025 cover everything from the forces accelerating M&A and the realities of scale, to the role of brand, community, and connection in branch…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio welcome Sherry Bear, Chief Administrative Officer at Civic Federal Credit Union, for an inspiring behind-the-scenes conversation about leading meaningful change by leaning on organizational values. Sherry shares how Civic’s core principles – people-first, planet always, and prosperity for all – guided every…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio explore how customer experience in branch banking continues to drive trust and loyalty. Drawing from Adrenaline’s latest report – Closing Customer Experience Gaps in Branch Banking – they reveal what’s working, what’s missing, and how human connection remains essential in financial services, especially in an era…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio sit down with Nick Mentel, Managing Director of Insights & Analytics at Adrenaline, for an in-depth conversation about the role of analytics in developing growth strategies for financial institutions. With nearly two decades of experience, Nick brings his sharp insights into how data informs decisions on where,…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet explore the growing role of lines of business in banking. From small business to wealth management, they discuss how financial institutions are expanding services and deepening relationships in ways that connect across generations. Their conversation highlights why branches remain powerful centers for advisory opportunities and…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio welcome on Courtney Coss, Chief Retail Officer at the Credit Union of Texas (CUTX), for an insightful conversation on building culture and community through innovative, future-focused retail delivery. Drawing on her 25-year journey from teller to top leadership, Courtney shares how CUTX has transformed their…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet explore what innovation really means in financial services today. While often equated with technology, innovation in banking is more about impact – solving problems creatively, modernizing the member or customer experience, and building stronger community connections. Their conversation highlights standout examples of innovation in…
In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Jeffrey Martinez, Executive Vice President and Head of Branch Banking at PNC. In their illuminating conversation, Jeffrey shares the story behind PNC’s $1.5 billion investment in their branch network and how the bank’s continuing commitment to the branch is fueling even more customer connection and…
In Part 2 of their special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome back Yvonne Garand, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer and Jevonne McLaughlin, Vice President of Brand Marketing, from EastRise Credit Union. In their conversation, Yvonne and Jevonne describe the rebranding process following the merger between New England Federal Credit Union and Vermont State…
In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Yvonne Garand, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer and Jevonne McLaughlin, Vice President of Brand Marketing, both from EastRise Credit Union. In their dynamic discussion, Gina, Juliet, Yvonne, and Jevonne address the merger of New England Federal Credit Union and Vermont State Employees Credit Union to form…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet discuss challenges and change in the community banking sector. Making up 97% of all financial institutions, community banks and credit unions are purpose-driven institutions, uncovering opportunities to grow through their unique community connections. Their conversation covers M&A activity among community banks and how “mergers of…
In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Al Dominick, Partner with Cornerstone Advisors, a consulting services firm powered by data to deliver customized results for banks and credit unions. In their lively conversation, Al, Gina, and Juliet discuss the current state of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the banking and credit union sectors, including…
In the year-end episode, the Believe in Banking podcast covers the key trends and themes that have shaped the banking industry in 2024 and are expected to continue in 2025. Conversations between Gina Bleedorn, Juliet D’Ambrosio, and Sean Keathley address the generational shift in banking, finding Gen Z more focused on advisory experiences and driving banks and credit unions to invest heavily in…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet discuss the resurgence of investment in the bank branch and Adrenaline’s new report “The Branch Advantage: Essential Retail Strategies for Banking Industry Leaders.” Their conversation covers how major banks like PNC, Chase, Bank of America, and others are announcing significant investments in branch expansion and renovation,…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet spotlight news about how major banks like Chase, PNC, and Bank of America are making significant investments in expanding and renovating their branch networks, demonstrating the continued vitality of the branch channel. They also announce the upcoming report “The Payoff & Process of Branch Investment: Maximizing ROI for Financial…
In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Andrew Hovet, Managing Director at Curinos, a data and insights company that helps financial institutions make better business decisions through advanced analytics, market intelligence, and customer data. In their dynamic discussion, Andrew, Gina, and Juliet discuss how banks and credit unions can leverage…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet discuss opportunities and optimism in the banking industry. Following years of retail closures and predictions about the death of the branch, the reality in 2024 is that not only is the bank branch not dead, but in just the last year, the U.S. added more net new branches for the first time in a decade. Branches are just one of the…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet discuss the resilience and enduring relevance of the of the branch. Fresh off the stage from her keynote at Future Branches, Gina discusses insights from the industry’s changemakers like Chase and what she heard from banking leaders across the country about the challenges they face with their own branch networks. They talk about…
In this special episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet look back through the library of episodes to shine a spotlight the enlightening information and insights from Sean Keathley, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Adrenaline. Going back at the launch of the podcast in 2020, during the height of Covid, all the way through early 2024, they pull out some of the best thinking from a…
In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet take on the topic of bank and credit union branding. They discuss their upcoming speaking sessions at the Financial Brand Forum in Las Vegas from May 20-22, and spotlight the new Adrenaline report, the “ROI of Rebranding: Best Practices to Measure Business Value for Financial Brands” available on adrenalinex.com. This report…
In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Michael Bell, Partner and Leader of the Financial Institutions Practice at Honigman, LLP, where he has become the nationwide leader and go-to legal adviser for credit unions seeking scale. In their lively conversation on M&A in financial services, Michael discusses the growth outlook for community financial…
In this episode, Adrenaline’s Chief Brand Officer Juliet D’Ambrosio joins Gina Bleedorn as the new cohost of the Believe in Banking podcast, as Sean Keathley, the former CEO of Adrenaline, moves to an advisory capacity to focus on his health. In this discussion, Gina and Juliet explore artificial intelligence in banking and the opportunities it brings to transform banking experiences. They note…
In episode two of our two-part Believe in Banking podcast series on growth, Sean and Gina discuss the evolving expectations in banking – from generational demands for advisory experiences to neighborhood variations – all impacting how the branch functions. Their conversation covers how generational life stage differences offer an opportunity for banks to step up and serve, especially as…
In episode one of a two-part Believe in Banking podcast series on growth, Sean and Gina kick off the new year with a discussion around how financial institutions are increasing their influence to reach more consumers where they are. From the rising momentum around M&A to organic growth and branching, financial institutions are looking to boost their competitive edge by becoming bigger and…
In part two of the special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Sean and Gina welcome back Dan Rousseve, Chief Information Officer, and Angie Dvorak, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, of Everwise Credit Union, formerly Teachers Credit Union. They continue the discussion on the credit union’s rebranding journey, including challenges they faced from Covid to change in leadership, both of…
In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Sean and Gina welcome Dan Rousseve, Chief Information Officer, and Angie Dvorak, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, of Everwise Credit Union, formerly Teachers Credit Union. In their dynamic discussion, Dan and Angie address the credit union’s storied history and the challenges of operating as Teachers Credit Union as they expanded…
In episode two of our Believe in Banking podcast series on Gen Z, Sean and Gina welcome back Adrenaline’s Chief Brand Officer, Juliet D’Ambrosio. Armed with knowledge about this myth-busting generation, the three discuss how banks and credit unions are adapting to meet the needs of Gen Z. They provide examples of institutions like UniWyo Credit Union, AMOCO Credit Union and Guaranty Bank that have…
In episode one of a two-part Believe in Banking podcast series, Sean and Gina tackle the topic on the minds of every banker out there – the influence and impact of Gen Z on banking and beyond. They invite on Adrenaline’s Chief Brand Officer, Juliet D’Ambrosio, for a dynamic discussion in advance of the new report from Adrenaline called “Gen Z and the Future of Finance: A Generational Guide for…
In this episode, Sean and Gina share timely insights from speaking and participation at the financial industry’s leading conferences. Specifically, they discuss demands on banking and credit union leaders relating to their branch networks and how planning for saving and growing at the same time is essential for institutions of all sizes. To make the most of opportunities that branches bring, many…
In this special summer episode on banking innovation, Sean and Gina look at change in financial services at the institutional and industry level. With data and insights gathered from the financial services sector’s most influential gatherings, they discuss new ways that banks and credit unions usher in upgrades to meet customer expectations, while driving more efficiencies in the branch network.…
In this special episode, Sean and Gina welcome back Dave Ehlis, President and CEO of Bravera Bank. In part two of their discussion, Dave talks about how the brand change the bank prioritized would come to life inside their branches and across their growing network – from smaller more rural branches to larger ones in bigger cities. He talks about the power of optimism and how instead of fixating on…
In this special episode, Sean and Gina welcome Dave Ehlis, President and CEO of Bravera Bank, a regional banking leader in the Northern Plains. In this conversation, Dave discusses the bank's rich history and new challenges they faced as they continued their path to growth. When the financial institution formerly known as American Bank Center was expanding their reach, they needed a more ownable…
In this episode, Sean and Gina look at two influential industry reports and how they provide a snapshot of our current moment in banking. First, they discuss the Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual report that provides insights into the influence of trust across our institutions and industries. While this year’s report continues to show an undercurrent of mistrust among consumers, business…
In this special episode, Sean and Gina return to conversations about the fundamentals for financial institutions acting with trust and transparency that they’ve explored on the Believe in Banking podcast. They address key ways banks and credit unions can increase consumer trust in banking by building relationships that demonstrate their commitment to community and how trust provides the foundation…
In the “Believe in Banking Podcast: The Growth Edition,” Sean and Gina discuss ways that banks and credit unions are meeting the industry’s the imperative to grow. They discuss how financial institutions determine the right formats and the right markets, including hub-and-spoke clusters with flagship locations in high opportunity areas and smaller branches, ATMs and ITMs dotting the network for…
In the inaugural episode of the Believe in Banking podcast for 2023, Sean and Gina highlight industry insights on where banking has been and where it's heading in the new year, including takeaways from speaking sessions at two of banking's premiere conferences – The Financial Brand Forum and Future Branches. From the importance of brand in driving business to the future of retail delivery, they…
In this special year-end episode, Sean and Gina return to some illuminating discussions with banking leaders featured on the Believe in Banking podcast in 2022. From an institution evolving for its customers and communities to women moving up the ranks into banking’s C-suite, these conversations reveal how banking is at the forefront of change. The podcast features David Trautman, chairman and CEO…
In part two of the “Biggest Banking Trends of 2022” special episode, Sean and Gina take stock of what’s on the minds of banking leaders in these unprecedented times. They look at ways banks and credit unions are making banking better for people as they navigate post-pandemic uncertainty, especially through a focus on financial wellness. Institutions are also making headway by looking at their…
In this special episode, we look at some of this year’s biggest banking trends. From meeting consumer’s unique needs to scaling for strength, Sean and Gina discuss how banks are delivering in our post-pandemic era. One important reality coming out of COVID is how people of all generations are prioritizing financial wellness, and banks, especially community financial institutions, are in the…
As industry conferences return live and in-person, we’re back on the speaking circuit and learning anew what’s on the minds of banking leaders. In this episode, Sean and Gina discuss themes coming out of major banking conferences like Future Branches and how the war for talent is presenting real challenges for banks and credit unions in our new pandemic normal. They dig into recent data on…
In part two of their conversation, Sean and Gina welcome back Terrie Spiro, co-founder, founding director and chair, and Jennifer Docherty, co-founder, founding director and chief executive officer of Bank on Women. They build on the ideas shared in part one – that qualified women in leadership positions in banking make both individual institutions and the industry as a whole better. In this…
In part one of this special episode, Sean and Gina welcome Terrie Spiro, co-founder, founding director and chair, and Jennifer Docherty, co-founder, founding director and chief executive officer of Bank on Women. Dedicated to women’s leadership in community banking, Bank on Women strives to increase the number of qualified women serving on the C-Suite and in the boardroom – which will make banking…
Over the last several years, there has been a ton of talk about the impact of outsiders like fintechs on banking and ways community institutions have to keep up. In this episode, Sean and Gina flip the script a little and reframe the idea of what it means to be a challenger in banking today. What are the ways community financial institutions and regional banks are leading? For these banks,…
