Wayne Miller: Bolstering Community Bank Innovation in 2026

Steve Jobs, the late Apple CEO, said, “You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology. You can’t start with the technology and figure out where you’re going to try to sell it.” 

From where I stand, that’s our call to action in today’s fast-paced landscape. A quick scan of financial news shows a steady content of stories related to digitized banking services, with AI and stablecoins front and center. Data and the many ways it can be collected, sorted and leveraged increasingly dominate headlines, and we haven’t even touched on back-office automation and a host of topics related to risk mitigation. 

We’re living in a world where banking competition is fierce. Every day, new opportunities and threats emerge. 

The power of information

Fortunately, community bankers have always put customers first, and that makes all the difference. Today, we can extend that focus further: We have data, accessible through new means courtesy of fintech partners, to help uncover what customers want and where there’s potential for growth. Using simple technologies to extract and look at what we know, including when customers spend, who they spend with and how much they spend, we can connect with the deepest insights on not only current behaviors but potential needs. 

This information is like a dating app resume: You know a lot about them, and in this context, you can communicate to create a better experience. That information creates the canvas to think about what more you can provide. Because to truly remain competitive, you need to think beyond checking, savings and loans, and consider, “What else can we provide for our customers?”

ICBA support

As we launch into 2026, my personal mission is to emphasize not only where we are today but also to highlight the emerging technologies that will offer community banks a competitive advantage. We are going to establish a Quarterly Innovation Briefing to be more informative about where things are going. We’ll share the importance of innovation, advocacy and education coming together to make sure community banks have the knowledge they need to succeed. And, of course, the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator and our Preferred Service Providers and Corporate Members can help address pain points and support your strategic plans in the New Year and beyond. 

So, as you kick off your 2026 initiatives, I encourage you to allow ICBA to be your trusted advisor on your innovation journey. Technological advancements in banking are moving quickly, and we need to lock arms to protect Main Street. Because while the competition is tougher than ever, community banks are the essential economic backbone of this country, and we will thrive in today’s digital economy to ensure our communities and customers do as well.