Banking and Finance Symposium to Address AI, Technology Issues

This year's symposium, the 24th hosted by the School of Business Administration, is set for Nov. 14 at the Oxford Conference Center. The daylong event also includes discussion on trends in mergers and acquisitions.

Rebeca Romero Rainey is this year's keynote speaker. Rainey is president and CEO of Independent Community Bankers of America and one of the nation's foremost advocates of the community banking industry.

"This year's symposium promises to continue the tradition of high-quality content that has made this one-day conference one of the best in the nation," said Ken Cyree, dean of the business school. "The attendance will be incredible and the record sponsor support is another indicator of the value that is added during the symposium."

The symposium begins with the annual Women in Finance breakfast featuring Kathy Kraninger, president and CEO of Florida Bankers Association, and Chris Malloy, Ole Miss men's golf coach.

Other keynote speakers include Brian Gardner, chief Washington policy strategist, and Charles White, managing director, both at Stifel. The day also includes presentations by Rodney Hood, former acting comptroller at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and board member of the FDIC and Federal Home Loan Bank, and Jill Castilla, president and CEO of the Bank of Edmond.

Symposium sessions and speakers include:

AI in Banking

• Larry Pruss, managing director, Strategic Resource Management
• Loren Bushkar, principal for AI policy, Federal Reserve Board
• Mike de Vere, CEO, Zest AI
• Matt Mayo, chief banking officer, Community Bank of Mississippi
• Prakash Natarajan, senior managing director, Strategic Resource Management

Navigating the U.S. Bank Regulatory Landscape

• Naomi Snyder, editor-in-chief, Bank Director
• Greg Gonzales, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions
• Charles Koontz, assistant vice president, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Community Bank Group

Stablecoins and Community Banks

• Wayner Miller, executive vice president and chief innovation officer, Independent Community Bankers of America
• Wade Peery, chief innovation officer, FirstBank
• Erica Pilon, vice president and head of corporate strategy, Jack Henry
• Alex Treece, co-founder and CEO, Stablecore

Innovation, Scale and Returns

• Paul Davis, founder and CEO, Bankslate
• Ken Hale, president and CEO, Bank of Montgomery
• K. Lee, president and CEO, Interbank
• Christopher Olsen, co-founder and managing partner, Olsen Palmer

"This year's event features over 65 sponsors, a record," said Stan Viner, president of the school's banking and finance board. "They include banks, industry banking associations, consulting firms and fintechs from all over the U.S. and Europe."

Registration is $95 and is open to banking and finance professionals, students and alumni. Scholarships are available for employed professionals ages 35 or younger.

Contact Kathy Mikell at kathyr@olemiss.com for scholarship information.

Top: Ken Cyree (left) dean of the School of Business Administration, and Stan Viner (right), president of the UM banking and finance board, greet Michelle 'Miki' Bowman, member of the Federal Reserve System's board of governors and one of the keynote speakers at the 2024 symposium. Photo by Hunt Mercier/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services