Over 200 bankers and vendors gathered February 7-8 at the Wichita Hyatt Regency Hotel for the 26th Annual Bank Technology/Operations Conference & Showcase.

The conference kicked off with a facilitated peer group discussion period where bankers divided up based on the asset size of the bank. Discussion groups were assigned as $100 million and under, $101-$200 million, $201-$400 million and over $400 million.

Following opening remarks by current KBA Chairman Mike Ewy, Cybersecurity Expert at Secure Network Technologies, Inc., Steve Stasiukonis provided an eye-opening talk on how hackers leverage a variety of techniques to defeat the remote worker and defeat security controls. It’s not a matter of “IF” but rather “WHEN.” Most banks have no idea what to do when they experience a cyber incident, but for IT professionals, a cyber incident is the worst day of their career.

The last general session of the day brought Kansas banker Suresh Ramamurthi of CBW bank in Weir to the stage where he gave an in-depth discussion on various neo banks such as Square, Chime, Varo, Money Lion, and their journey and what it means for banks and how to position them.

KBA Technology Committee Chairman Jeff Martin, First Heritage Bank in Centralia, welcomed the group to day two of this annual event and introduced one of KBA’s highest-rated presenters Lee Wetherington. In his presentation, “Financial Fragmentation: Threat and Opportunity,” Wetherington shared how ecosystem disruption continues. In pursuit of more convenience in their financial lives, consumers have unintentionally made them more complex to manage. It is not uncommon for young couples to do business with 30 to 40 financial providers. The good news is that banks are well-positioned to solve financial fragmentation, simplify customers’ financial lives and achieve first-app status in the process.

The pandemic has changed multiple facets of our lives, from the way we shop, socialize, work, educate and even conduct our financial transactions. During the last presentation of the conference, Dave DeFazio, Partner with StrategyCorps, pointed out that “the pace of change is off the charts … During the quarantine period, nearly 33% of consumers in the U.S. tried contactless payments for the first time.” Even before the pandemic, mobile apps were reshaping the way consumers, especially millennials, interacted with financial institutions, and Dave emphasized that trend is accelerating. Dave also discussed the latest research that highlights the trends in this area, including which mobile features matter most to millennials, baby boomers and everyone in between.

There was also an interactive trade show with 37 exhibitors ready to demonstrate a multitude of products for the industry. Conference participants were afforded numerous opportunities to talk with showcase exhibitors throughout the course of the conference, making them eligible for prizes.