Here's a fact that will shock you:
Many community bank CEOs choose their investment banker the same way they choose lunch – by convenience.
The result?
Deals that fall apart, values that disappoint, and CEOs who realize too late they picked the wrong partner for the biggest transaction o...
Sometimes the best strategy is the one you never saw coming.
In 2017, we were hunting for banks to buy.
By 2022, we were the ones getting bought—and it was the best decision we ever made.
Here's the story of how we built a bank so strong that when plans changed, we had options.
And why ...
Picture this:
You're juggling a dozen spinning plates.
Interest rates,
cybersecurity,
regulations,
talent wars,
loan quality
—each one demanding your attention every single day.
Now imagine someone asking, "Are you ready to sell your bank?"
Your first thought?
"I'm not selling!...
Every bank director knows they have a duty to shareholders.
But when it comes time to sell your bank, that duty gets put to the ultimate test.
Here's the uncomfortable truth:
Many directors think they're doing right by shareholders when they're actually falling short of their legal responsi...
You've spent years building the perfect team.
Late nights, tough decisions, and yes—probably hiring a few people who didn't work out.
But now you have them: the stars who make your bank run like clockwork.
Here's the question that keeps successful bank CEOs awake at night:
What happens ...
Your most important job as a bank CEO might surprise you:
Make yourself replaceable.
Sounds backward, right?
But this surprising truth is key to making your bank worth more.
Why Your Bank Needs to Work Without You
Let me be straight with you:
If your bank can't run smoothly without yo...
Remember this fundamental truth:
Banks are bought, not sold.
Buyers acquire your bank because they believe their institution will become more valuable with yours added to it.
They care less about your past performance and more about the future potential you bring.
When two banks togethe...
If you could pinpoint the absolute best time to begin looking for a buyer for your bank, what factors would you consider?
In my experience, there's a specific alignment of events that creates what I call...
"The Golden Window of Opportunity."
This window opens when:
- Your safety & soundne ...
Did you know that even the gentlest bank acquisition creates massive cost savings?
Even when a buyer promises "no layoffs" and "business as usual," the financial magic of mergers still happens behind the scenes.
The Automatic Cost Savings Nobody Talks About
When two banks combine, cost savi...
What truly drives your bank's value?
And what secretly chips away at it?
While this isn't a complete list, these are the most critical factors that potential buyers examine when valuing your bank.
The 5 Bank Value Builders
1) Consistent Core Earnings
This is by far the most powerful va...
We all know how it works...
If you really want to buy something, you'll find a way to justify the purchase.
The same is true when selling.
If you're determined to sell, you'll find reasons why it makes sense.
This is where valuation becomes so important.
It slows everything down.
V...
Wondering when to sell your bank?
It's the question every bank CEO eventually faces.
The best advice I know comes from NYU Finance professor Aswath Damodaran and his famous story about lemmings.
This simple story perfectly captures why so many bank sales happen at exactly the wrong time.
...
