Malcolm Holland, Chariman of the Board, CEO and President of Veritex Community Bank, sees himself as a banker who embraces opportunities.

On today's show, Al and Steve chat with Malcolm about how he started a bank as a 25-year-old in the 1980s – a turbulent period for banking – and how his experience of bad times helped shape his career in making big leaps; arguably, none bigger than founding his current bank at age 49 by using the inheritance money left to his wife... with her blessing.

Malcolm chats with the guys about the importance of using data to make decisions, the art of nurturing or replacing talent and what's next for the bank. Malcolm also talks about the bank's women in small business initiative. As he says: "I love it."

They’re back. In Arizona.

In advance of the upcoming Acquire or Be Acquired conference, Al and Steve chat about trends that will matter to the C-Suite this year, including: M&A activity coming in hot and how to source new ideas that will yield revenue. They also explore funding competition from fintech companies and essentials required in retaining customers.

In this final episode of the Plugged In Series for 2024, Steve and Al reflect on the year's significant events and trends in the banking industry, including a resurgence in mergers and acquisitions, the challenges posed by technology and compliance, and the importance of talent management. They discuss predictions for 2025, emphasizing the need for execution and growth strategies in a competitive landscape. Then, they kick it over to the replay of the highly-anticipated 2024 GonzoBanker Awards, where Al and co-host Ron Shevlin (What's Going On in Banking), along with special guests Steve, Sam Kilmer (Fintech Hustle) and Mary Wisniewski (Money Isn't Everything) break down just a few of the many winners of Cornerstone Advisors' annual industry awards.