Workforce Excellence Forum | Annual Convention

Beyond the deal: Navigating culture integration in bank mergers

It's time to go beyond the deal. New this year at Annual Convention, bank leaders are coming together to address one of the most critical and complex challenges in mergers: the process of integrating two cultures into one. Through a collection of hard-hitting, topical sessions, explore how deliberate leadership behaviors, transparent communication and proactive succession decisions can build much-needed trust and alignment. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to accelerate culture integration and position a merged institution for long-term success.

Workforce Excellence Forum sessions
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10:30 AM – 12:15 PM

KEYNOTE SESSION
The real culture challenges in bank mergers

Most merger conversations focus on strategy, systems and financial performance. Far fewer address the leadership and talent decisions that ultimately determine whether the deal delivers on its promise. Rather than a high-level discussion of culture, this session will center on specific moments that create risk, and how to navigate them. Learn to communicate with transparency amid unknowns, align your executive team on operational structure and use leadership behavior, rather than messaging, to set the culture.

Other sessions

C-suite panel discussion: Culture integration, lessons from the field

Hear directly and candidly from bank executives who have led their institutions through mergers — and participate in an interactive audience Q&A. The panelists will discuss cultural issues that proved more complex than expected and leadership actions that strengthened — or weakened — integration. Get insights into early talent and succession decisions that sent powerful culture signals, and how to sustain your desired culture six to twelve months post-merger.

• Kenneth Kelly, ABA Chair and Chairman and CEO, First Independence Bank
• James C. Ryan III (Jim), ABA Vice Chair and Chairman and CEO, Old National Bancorp
• Maria Tedesco, President and Chief Operating Officer, Atlantic Union Bank
• Moderator: Deedee Myers, Chief Executive Officer, DDJ Myers

What are your biggest risks?

CEOs, directors and senior HR leaders are invited to join this focused, working discussion, to develop a clearer view of their most immediate culture and talent risks. Using a structured integration reality check framework, attendees will assess how their leadership teams operate today and where gaps are likely to surface during a merger. Leave with a simple, practical tool to take back to the bank and one specific leadership action to take in the next 30 days.

Closing reflections

Get a clear view of where culture and talent issues create real risk during a merger, and how those risks tend to show up early. Focus on what you can do as a leader before and during integration to stay aligned, retain key people and avoid the confusion that slows down execution. Leave with practical means to pressure test your own organization and clear actions you can take to build trust, strengthen alignment and stay on track.