Advertise on podcast: The Community Bank Podcast

In this episode, Chris Nichols sits down with Greg Solomon, Senior Vice President and Director of Information Technology at Bank Independent, to discuss how a $3 billion community bank is moving from AI awareness to AI execution. Greg shares Bank Independent's approach to building AI agents, automating workflows, improving employee productivity, and creating governance structures that allow innovation to happen safely. He also offers practical advice for banks beginning their AI journey and explains why the next wave of AI may fundamentally change how financial institutions operate and serve customers. Click Here to Book a Call and Learn About the ARC Program.     The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

In this episode, we sit down with renowned banking consultant, Jack Hubbard. With more than five decades of banking and consulting experience and over 81,000 bankers trained, Jack shares why the most successful banks move beyond traditional sales cultures and embrace a true performance culture.   Click Here to Book a Call and Learn About the ARC Program.   The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

Today we feature a backstage interview from our recent Deposit Conference. We sit down with Brian Love from The Travaillian Group to discuss deposits, talent, and the rise of the Chief Deposit Officer.  Click Here to Book a Call and Learn About the ARC Program The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

Today we feature another backstage conversation from our 2026 Elevate Banking Forum. We sit down with Billy Boughey, keynote speaker and Founder of Elevate Experiences.... and the first ever guest on the Community Bank Podcast! The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

Today we share a special backstage interview from our 2026 Elevate Banking Forum with Dr. Elliot Eisenberg. The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

Today on the show, Caleb unpacks the top 10 mistakes banks make in their marketing and how to avoid them. Click Here to Book a Marketing Strategy Call with Our Team Donald Miller's StoryBrand Framework: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFDJYdMd1wU&t=242s Previous Podcasts on AI and Marketing:  AI Basics for Bankers: https://southstatecorrespondent.com/podcast/ai-basics-for-bankers-with-ben-udell/ Using AI to Personalize Your Bank's Marketing with Karan Bhalla: https://southstatecorrespondent.com/podcast/using-ai-to-personalize-your-banks-marketing-with-karan-bhalla/ The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

In this episode, Bailey Erickson sits down with Scott Latham, CEO of the Alabama Bankers Association. They discuss the issues facing community banks, both nationally, and in the state of Alabama. The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

In this episode, Caleb Stevens sits down with Dee Ann Turner, former Chick-fil-A executive, bestselling author, and leadership expert, to discuss the principles behind enduring leadership, remarkable culture, and talent selection.   The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

Today, we're sharing an episode from BJ Green's podcast, Leadership is Everything. In it, David Salyers, former Vice President of Marketing at Chick-fil-A and co-author of Remarkable!, tells us how a leader can create environments where people thrive, customers become advocates, and purpose drives performance. David shares lessons from working alongside Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy, the power of purpose-driven leadership, and why the most successful businesses focus on creating value rather than extracting it. He also explores the role culture plays in organizational success, how leaders build environments that attract exceptional talent, and why truly remarkable brands are willing to make trade-offs their competitors won't.   The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

In this episode, Chris Nichols sits down with Sarah, an F-22 Raptor pilot stationed in Okinawa, to discuss her journey from aviation student to combat-ready fighter pilot and instructor candidate. What can bankers learn from fighter pilots? Sarah shares insights on mission planning, continuous learning, decision-making under pressure, and the importance of rigorous debriefs. She also explains how visualization, preparation, and accepting feedback are critical to success in one of the world's most demanding professions.   The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

In this episode of The Community Bank Podcast, SouthState's Tara Edmonds joins Caleb Stevens to unpack one of banking's hottest topics: stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and the future of money movement. Tara explains what community bankers need to know, why regulatory clarity is accelerating adoption, and how emerging payment technologies could reshape deposits, customer relationships, and the banking industry itself. Register for the Elevate Banking Forum here. The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

Today, we sit down with banking industry veteran Jim Marous. Jim joins Caleb Stevens to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing community banks: preparing for the future without being constrained by the past. They explore leadership transitions, AI adoption, deposit growth, and why digital resilience may become the defining factor separating future winners from everyone else. Jim also shares practical insights on customer relationships, data-driven growth, and how banks can use modern tools to deliver the personalized experiences customers increasingly expect.   The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

In this episode, Chris Nichols sits down with Walt Wear, SouthState's AI Enablement Manager, to discuss the bank's Copilot adoption journey, lessons learned from scaling AI across the organization, and what's next as the industry moves toward agentic AI. Walt shares how a community-first approach, weekly office hours, AI Central, and a crowdsourced prompt library helped drive adoption rates above Microsoft's benchmark while empowering employees to work more efficiently and expand their skill sets.   The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

Today, we're sharing BJ Green's pilot episode from his new podcast, Leadership is Everything. In it, SouthState Bank's CEO, John Corbett, explores what it takes to build and scale a successful banking organization. From starting a de novo bank to leading a $68 billion institution, Corbett breaks down the principles that guide effective leadership: alignment, accountability, and affinity. The discussion highlights key themes like decentralized decision-making, the importance of culture, and how leaders can balance growth with maintaining strong local connections. He also shares insights on navigating uncertainty, making high-stakes decisions, and empowering teams through trust and responsibility.   The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC

Today on the show Caleb Stevens sits down with Ed Kofman to discuss 4 key drivers of profitability for today's community banks.  Download our newest eBook: The Community Bank Performance Engine! Click Here to Book a Call with Ed The views, information, or opinions expressed during this show are solely those of the participants involved and do not necessarily represent those of SouthState Bank and its employees. SouthState Bank, N.A. - Member FDIC