We are pleased to announce the 20^th Annual Community Bankers Symposium, Community Banking in the New Normal, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Conference of State Bank Supervisors on Thursday, September 10, 2026, for an in-person event with a remote option.

The Symposium will consist of presentations on current industry developments and key bank supervision issues while providing a setting for attendees to engage in a dialogue on areas of supervisory focus, the banking environment, and regulatory updates.

As in prior years, senior policy makers, banking supervisors, and economists are set to participate at this event to discuss the changing banking and related supervisory landscape along with perspectives on the economic outlook. We are pleased to introduce our keynote speakers: Randall D. Guynn, Director of the Supervision and Regulation Division at the Board of Governors, and Erin West, Founder of Operation Shamrock, a global nonprofit uniting law enforcement, industry, and everyday citizens to disrupt the world’s fastest-growing form of transnational organized crime: digital scams. Ms. West will provide her perspectives (and stories) from 26 years as a relentless prosecutor of crypto criminals. Other presenters include:

• Laura Alix, Director of Research at Bank Director, a leading information resource serving bank directors and senior executives, will share findings from Bank Director’s survey research focused on talent, M&A and risk;
• John Geiringer, Partner at Barack Ferrazzano, will speak to the evolving regulatory landscape
• Steven Gonzalo, President and CEO of American Commercial Bank & Trust, will lead a panel of bankers exploring the “tried and true” versus new approaches to the business of banking in this “New Normal.”

In addition, we are offering an optional in-person Pre-Symposium Cyber Simulation Lab Workshop on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 (1 pm to 5:00 pm) to interactively orient community bank leaders on the common-sense mindset, industry best practices, and hands-on collaborative mechanisms involved in strengthening cyber resilience, not just for specific institutions but also across the financial sector. This is Highly Recommended for all attending banking executives.

Announced speakers are subject to change with additions or subtractions forthcoming. The target audience for this event is community bank leaders, banking industry trade organizations, educators, and banking supervisors. We hope to see you there!