Believe in Banking

In this episode of Believe in Banking, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio discuss why branches continue to matter as centers for growth, relationship-building, and brand presence. Armed with industry insights from the new Adrenaline and Curinos report “ How De Novo Expansion Is Reshaping Retail Banking ,” the conversation explores the branching boom and the impact on banks and credit unions of al...

In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D'Ambrosio are joined by banking industry veteran Don Mallory for a lively “Hot or Hype” conversation exploring the biggest themes emerging across this year’s banking conferences and events. From AI and the branch comeback to outside of industry inspiration and conference networking, the three banking experts...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio explore how Gen Z is a powerful force in banking, setting the stage for next generation banking. Now entering peak earning and decision-making years, this generation is reshaping expectations with a mix of digital fluency, financial optimism, and underlying anxiety. Drawing on Adrenaline’s report Winning Gen Z r...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio welcome Tansley Stearns, President and CEO of orsa credit union and leader of the Backbone Coalition , for a compelling conversation on the power of storytelling to elevate awareness and expand impact across the credit union movement. Tansley shares how a collaborative, purpose-driven approach is helping credit...

In this episode of Believe in Banking, Juliet D’Ambrosio sits down with Bill Crane, Chief Production Officer at Beginnings Credit Union , to explore what it truly takes to lead transformational change. Bill shares the inside story of guiding CFCU Community Credit Union through a comprehensive rebrand – from research and stakeholder engagement to culture alignment and community activation – culmina...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio explore defining forces for banking in 2026: focus, precision, and execution. Drawing on Adrenaline’s industry research, client conversations, and market activity, they discuss how banks and credit unions are navigating increased M&A momentum, rising customer expectations, and growing pressure to deliver ROI...

In this special year-end episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio spotlight standout insights from financial services leaders navigating real change across the banking industry. These conversations with guests throughout 2025 cover everything from the forces accelerating M&A and the realities of scale, to the role of brand, community, and connection in bra...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio welcome Sherry Bear, Chief Administrative Officer at Civic Federal Credit Union, for an inspiring behind-the-scenes conversation about leading meaningful change by leaning on organizational values. Sherry shares how Civic’s core principles – people-first, planet always, and prosperity for all – guided every deci...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio explore how customer experience in branch banking continues to drive trust and loyalty. Drawing from Adrenaline’s latest report – Closing Customer Experience Gaps in Branch Banking – they reveal what’s working, what’s missing, and how human connection remains essential in financial services, especially in an era...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio sit down with Nick Mentel, Managing Director of Insights & Analytics at Adrenaline, for an in-depth conversation about the role of analytics in developing growth strategies for financial institutions. With nearly two decades of experience, Nick brings his sharp insights into how data informs decisions on whe...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet explore the growing role of lines of business in banking. From small business to wealth management, they discuss how financial institutions are expanding services and deepening relationships in ways that connect across generations. Their conversation highlights why branches remain powerful centers for advisory opportunities and rel...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina Bleedorn and Juliet D’Ambrosio welcome on Courtney Coss, Chief Retail Officer at the Credit Union of Texas (CUTX), for an insightful conversation on building culture and community through innovative, future-focused retail delivery. Drawing on her 25-year journey from teller to top leadership, Courtney shares how CUTX has transformed their bra...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet explore what innovation really means in financial services today. While often equated with technology, innovation in banking is more about impact – solving problems creatively, modernizing the member or customer experience, and building stronger community connections. Their conversation highlights standout examples of innovation in...

In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Jeffrey Martinez, Executive Vice President and Head of Branch Banking at PNC. In their illuminating conversation, Jeffrey shares the story behind PNC’s $1.5 billion investment in their branch network and how the bank’s continuing commitment to the branch is fueling even more customer connection and institution...

In Part 2 of their special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome back Yvonne Garand, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer and Jevonne McLaughlin, Vice President of Brand Marketing, from EastRise Credit Union. In their conversation, Yvonne and Jevonne describe the rebranding process following the merger between New England Federal Credit Union and Vermont State Emplo...

In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Yvonne Garand, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer and Jevonne McLaughlin, Vice President of Brand Marketing, both from EastRise Credit Union. In their dynamic discussion, Gina, Juliet, Yvonne, and Jevonne address the merger of New England Federal Credit Union and Vermont State Employees Credit Union to form Ver...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet discuss challenges and change in the community banking sector. Making up 97% of all financial institutions, community banks and credit unions are purpose-driven institutions, uncovering opportunities to grow through their unique community connections. Their conversation covers M&A activity among community banks and how “mergers...

In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Al Dominick, Partner with Cornerstone Advisors, a consulting services firm powered by data to deliver customized results for banks and credit unions. In their lively conversation, Al, Gina, and Juliet discuss the current state of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the banking and credit union sectors, inclu...

In the year-end episode, the Believe in Banking podcast covers the key trends and themes that have shaped the banking industry in 2024 and are expected to continue in 2025. Conversations between Gina Bleedorn, Juliet D’Ambrosio, and Sean Keathley address the generational shift in banking, finding Gen Z more focused on advisory experiences and driving banks and credit unions to invest heavily in th...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet discuss the resurgence of investment in the bank branch and Adrenaline’s new report “The Branch Advantage: Essential Retail Strategies for Banking Industry Leaders.” Their conversation covers how major banks like PNC, Chase, Bank of America, and others are announcing significant investments in branch expansion and renovation, indic...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet spotlight news about how major banks like Chase, PNC, and Bank of America are making significant investments in expanding and renovating their branch networks, demonstrating the continued vitality of the branch channel. They also announce the upcoming report “The Payoff & Process of Branch Investment: Maximizing ROI for Financi...

In this special guest episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet welcome Andrew Hovet, Managing Director at Curinos, a data and insights company that helps financial institutions make better business decisions through advanced analytics, market intelligence, and customer data. In their dynamic discussion, Andrew, Gina, and Juliet discuss how banks and credit unions can leverage dat...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet discuss opportunities and optimism in the banking industry. Following years of retail closures and predictions about the death of the branch, the reality in 2024 is that not only is the bank branch not dead, but in just the last year, the U.S. added more net new branches for the first time in a decade. Branches are just one of the...

In this episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet discuss the resilience and enduring relevance of the of the branch. Fresh off the stage from her keynote at Future Branches, Gina discusses insights from the industry’s changemakers like Chase and what she heard from banking leaders across the country about the challenges they face with their own branch networks. They talk about th...

In this special episode of the Believe in Banking podcast, Gina and Juliet look back through the library of episodes to shine a spotlight the enlightening information and insights from Sean Keathley, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Adrenaline. Going back at the launch of the podcast in 2020, during the height of Covid, all the way through early 2024, they pull out some of the best thinking from a...