National banking school hosted at Furman

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The Consumer Bankers Association’s Executive Banking School, held virturally through much of the panedmic, is going live again for the first time since 2019. 

This year, the Washington D.C.-based organization will welcome more than 300 bankers to the campus of Furman University from July 24 to Aug. 3. The event is part of a three-year training program. 

“For more than 70 years, CBA’s Executive Banking School has played in an integral role in educating the next generation of diverse banking leaders,” Lindsey Johnson, president and CEO of Consumer Bankers Association, said in a news release. “This immersive program offers bankers a deep understanding and appreciation of how various segments of retail banking are interrelated and the ability to develop meaningful friendships with bankers from other institutions around the country. After several years of being held virtually, we’re especially excited to welcome more than 300 students back on campus for the return of in-person learning in just a few short weeks.” 

Classes will cover executive leadership capabilities like strategic leadership, financial risk acumen, market and customer insight and collaboration. Topics will include leading mid-sized regional banks, hiring, digital investment and the impact of artificial intelligence, the news release said. 

“As the banking landscape rapidly evolves, the need to develop capable and strategic leaders of the future has never been greater,” Johnson said in the release. “EBS is the premier advanced education program for bankers and is core to CBA’s mission of ‘preparing the next generation of diverse bankers to lead the industry.’ I look forward to experiencing my first EBS since assuming the role of president and CEO and remain fully committed to advancing its mission for years to come.” 

More than 90% of the event faculty are full-time bankers across a variety of leadership positions, including John Asbury, CEO of Atlantic Union Bank; Cassandra McKinney, head of Comerica’s retail bank division and CBA board member; David Turner and George Buchanan, CFO and EVP of Regions Bank; Mac Thompson and Bob Kottler, president and chief revenue officer at White Clay.