Plugged In - A Banking Podcast
Plugged In brings you raw, honest takes on all things in the banking industry. That means you aren’t going to get some buzzword-filled, cliche podcast – you’re getting an unfiltered look into topics in the financial world no one else is talking about. Your hosts, Al Dominick and Steve Williams, will talk to top players in the industry about what matters now, and what will shape the future.
To groove along with Al and Steve's song references each episode, check out the official Plugged In Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Z7NWPIQuaXQlfHxLWJb3g?si=o552CzjwTr6R4mx13NmOBA
Plugged In - A Banking Podcast
Not Your Typical Q1 Outlook
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They’re back. Al and Steve kick off the year by discussing the biggest forces shaping banking right now, including something particularly challenging: growth.
From how banks are allocating capital to how leaders ought to measure results, they unpack what’s working, what isn’t, and preview themes from Ron Shevlin’s upcoming 2026 What’s Going On In Banking report.
Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in
Chapters:
[00:00] Welcome to 2026 & “I’m Still Standing”
[01:15] Why Bank Size Doesn’t Equal Ambition
[02:30] Growth Is Harder Than It Looks
[03:35] “Grow or Go” Is Too Simple
[04:40] Capital Allocation is more important than Asset Growth
[06:05] Discipline Beats Scale
[07:40] Making Technology Pay for Itself
[09:45] When to Kill a Tech Investment
[11:05] “Running Up That Hill” & Tech Roadmaps
[15:55] What Banks Must Get Right Next
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