AI, Advocacy, and Banking Innovation with Michael Adelman | S.R. Snodgrass Podcast Episode 26

In this episode of the S.R. Snodgrass podcast, Lenore Seifer welcomes Michael Adelman, President and CEO of the Ohio Bankers League, for a conversation about the importance of banking, advocacy, technology, and the future of community banks. Michael shares his career journey, beginning with his roots in public service and early experience in government. He discusses how those experiences shaped his understanding of advocacy and led him to his role with the Ohio Bankers League. The conversation explores the role banks play in helping communities thrive. Michael explains how banks support local economies by reinvesting deposits into the community through mortgages, car loans, business lending, and other financial services. Lenore and Michael also discuss the Ohio Bankers League’s mission, including advocacy, education, and professional development for bankers across Ohio. Michael shares how the organization supports banks of all sizes through events, learning opportunities, and resources designed to help them stay informed and serve their communities well. The episode also looks ahead at the future of banking, including regulatory right-sizing, fraud prevention, technology adoption, tokenized deposits, AI, and the importance of keeping community banks competitive in a changing financial landscape. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Welcome Michael Adelman 00:57 Michael’s background in public service 02:20 The advocacy role of the Ohio Bankers League 03:16 History of the Ohio Bankers League 04:13 OBL’s mission and education opportunities 06:06 Why banks are essential to thriving communities 07:25 Regulatory right-sizing and current advocacy priorities 09:21 Technology, fraud prevention, and the Bank Chain Alliance 11:06 Career opportunities in banking 12:36 How banking relationships are evolving 14:34 Michael’s outlook on the future of community banking 15:31 AI use cases in banking 16:40 Closing thoughts Listen to the full episode and subscribe for more conversations from S.R. Snodgrass.