Florida Banking October/November 2025

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE

LEADING IN A TIME OF CHANGE

BY KATHY KRANINGER, FBA PRESIDENT AND CEO

“The more things change the more they stay the same!” Despite the change my grandfather saw in his lifetime spanning the 20th century, this was one of his favorite sayings. I will never forget marveling at the latest gadget commercial on TV (yes, when we only had three channels and watched commercials!). While the innovation was interesting, he was focused on how people would use it and whether it would

Small businesses come to us for credit not because of a clever app, but because of the relationship they’ve built with a banker who knows their story and believes in their future. BankMiami opened its doors this year on this premise. And so many of you continue to operate with relationships as your focus. This is why leadership in times of change requires perspective. We adopt new technologies not because

make people’s lives easier in some way. He didn’t get lost in the sales pitch or the shiny newness of it all. Did that gadget bring real change for how people live? That question is just as relevant for us in banking today. Every week seems to bring new technology, new competitors and new regulatory pressures. Artificial intelligence is reshaping operations, digital platforms are transforming customer interactions, and

they are trendy, but because they allow us to better serve customers. We train and invest in our people because they are, and always will be, the foundation of our industry. As your association, our job is to help you navigate this time of rapid transformation while staying grounded in what matters most. That means keeping you informed on the latest regulatory and legislative developments, advocating

“BANKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL REMAIN A PEOPLE BUSINESS.”

federal regulators are reconsidering rules that affect every corner of our business. With the passage of the GENIUS Act, bankers and policymakers are trying to understand what stablecoins and crypto more broadly mean for the future of financial services. It’s easy to get caught up in the noise — or, worse, be paralyzed by it. But at its core, banking has always been and will remain a people business. No matter how much changes, the fundamentals stay the same: trust, relationships and service to our communities. Customers and clients deposit their hard earned savings with local bankers because they trust us.

for fair competition across financial services, and providing education and tools to help your teams thrive. The FBA staff is here to support you — that means we need to hear from you as you have questions, concerns and interests — so please keep the communication a two-way street! My grandfather was right — things do change, sometimes at a dizzying pace. But the essence of what we do remains the same. As we lead through this era of disruption, let’s keep our eyes on that enduring truth: banking is, and always will be, about people helping people. Thank you for what you do every day!

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