Community bankers from across the state will gather in Fort Worth later this month for the Independent Bankers Association of Texas’ 51st Annual Convention, a perfect opportunity for education, networking and inspiration for those shaping the future of Texas community banking. Set for September 20–23 at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, the convention will feature nationally recognized keynote speakers, breakout sessions on the latest banking and technology trends, updates on legislative affairs and multiple opportunities to connect with peers.
The 2025 keynote speaker is Seth Mattison, co-founder of FutureSight Labs and ImpactEleven. Named one of the top 50 keynote speakers in the world by Real Leaders magazine, he has spent two decades advising executives at some of the world’s most recognized brands on navigating transformation and preparing for the future. His address, “The Human Advantage: Strategies for Winning in the Age of Machines,” will examine the challenges and opportunities facing business leaders as artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries. Mattison’s message emphasizes that while machines can replicate tasks, they cannot replicate the human creativity, empathy and problem-solving that drive innovation and build strong relationships. He will challenge attendees to see AI not as a replacement for people but as a tool to amplify human potential.
IBAT’s convention will also include insights from special guest Jonathan V. Gould, Comptroller of the Currency. Gould was recently sworn in as the 32nd Comptroller of the Currency at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which supervises more than 1,000 national banks, federal savings associations and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks operating in the United States. The comptroller also serves as a director of the FDIC and member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.
Jack E. Hopkins, chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), will also be at the convention. He also serves as president and CEO of CorTrust Bank in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A third-generation community banker, he learned the business from the ground up and has devoted his professional career to improving the financial lives of the customers CorTrust Bank serves. He brings that same passion and dedication to his role as ICBA chairman, continuing his work over the past 25 years advocating on behalf of community banking.
A regulators panel at the event will include insights from Anthony Clark, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Emily Greenwald, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; Troy Thornton, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; and Jared Whitson, Texas Department of Banking. The attorney panel this year will include Chet Fenimore, Fenimore Kay Harrison LLP; Mark Kanaly, Alston & Bird LLP; Derek McGee, Origin Bank; Bruce Toppin, Husch Blackwell LLP; and Beth Whitaker, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP.
The convention will also have plenty of entertainment, including a Casino Night in the Omni’s Texas Ballroom on Sunday, September 21. Throughout that day, attendees visiting vendor booths can collect playing cards, building their best five-card poker hand to win bonus chips for the evening’s festivities. The following day’s agenda will include a general sessions, breakout programs and the association’s annual awards luncheon. Topics will cover banking technology, risk management, regulatory issues and community engagement. Monday evening, September 22, will feature hospitality suites hosted by vendors and IBAT’s PAC Auction and Dinner. The convention concludes Tuesday, September 23, with the closing general session, annual meeting and breakfast.
IBAT’s host hotel for the convention, the Omni Fort Worth, offers a central location in the city’s walkable downtown, near attractions such as Sundance Square, the Fort Worth Stockyards and the Kimbell Art Museum. Guests can explore restaurants, shops and nightlife via the complimentary trolley service that stops outside the hotel or relax at the property’s heated rooftop pool and Mokara Spa.
Registration for the convention is still open. Attendees can register through IBAT’s website, which includes additional information about the agenda, speakers and accommodations is available.
