IBAT Annual Convention

September 19–22, 2026 | San Antonio

IBAT’s Annual Convention is a four-day event that takes an in-depth look at key issues impacting the banking industry, specifically those related to community banks.

Join us at La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio for everything you’ve come to expect from an IBAT event: great keynote speakers, educational breakout sessions, regulatory updates, awards, peer-to-peer resource sharing opportunities, networking and entertainment.

Why Attend

Step Outside the Day-to-Day

Get out of the weeds for a few days and take a broader look at the issues, changes and decisions shaping community banking.

Spend Time with People Who Get It

Talk with bankers who understand the pressures of the job and industry partners who know community banks and are ready to help.

Bring Home Ideas That Fit

Hear how others are handling familiar challenges and leave with ideas that make sense for your bank, your team and your customers.

Reconnect with the Work

Make room to reset, reconnect with what matters and return to the bank with a clear sense of where to focus next.

General sessions at IBAT Annual Convention

Keynote speaker at IBAT Annual Convention

IBAT Board President speaking at Annual Convention

The Convention Experience

IBAT’s Annual Convention is where the momentum of Texas community banking comes to life. It's where relationships are built, ideas are exchanged and the future of community banking takes shape.

From general sessions and peer conversations to signature events like the Chairman’s Opening Party and PAC Auction and Dinner, every moment is designed to deliver insight, connection and energy you can carry back to your bank.

Featured Keynote Speakers

From the cockpit of an F-16 to the rodeo arena, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney and Cord McCoy know what it means when the road ahead changes. Their experiences have shaped the way they approach adversity and the messages they will bring to San Antonio.

Opening Keynote

CAVU: Live Unlimited

Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney

Fighter pilot and Folds of Honor founder Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney shares how adversity can become a force that lifts us higher.

Combat Tours in Iraq

Top Gun Recipient

73,000

Scholarships Awarded

$340M+

In Scholarships Provided

Closing Keynote

When the Gate Opens

Cord McCoy

From the rodeo arena to The Amazing Race, Cord McCoy shares what it takes to change course and keep moving forward when the plan changes.

The Amazing Race Competitor

World Champion Bull

PBR

Color Commentator

PRCA

ProRodeo Producer

Meet the Keynote Speakers

Regulatory Panel

Hear directly from leaders representing the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Texas Department of Banking as they discuss emerging supervisory priorities, regulatory developments and what community banks should have on their radar. Moderated by Christopher Williston, President and CEO of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas.

Emily Greenwald

Senior Vice President Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Troy Thornton

Deputy Comptroller for Community Banks Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Mark Taylor

Regional Director Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Charles Cooper

Commissioner Texas Department of Banking

Christopher Williston

President and CEO Independent Bankers Association of Texas

Breakout Session Tracks

The biggest challenges facing community banks don't fit into a single conversation. That's why IBAT's Annual Convention offers five breakout tracks designed to help you explore the issues and opportunities that matter most to your bank. Mix and match sessions across tracks to create an experience that's tailored to your role, goals and the conversations you want to be part of.

Key Issues & Emerging Trends

Explore the issues and trends behind some of community banking's biggest decisions. Topics include:

Compensation Trends in Community Banking
Capital Planning and Alternatives
Building the Next-Generation Community Bank Board
Shareholder Liquidity as a Governance Risk: A Board-Level Framework

Profitability

The conversations shaping your bank's bottom line, from hidden profitability to the future of payments. Topics include:

Stop Leaving Money on the Table: How Community Banks Are Uncovering Hidden Profitability
Texas FCIC: Combatting Transnational Organized Financial Crimes (Skimming, Wire Fraud, ATM Crimes)
Economic Update
Payments: The Future of Money Movement

Risk Management

Explore today's biggest risk issues, including compliance, cybersecurity, fraud and governance. Topics include:

Panel: Payment Rails and Fraud Tales
Your Credit Culture, at Scale: How AI Is Transforming Community Banking Underwriting
Fair Lending and Reputational Risk: Updates to Federal Regulations and Procedures
From Examiner to the Boardroom: What Good Governance Actually Looks Like

Technology & Innovation

What's new, what's working and what's next in technology for community banks. Topics include:

Community Banking and Fintech: Bridging the Gap Between Tradition and Innovation
Panel: Transform Core Conversations for Your Bank
Managing AI: Risk Assessments and Governance for Community Banks
AI in Community Banking: Panel Discussion

Visionary Leadership

Strengthen your leadership approach and prepare your people and strategy for what comes next. Topics include:

The Leadership Risk Nobody Is Talking About
Vision: Essential Strategies for Future-Ready Banks – Strategic and Succession Planning
Women in Community Banking
Stewarding Strategy

Tentative Agenda

Agenda is tentative and subject to change.

Saturday, September 19

ADD-ON EVENT
Golf Tournament
Separate registration required
7:00 a.m. Registration & Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Shotgun Start

2:00–5:00 p.m.
Registration

6:00–7:30 p.m.
WELCOME EVENT
Kickoff Welcome Reception
Celebrating Greg Wilson
Transportation Provided

Sunday, September 20

7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Registration

7:00–7:30 a.m.
Devotional

7:45–9:00 a.m.
Grab-and-Go Breakfast

9:00–10:00 a.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions

10:00–10:30 a.m.
Refreshment Break

10:30–11:30 a.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions

11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m.
GENERAL SESSION
Opening General Session and Lunch

2:15–6:00 p.m.
EXHIBIT HALL
Exhibit Hall Opening Reception

6:00–8:30 p.m.
Evening Free

8:30–10:30 p.m.
NETWORKING
High Stakes & Lucky Breaks
Casino & Bingo Night

Monday, September 21

7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Registration

8:00–10:00 a.m.
GENERAL SESSION
General Session and Breakfast

10:00–11:30 a.m.
EXHIBIT HALL
Exhibit Hall Open

11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m.
AWARDS
Awards Luncheon & General Session

1:45–2:45 p.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions

3:00–3:30 p.m.
Refreshment Break

3:30–4:30 p.m.
Concurrent Breakout Sessions

5:30–6:30 p.m.
Hospitality Suites

6:30–9:30 p.m.
SIGNATURE EVENT
PAC Auction and Dinner

Tuesday, September 22

8:00–10:15 a.m.
GENERAL SESSION
Closing General Session and Breakfast: Annual Meeting and New Chairman's Address

An Experience Beyond the Meeting Room

Where education, connection and experience come together.

Set in the Texas Hill Country, La Cantera Resort & Spa offers a backdrop that elevates the entire event experience.

Whether you’re connecting between sessions, unwinding after a full day or extending your stay, La Cantera makes it easy to step away and fully engage.

Hotel Information

Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa
16641 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256

Discounted Rate: $279 plus taxes and fees

Cutoff Date: August 28, 2026

Reserve Your Room

Thank You to Our 2026 Event Sponsors

Strategic Sponsor

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

ADVANTAGE, Powered by JMFA
CollateralEdge
Diebold Nixdorf
Fenimore Kay Harrison LLP
Glory Global Solutions

Husch Blackwell LLP
IntraFi
SHAZAM
Stephens Inc.
The Bank Advisory Group

Bronze Sponsors

Agent IQ
Data Business Equipment, Inc. (DBE)
Digital Onboarding, Inc.
Eide Bailly LLP
Evolutions AI LTD
FIntegrate Technology
HC3
ICI Consulting, Inc.

Jack Henry
Kristopher James Company
LemonadeLXP
Quantum Six Consulting Limited
Ray, Feighny & Hartle PLLC
Strunk LLC
The Bankers Bank
Whitley Penn LLP

Exhibit Encounters

Connect with trusted partners and explore solutions designed for Texas community banks.

ADVANTAGE, Powered By JMFA
Advantage Health Plans Trust
Agent IQ
ASI
Ascensus
BCC
Bedel Security
BMA Banking Systems
Capital Certified Development Corporation
CLA
CollateralEdge
Compliance Pathways
Compliance Select
Computer Services, Inc. (CSI)
Condley and Company, LLP
Convergint
Curated Cyber
Data Business Equipment, Inc. (DBE)
Data Driven Partners
DCI (Data Center Inc.)
Deluxe Corporation
Diebold Nixdorf
Digital Onboarding, Inc.
Dolphin Debit Access, LLC

Eide Bailly LLP
Engage fi
Farmers National Company - Energy
Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
Federal Protection, Inc.
FIntegrate Technology
Forbinfi
FORVIS Mazars
Glory Global Solutions
Go Abacus
Haberfeld
Hamilton Vaultronics
HC3
HuLoop
IBAT DTX, LLC
IBT Apps
ICBA CRA Solutions
Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA®)
InfoAgora Inc.
Integris
IntraFi
Ironcore, Inc.
Kristopher James Company

La Macchia Group
LemonadeLXP
MG Architects
Ncontracts
NFP Executive Benefits
Oculus Software
PhaseOne Design Builders
PTMA Funding
PULSE
QSI, INC (Quality Service Installation)
R&T Deposit Solutions
S&P Global Market Intelligence
SBS CyberSecurity, LLC
SHAZAM
SQN Banking Systems
Teslar Software
The Bankers Bank
TransFund
Vantage Point Solutions
Verge Network Solutions
Vitex, Inc.
Xactus
Zelus Automation Platform, LLC