CEO Roundtable: Ideas from the opportunity seekers BY MARY J. YERKES * ILLUSTRATION BY MADE UP STUDIO W ith the economic uncertainty that defined most of 2023 showing signs of easing, community bankers are optimistic about the year ahead. Despite challenges like managing the net interest margin, increasing costs and fraud, community bankers are facing the future with resilience, determination and experience. While some challenges and opportunities may look familiar, we are also seeing a real interest in AI and what it might look like on a practical level for community bankers. Some CEOs are educating themselves about AI, while others are exploring new technologies to harness its power. All are looking to its potential benefits while finding ways to minimize its risks. We spoke to four community bank CEOs about their hopes for 2024.