Independent Banker - July 2021 - 7

FROM THE TOP
" In today's marketplace, we can't
be afraid to experiment and fail.
Let's embrace some out-of-thebox,
entrepreneurial thinking to
attack our problem areas. "
Robert M. Fisher
Chairman, ICBA
Robert Fisher is president, CEO
and chairman of Tioga State Bank
in Spencer, N.Y.
hen it comes to implementing
new technology, community
banks have been faced with
challenges. For one, we often don't
have the internal bandwidth to
build the solutions we want, so we
must seek products that exist in the
marketplace-and that can feel like
searching for a needle in a haystack.
Once we find the right product, it has
to integrate into our core systems.
And when a product or service doesn't
perform, we may let it limp along
instead of sunsetting it.
While these issues present
challenges, we are entering a new
era, one with much more potential
on the horizon. My optimism
stems from having participated in
the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator
program, which delivers bestof-the-best
solutions directly to
community banks.
The accelerator companies
understand community banks and
how to work with us, because the
W
program directly connects them with
community bankers who provide
guidance on how to make their
products stronger. ICBA evaluates
participants with community bank
needs in mind, making it easier
for community banks looking to
partner with them. By the time the
companies complete the accelerator,
they are ready to go to market with
community banks.
While not every accelerator
solution is relevant to every bank,
the offerings are designed to address
our specific pain points. In fact,
my bank has signed on multiple
companies from the latest cohort to
support our efforts. Because of the
detailed insights from ICBA, the
onboarding process was nominal,
and these companies were able to
get up and running quickly within
our organization.
My Top Three
In the spirit of
technology
upgrades, here are my top
three must-have devices:
1. 12.9-inch iPad Pro, my
go-to for work travel
2. Heads-up display (HUD)
in my car
3. Sonos wireless
sound system
Connect with Robert @RobertMFisher
At Tioga State Bank, we have
never been bleeding edge, but we
are leading edge. For example, we
implemented online banking in
1997 with Jack Henry & Associates
when it went live, and we've always
tried to be first to market with the
technology that customers want.
Over the years, our tech philosophy
has evolved. We've come to
terms with the fact that not every
solution we implement will be a
forever product.
In today's marketplace, we can't
be afraid to experiment and fail. So,
as we dive deeper into the digital
customer experience in this issue,
let's embrace some out-of-the-box,
entrepreneurial thinking to attack
our problem areas. To remain
competitive, we have to step up
and try different things to meet
burgeoning expectations. Sure, not
every solution will work. But if we
don't try, we'll never know just how
far we can go. 
independentbanker.org Q 7
Photo by Heather Esposito
http://www.independentbanker.org
Independent Banker - July 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Independent Banker - July 2021
