2026 Pub. 5 Issue 2

B:Side Capital and B:Side Fund, a non-profit small business lender and Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI), announced the launch of its AI-powered financial intelligence platform designed exclusively for small business owners.

Community banks, which make up at least 90% of all banks nationwide, are the backbone of American small businesses.

When it comes to fraud, what I worry about most is what we don’t know. Each day, there’s a new method of attack, and we must train ourselves and our teams to not only watch for it but to proactively combat it.

It’s becoming a frequent and unfortunate occurrence to hear community bankers recounting stories of fraud, and the attacks range from sophisticated digital scams to paper-based fraud rings.

The community banking industry has long offered stable, meaningful careers built on trust, relationships and community impact.

For years, digital marketing has dominated the conversation. Email campaigns, automation flows and inbox optimization have been the go-to strategies for brands looking to scale quickly and efficiently.

Real-time payment increases speed and fraud risk. However, layered controls, smart friction and continuous operations help financial institutions manage threats while keeping payments fast and reliable.

Community banking continues to evolve rapidly. Customer expectations are changing. Employee expectations are changing. Leadership expectations are changing.

As technology leaders in banking and financial services, we rarely inherit a clean slate.

Artificial intelligence is quickly transforming financial services. For community banks, this shift brings both opportunity and challenge.