The Biggest Risk for Community & Regional Banks Isn’t the Market. It’s Leadership

Culture breakdowns. Succession gaps. Watching your best people leave for bigger banks. These are the real threats community and regional bank CEOs face every day.

That’s why the Michigan Bankers Association, Ohio Bankers League, and the Perry School of Banking trust the Lowisz Leadership Institute to keynote CEO & Director Conferences, build academies, and develop leaders inside banks.

Write your awesome label here.

The Pressures Facing Bank Leaders

Community and regional banks are under pressure:
  • Long-tenured executives preparing to retire.
  • Culture challenges that erode trust and performance.
  • Bigger banks luring away your best talent.
  • Rising demands for growth without burning out your teams.
If leadership isn’t built intentionally, it becomes your biggest vulnerability.

Who We’ve Partnered With

What CEOs Tell Us
(and Why It Hurts)

We hear the same beliefs from CEOs and directors across the country:

  • “We’ll handle succession when the time comes.”
  • “We can’t compete with big banks on pay - so turnover is inevitable.”
  • “Accountability just makes people want to leave.”

The problem? These beliefs quietly drain performance, retention, and continuity - until it’s too late.

Where Banks Get Stuck - and How We Fix It

Succession planning put off too long.

One community bank thought they’d need outside hires. Instead, we uncovered successors already inside. With development, they built a full succession plan in 12 months.

Talent lost to bigger banks.

A regional bank believed retention was hopeless. After resetting culture with clear goals and accountability, performance rose 15% in 18 months and turnover slowed dramatically.

Accountability misunderstood.

When accountability is framed as support and ownership instead of punishment, leaders stop pushing and teams start pulling. We train leaders to make accountability a positive force for growth.

What Changes When Leadership Becomes the Advantage

When banks bring in the Lowisz Leadership Institute to speak, train, or develop leaders:
  • Performance rises. Teams align and numbers improve.
  • Continuity is secured. Succession stops being a scramble.
  • Retention improves. People stay because the culture makes them want to.
  • Confidence returns. CEOs, directors, and boards know the future is protected.
That’s why associations and banks nationwide call LLI.
Write your awesome label here.

Why Banks & Associations Choose the Lowisz Leadership Institute

Deep Roots in Banking

Keynote speaker at CEO & Director Conferences, Perry School faculty, the team behind the MBA Leadership Academy, and former board member.

Proven Frameworks

Generic Fortune 500 programs don’t work for community banks. Our Guide, Don’t Drive™ philosophy equips leaders to drive accountability, culture, and succession in a way that fits the size and culture of your institution.

Immediate Impact

Every keynote, workshop, or academy ends with tools leaders can apply the next day. CEOs see it quickly - tougher conversations, clearer accountability, stronger culture, and measurable performance gains.

How We Can Help You

For Conference & Event Planners

Bring Steve to Your Next Banking Event
Steve Lowisz is a regular keynote speaker at conferences and state banking events across the country. His sessions are bold, practical, and built for the realities of community and regional banks.

For Bank CEOs & Leadership Teams

Develop the Leaders Inside Your Bank
The Lowisz Leadership Institute helps banks rebuild culture, prepare successors, develop leaders, and strengthen teams through workshops, academies, and hands-on development programs.

For Association Leaders & Heads of Learning

Partner With LLI to Build Member Programs
Associations like the Michigan Bankers Association and Ohio Bankers League already rely on LLI to build academies and equip future bank leaders. We can do the same for your members.