Program | HR Connection Forum | American Bankers Association

During this virtual, half-day event, attendees will walk away with practical tools for building a strong and profitable workforce. Feel prepared to tackle today’s industry challenges head-on.

2026 Schedule

Tues., Aug. 25

Tues., Aug. 25

11:00 AM – 11:05 AM ET / 8:00 AM – 8:05 AM PT	Welcome
11:05 AM – 11:40 AM ET / 8:05 AM – 8:40 AM PT	The future-ready bank: Talent, trust, and adaptation in the AI era For banks, changes brought on by new technology are imminent. To succeed, institutions need the leadership capacity, workforce capability and organizational resilience to keep changing with it. Discover how AI, customer expectations, labor constraints, regulatory pressure and faster change cycles force banks to rethink what readiness really means. This session will challenge leaders to think beyond implementation and focus on institutional capacity: what your bank must become to remain relevant, responsive and competitive. Paul Carney, Founder, Ishtot, Inc.
11:40 AM – 12:20 PM ET / 8:40 AM – 9:20 AM PT	CONCURRENT SESSIONS Growth and transformation track: Workforce capacity as a growth strategy As competition intensifies and operating models evolve, workforce and leadership decisions increasingly shape a bank’s ability to scale, adapt and remain competitive. This session examines workforce strategy through a banking leadership lens — focusing on how CHROs and senior leaders align talent, leadership capability, team structure and organizational readiness with business priorities. Explore common challenges that slow execution, along with practical approaches banks are using to improve readiness and support long-term growth. Bank performance track: The leadership continuity crisis When community bank executives retire, institutional knowledge walks out the door. The only way to avoid threats to your organization’s long-term performance is to fortify your leadership development strategy. Gaps in your bench strength are really gaps in professional development. That’s why it’s time for CHROs to take on a proactive role in succession planning. Learn to lead when teams are lean and resources are tight — and bring succession into ongoing business conversations before the pressure arrives.
12:20 PM – 12:30 PM ET / 9:20 AM – 9:30 AM PT	Break
12:30 PM – 1:10 PM ET / 9:30 AM – 10:10 AM PT	CONCURRENT SESSIONS Growth and transformation track: How work, roles and productivity are being redefined with AI As AI permeates your daily operations, the challenge becomes helping your institution adapt responsibly while maintaining governance, operational discipline and workforce readiness. Get practical tools you can apply right away to help your bank move from AI curiosity to AI capability. Explore how lean teams can safely integrate AI-supported work, where governance and risk controls matter most and how you can prepare employees for rising expectations around productivity, adaptability, judgment and execution. Paul Carney, Founder, Ishtot, Inc.
1:10 PM – 1:30 PM ET / 10:10 AM – 10:30 AM PT	Build your HR leadership community Despite facing common pressures such as talent shortages, leadership continuity, evolving workforce expectations and operational alignment, CHROs and senior HR leaders rarely collaborate with one another outside of the bank. In this 20-minute networking session, take advantage of both group and 1:1 opportunities for authentic connection with your peers. Have candid conversations, exchange relevant insights and discover camaraderie and solutions.

This program is subject to change. Please bookmark this page to check for continuing updates. Read ABA Conference and School Policies to help answer additional questions.

Program | HR Connection Forum

2026 Schedule

Tues., Aug. 25

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