Attendee feedback · Forum 2026

Don't take our word for it.

When we say The Financial Brand Forum is "the best conference in banking," we're not exaggerating. We've received countless testimonials from thousands of past attendees. See for yourself.

See who attends

Summary of attendee feedback

What attendees say about The Forum.

Over 10,000 retail banking leaders have attended The Financial Brand Forum. Hear what made it worth their time — in their words.

What the feedback covers

The program

Ideas they can use.

Strong speakers and practical takeaways for the growth challenges banks and credit unions face.

The range

More than marketing.

Growth strategy alongside digital, fintech, customer experience, retail, and AI.

The room

Connections that matter.

Renewed energy, useful connections, reasons to return, and value in bringing more of the team.

Attendee testimonials

The Forum, in their words.

First-hand reflections from Financial Brand Forum attendees, in their own words.

One of the very best conferences for our industry. Brought my CMO and plan to encourage others in my organization to attend in future years.

David Peterson, Chief Innovation Officer at First National Bankers Bank | Forum 2026

Thoughtful, relevant, and genuinely useful — not just high-level inspiration. I left with practical ideas and takeaways around behavioral science, CX, AI, and innovation. I’ve already told colleagues at other financial institutions that this is a must-attend conference for fresh ideas you can truly use.

Courtney Austin, AVP/Marketing Director at Franklin Savings Bank | Forum 2026

The best marketing conference of the year for financial institutions! I’ve been attending The Financial Brand Forum since 2016.

Derek Knowlton, EVP/Chief Marketing Officer at University Credit Union | Forum 2026

It’s about more than just marketing. A great event and gathering spot for retail distribution and product leaders as well. With a void of focused events like this, the Forum has even more value.

Brian McEvoy, Chief Retail Banking Officer at Webster Five | Forum 2026

It challenged how I think about growth and member engagement in a very practical way. It’s worth attending for a clearer view of where the industry is actually going and how to translate that into real decisions, not just ideas.

Christian Dean, CCXE & Retail Banking Director at Excite Credit Union | Forum 2026

Got lots of great ideas and thought starters for my team and organization. I have never attended a conference that was as well organized!

Sarah Wischhof, VP/Marketing Department Head at Union Bank & Trust | Forum 2026

A lot of energy and very engaging speakers and work sessions. I’ve been to a lot of conferences and often feel like they’re not the best use of my time or the Company’s budget — the Forum exceeded my expectations. The topics were relevant to our strategic plan, and I appreciated that the content was actionable, not fluffy or too high-level.

Tamara Felix, VP/Director of Marketing & Communications at Windsor Federal Bank | Forum 2026

The Forum was time well spent and definitely worth the costs and time away from the office. Breakout sessions were valuable and informational, and I especially enjoyed the keynote speakers.

Robert Reed, Chief Retail Banking Officer at Technology Credit Union | Forum 2026

The Forum can be counted on to deliver high quality content and high caliber speakers. The sessions I attended on Day 1 alone were worth the price of admission.

Ashley Kuehn, VP/Marketing & Communications Officer at Opportunity Bank of Montana | Forum 2026

Great event! Very well organized, and the speakers were awesome! My favorite parts were the atmosphere and conference lineup.

Jeff Hayward, Chief Operating Officer at Weyburn Credit Union | Forum 2026

A great conference for an executive team to attend together! The sessions were a great mix of motivational, tactical, and strategic.

Stefanie Kramer, Chief Financial Officer at SCSB | Forum 2026

Always good takeaways from the Forum! I met a lot of vendors that can assist with personalization and attended a lot of good sessions on AI as well as how to balance digital and physical branches. Come prepared with an open mind and you will walk away with creative ideas that will surprise you.

Brittany Twilling, VP/Retail Branch Services at General Electric Credit Union | Forum 2026

Great to hear from other folks JUST in the financial space. Other conferences are industry-wide — this one is extremely relevant.

Katherine Eddleman, SVP/Manager of Paid Media at Regions Bank | Forum 2026

Great show to meet vendors and learn more about industry hot topics — challenging conventional ways of thinking, marketing, and succeeding in a highly competitive environment.

Craig Krejci, SVP/Checking/HH Acquisition & Product Design at KeyBank | Forum 2026

One of the best conferences nationwide. I tell people that all the time!

David Eldred, Chief Growth Officer at Solarity Credit Union | Forum 2026

Always a valuable experience — I leave inspired and motivated every year!

Sarah Battani, VP/Consumer Customer Experience Manager at Bankers Trust | Forum 2026

Awesome experience! The agenda was thoughtfully organized, blending strategic thinking with actionable takeaways I could apply right away. Even in my retail role, I found tremendous value — it pushed me to think bigger and look at things from a more strategic perspective, sparking new ideas I can carry into my day-to-day work.

Paige Cairney, SVP/Branch Admin at SCSB | Forum 2026

Full of like minded people in the financial space! It was a great networking opportunity with so many vendors I had not heard of. It is now on my conferences not to be missed list.

Leigh Anne Binz, Director of Marketing & Brand at TDECU | Forum 2026

Show all