Bill Fink on Banking, Risk, and the Road to 2026
Fri Jan 02 2026
As Jack Hubbard wraps up another year of Jack Rants with Modern Bankers, he welcomes back a familiar and trusted voice—Bill Fink, Chief Lending Officer at Provident Bank. For the third consecutive year, Bill joins Jack to break down what’s really happening in banking and the broader economy—and what bankers should be watching as they head into 2026.
Drawing from his hands-on work with clients, bankers, and market data, Bill shares why the outlook for 2026 can best be described as guarded but optimistic. The conversation dives deep into how businesses have adapted to tariffs, what confidence levels look like across industries, and why disciplined growth and proactive risk management remain essential for banks today.
Jack and Bill also tackle some of the biggest topics facing bankers right now, including commercial real estate realities, bank profitability and delinquencies, mergers and acquisitions, deposit insurance reform, small business banking, and the growing role of AI in sales and banking operations. With decades of experience and a rare blend of financial, sales, and strategic insight, Bill offers a grounded, practical perspective bankers can rely on as they plan for the year ahead.
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As Jack Hubbard wraps up another year of Jack Rants with Modern Bankers, he welcomes back a familiar and trusted voice—Bill Fink, Chief Lending Officer at Provident Bank. For the third consecutive year, Bill joins Jack to break down what’s really happening in banking and the broader economy—and what bankers should be watching as they head into 2026. Drawing from his hands-on work with clients, bankers, and market data, Bill shares why the outlook for 2026 can best be described as guarded but optimistic. The conversation dives deep into how businesses have adapted to tariffs, what confidence levels look like across industries, and why disciplined growth and proactive risk management remain essential for banks today. Jack and Bill also tackle some of the biggest topics facing bankers right now, including commercial real estate realities, bank profitability and delinquencies, mergers and acquisitions, deposit insurance reform, small business banking, and the growing role of AI in sales and banking operations. With decades of experience and a rare blend of financial, sales, and strategic insight, Bill offers a grounded, practical perspective bankers can rely on as they plan for the year ahead.