Brian Read

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are transformative opportunities for growth, but they also present unique challenges in maintaining employee and customer engagement during transitions. This panel will explore how banks and credit unions can unify organizational cultures while ensuring minimal service disruptions, welcoming new employees and customers, and supporting existing talent and members. Industry leaders will share actionable strategies for creating a cohesive culture that aligns values, workflows, and experiences across merged entities. Learn how to foster trust and loyalty by listening to employees and customers, addressing concerns proactively, and crafting messaging that reflects the vision of a unified institution. The discussion will focus on: 

• Maintaining continuity during organizational changes to smooth out transitions and minimize disruptions 
• Empowering employees by using active listening and employee feedback tools to gather a true consensus of employee satisfaction and morale 
• Uniting cultures to create one driving force that can deliver on the organization’s mission 
• Positioning the merged entity as a world-class financial institution that prioritizes both internal cohesion and external excellence

Growth doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by design. In this engaging and practical session, Brian J. Read, Chief Growth Officer at STCU, draws from leadership experience across institutions like Bank of America, US Bank, Umpqua, and STCU to explore how banks and credit unions can foster intentional, sustainable growth. Brian will share his framework to assess your organization’s current capabilities, identify gaps, and build a roadmap for change. You’ll dive into the operational realities behind innovation—asking tough questions like: Are we truly ready to support this new product or pilot? Do we have the infrastructure and mindset to grow responsibly? This session goes beyond strategy into the heart of change management to: 

• Create a culture that embraces evolution, whether you're a new leader stepping in from the outside or someone trying to shift momentum from within 
• Evaluate your teams, processes, and tools to make sure they are working together to support new initiatives and market expansions 
• Establish a company mindset to not only grow—but to grow well