Community Banking Comes Together at BankIn Convention 2026

What happens when 351 community bankers, Associate Members, and partners get together for three days? A lot.

There were big conversations about AI, regulation, and the future of community banking. New ideas took shape during roundtable discussions. Longtime industry leaders were celebrated, new leadership stepped forward, and relationships grew stronger in conversations throughout the week.

And then there were the moments you probably wouldn't expect from a banking convention – a massive sturgeon, bankers racing down waterslides, and a few unforgettable Hawaiian shirts.

The 2026 BankIn Minnesota Annual Convention brought it all together at Treasure Island Resort & Casino: learning, leadership, connection, and plenty of fun.

Ideas, Insights, & Industry Perspective

From the opening keynote to the final industry discussion, Convention gave bankers plenty to take back to their banks.

Cindra Kamphoff kicked off the week with an energetic look at mindset and performance – complete with a SKOL chant led by the room's lone Cowboys fan. Sam Richter's keynote on AI had notebooks open throughout the room as bankers explored how emerging technology is already changing the way we work.

BankIn was also honored to welcome ICBA President & CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey, who joined federal regulators for a wide-ranging industry discussion on Tuesday before returning to the stage Thursday to share a national perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing community banks during the annual ICBA Address.

And through four sessions on Thursday, roundtable discussions put bankers and industry experts face-to-face to dig into the issues affecting their banks right now.

Beyond the Ballroom

Convention is about more than what happens in the meeting room. Wednesday's activities gave members time to connect in a different way – spending hours together on the golf course, out on the water, or trying something new during Sip & Sculpt.

That time matters. Longer, shared experiences create space for conversations and relationships that simply can't be squeezed into a quick break between sessions. And this year, they came with a few memorable moments, including an impressive sturgeon landed by Nick Roder during the guided fishing excursion.

The opportunity to spend time together continued into the evenings, with Treasure Island's bowling alley and arcade reserved exclusively for Convention attendees one night and the entire Lagoon waterpark the next. The pools and waterslides weren't just for the kids, while plenty of patio and poolside space made it easy to relax and catch up.

Even outgoing Chairman Greg Raymo got in on the action, earning what may have been the week's only lifeguard warning after jumping into the lazy river. And the event team surprised Greg, Rich Jones, and incoming Chairman Bill LaVigne with matching Hawaiian shirts featuring the BankIn logo – and their own faces.

Leadership for the Year Ahead

Convention marked an important leadership transition as Bill LaVigne, President and COO of The Bank of Elk River, was inducted as Chairman of the BankIn Minnesota Board of Directors.

In his incoming Chairman address, Bill emphasized the importance of engagement at every level of a community bank – from emerging and mid-career bankers to presidents, CEOs, and directors – and encouraged members to take advantage of opportunities to connect, contribute, and help shape the industry's future.

Bill succeeds Greg Raymo of First State Bank Southwest, who moves into the role of Past Chair. Joining Bill on the Executive Committee are Chair-Elect Mike Bresnahan, First National Bank Minnesota; Vice Chair Randy Dorn, My Kind of Bank; and Treasurer Terri Barrett, Bravera Bank.

BankIn also welcomed Jason Erdman of Key Community Bank to the Board, while Chad Forkrud of Citizens Alliance Bank moved into the District 5 Director position. Tiffany Baer Paine of Security Bank USA and Michael Bilski of North American Banking Company concluded their service on the Board, and we thank them both for their years of dedicated service to BankIn Minnesota.

Celebrating a Lifetime of Community Banking

Nine community bankers were honored with the 2026 Legacy of Community Banking Award, recognizing individuals who have dedicated 50 or more years to serving the banking industry.

This year's honorees are Teresa Bergstrom, First National Bank of Milaca; Carole Borth, Grand Rapids State Bank; Douglas Brink, First National Bank of Milaca; Peter J. Clements, First State Bank and Trust; Philip Forstrom, Citizens Alliance Bank; David K. Hennies, Arlington State Bank; Sharon Nordby, Citizens Bank Minnesota; David G. Smith, First Independent Bank; and Kurt G. Sundquist, Northern State Bank of Virginia.

Together, their careers span someof the most transformative decades in banking history – from hand-posted ledgers and passbook savings accounts to digital banking and modern financial technology. Through it all, they helped preserve the relationship-based approach that continues to define community banking.

Giving Back Together

This year's Convention community outreach initiative supported the Minnesota Veterans Home – Hastings Domiciliary, whose woodshop program has a special connection to BankIn: veterans in the program build the flag cases BankIn presents to member banks celebrating milestone anniversaries and to outgoing Chairmen in recognition of their service to the Board of Directors.

BankIn members contributed to the cause throughout the Convention outreach campaign, supporting the veterans and programs at the Hastings Domiciliary.

Strengthening Community Banking's Voice

Convention attendees also showed their support for the BankIn MN PAC, with contributions throughout the week and additional support generated through a matching contribution. 

A number of bank leaders took the opportunity to make their own donations, spurring an increase in membership to the 2026 Directors Club. 

Rochester, Here We Come

Convention 2026 demonstrated what can happen when Minnesota's community banking community has time to learn together, exchange ideas, build relationships, and simply enjoy being together.

Next summer, we're doing it again in Rochester.

Save the Date: July 27-29, 2027

Thank You, Convention Program Committee

A special thank you to the 2026 Convention Program Committee, whose creativity, planning, and attention to countless details helped make this year's Convention possible:

Karen Ramola, New Market Bank (Chair); Steph Rosacker Forbes, Edge One; Karen Leiter, CLA; Todd Mathison, Impact Retirement Advisors; Jenn Spartz, Glenwood State Bank; Missy Toombs, First State Bank of Rosemount; and Jason Winter, Citizens State Bank Norwood Young America.