In the AI Risk Reward podcast, our host, Alec Crawford (@alec06830), Founder and CEO of Artificial Intelligence Risk, Inc. aicrisk.com , interviews guests about balancing the risk and reward of Artificial Intelligence for you, your business, and society as a whole. Podcast production and sound engineering by Troutman Street Audio. You can find them on LinkedIn.

In this episode, Alec speaks with Jack Hubbard, Chairman of St. Meyer and Hubbard, about his accidental path from aspiring sports broadcaster to longtime banker, consultant, and board member. Jack explains why community banks can no longer afford to delay AI adoption, noting that bankers are already using these tools and need secure, institution-approved options instead of ungoverned workarounds. He shares how AI can transform sales preparation and pre-call planning, while emphasizing that CEOs must learn the technology themselves if they want their organizations to use it effectively. The conversation also focuses on ethical AI use, including the need for clear policies, human oversight, role-specific training, and leadership accountability across the bank. Jack closes with practical career advice for younger bankers, encouraging them to find mentors, gain broad experience, attend banking schools, and commit to lifelong learning.

Summary:

Accidental Career Journey: Jack Hubbard reflects on the unexpected experiences that led him from college radio into a 53-year career in banking and consulting.
AI in Community Banking: He argues that community banks must stop waiting on AI and instead provide safe, practical tools for bankers already experimenting with it.
Leadership Responsibility: CEOs and senior leaders need hands-on AI understanding so they can fund, guide, and model adoption from the top.
Ethics and Governance: Clear policies, human review, and strong training are essential to reduce data risks, compliance issues, and AI misuse.
Banker Development: Jack encourages future bankers to seek mentors, pursue rotations, attend banking schools, and stay committed to reading and continuous learning.

Referenced in this episode:

Companies/Organizations:

St. Meyer and Hubbard
Verapath
Northern Illinois University
Union Bank of Elgin
FTR
Harris Bank
BMO Harris
St. Charles Bank and Trust
Wintrust
Dynex Capital
Cornerstone Advisors
Performance Insights
RelPro
Vertical IQ
LinkedIn
Block
Peapack Gladstone Bank
Capital One
Fleet
American Bankers Association
Wharton School
University of Wisconsin
LSU School of Banking
Massachusetts Bankers
Perry School of Banking
Michigan Bankers Association
Selling Power
Barlow Research
Chicago Cubs

Books:

Heart Spoken
Conversations with Prospects
I Know Jack 53 Years of Banking Excellence

Movies:

Animal House
Caddyshack