Quick Summary
More than 500 bankers and industry partners met in Columbus Oct. 26-28 for the 2026 Ohio Bankers League Main Event. For Ohio community banks heading into 2027, the message is one of confidence for risk programs that keep pace with growth, a lending role in Ohio’s economy and a plan for regulatory change at the statehouse and in Washington.
The Mission Card activity at this year’s Ohio Bankers League Main Event, held Oct. 26-28 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, had a simple premise. Each organization chose one word that sums up its mission, and attendees collected the cards as they made the rounds. Ours said “Confidence.”
Under the theme “Take Flight: Banking at Full Throttle,” more than 500 bankers, industry partners and exhibitors spent three days together, and Schneider Downs was proud to be a sponsor. Between the BankServices Expo and learning tracks for eight areas of the bank, much of the talk was about growth, with a quieter question running underneath it.
How Fast Can a Bank Grow Before Its Risk Program Falls Behind?
Growth holds up when the risk management program keeps pace with it. Every new loan product, market, fintech partner or payment channel changes a bank’s risk profile, sometimes in ways the last risk assessment never had to consider.
That’s what we mean by confidence. A bank builds it into its controls, measures it through internal audit and testing and protects it as conditions change. If your strategic plan has changed more recently than your risk assessment, the two may be out of sync.
What Does Ohio’s Business Community Need From Its Banks?
Ohio’s business community needs lenders who know its markets, and for many employers that lender is a community bank. That role matters more as the state grows. CNBC named Ohio America’s Top State for Business in 2026, the first time Ohio has held the top spot since the rankings began in 2007.
During the Main Event, our team hosted a private dinner with Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, who shared his view of the economic momentum building across the state. We’ve been part of that momentum since opening our Columbus office in 1989, and we recently signed a lease for a new office at Grandview Yard. Our mission is to be great for our people, our clients and our communities, and we’re proud to keep growing across Ohio.
What Changes for Ohio Banks in 2027?
Ohio banks head into 2027 with a new state administration and federal rules still in motion. The OBL’s 2026 general election recap describes narrower legislative majorities and divided government, with credit access, housing, small business and economic development among the issues to watch.
How Schneider Downs Can Help
Our Financial Services Industry Group works with community banks in Ohio and beyond. From internal audit and regulatory compliance to enterprise risk, fraud, cybersecurity and third-party risk, we help institutions build, measure and protect confidence in their risk management programs. If we met at the Main Event, we would welcome the chance to continue the conversation. Contact us at [email protected] or visit our Financial Services Industry Group page.
About Schneider Downs Financial Services
The Schneider Downs Financial Services industry group supports financial institutions as they navigate evolving risk, regulatory and governance challenges. Our professionals help institutions strengthen their internal audit, risk advisory and related risk management programs, supporting sound decision-making, operational effectiveness and regulatory alignment.
Our services span internal audit, risk advisory, IT risk advisory, third-party risk management, fraud risk advisory and enterprise risk and compliance. Together, they help financial institutions build resilient, risk-based programs that fit their strategic objectives and operating environment.
