Nearly 150 bankers joined us for our 2026 Bites with Bruce series. Each event included an industry update from Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association & VBA President and CEO, Bruce Whitehurst, followed by a leadership panel of bankers with diverse perspectives!

Series Highlights

Thank you to our series sponsor, IntraFi!

The industy update highlighted the evolving landscape of banking, focusing on both the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. Top opportunities included AI automation, customer experience and relationships, and digital banking. Key concerns included fraud, AI risks and governance, and stablecoin/crypto uncertainty.

Attendees also received legislative and regulatory updates, covering topics such as the stablecoin regulation, the SCAM Act, GENIUS Act implementation, and credit card interest rate caps.

 The event transitioned into an engaging panel discussion, moderated by Bruce, featuring accomplished banking professionals sharing their career journey, their bank’s response to industry hot topics such as AI and fraud, as well as their leadership and career development path.

Thank You to the 2026 Panelists & Event Emcees

• Abingdon

  • Anthony Edwards – Skyline National Bank
  • Chris Snodgrass – The Bank of Marion
  • Emcee – David Cahill, First Bank & Trust Co.
• Suffolk
  • James Hinton, Jr., Dollar Bank
  • Kari Van Wassen, Chain Bridge Bank
  • Emcee – Dale Schuurman, Blue Ridge Bank
• Richmond
  • Sam Poole, Chesapeake Bank
  • Shannon Shaw, TowneBank
  • Emcee – Jennifer Gegner, C&F Bank
• Roanoke
  • Matthew Hubbard, C&F Bank
  • Marcus Wade, Bank of Botetourt
  • Emcee – Zach McGill, First National Bank
• Harrisonburg
  • Emily Cohen, Blue Ridge Bank
  • Greg Godsey, Atlantic Union Bank
  • Emcee – Jordan Dean, Pendleton Community Bank
• Chantilly
  • Trish Ferrick, FVCbank
  • Jimmy Olevson, National Capital Bank
  • Joe Thomas, Freedom Bank of Virginia
  • Emcee – Darren Tully, Capital Bank

Pictures from Bites with Bruce