Horizon Bankers Annual Conference

2026 Horizon Bankers Annual Conference

New Braunfels, TX

June 14 - 16, 2026

The CBAO Horizon Bankers are pleased to announce that the annual Horizon Bankers Conference is planned to be held in New Braunfels, TX!

The CBAO Horizon Bankers Conference is the CBAO’s Leadership Division’s annual event. It provides an opportunity for CBAO members to receive education and leadership development while strengthening the industry through personal connections. This event offers focused leadership training, hot topic general sessions, and networking opportunities. It is a fun, friendly, casual event for everyone to enjoy!

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Registration

Conference Pass Type

HB Member - $600

CBAO Member - $650

Non-Member - $750

Book Your Hotel Room!

Courtyard Marriott River Village
750 IH 35, New Braunfels, TX.
Phone: (830) 626-4700

2026 Agenda

 

*all times are subject to change

Sunday, June 14th

5:00pm - 6:30pm

Welcome Reception - Courtyard River Village (Rockpad); 750 IH 35 North, New Braunfels, Texas 78130 - Attendees and Families Welcome

A very casual Sunday Funday Evening! Enjoy yummy refreshments and light appetizers on the Rockpad looking over the beautiful Comal River!

  • Live Entertainment with Caroline Hale, enjoy live music by the river!

 

Monday, June 15th

8:00am – 8:45 Breakfast

8:45am – 9:45am

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Payments – Pat Dix

Artificial Intelligence exploded into conversations around technology in almost every industry including banking.

Since we all started experimenting with tools like Chat GPT, the rate of change around AI continued to accelerate and now banks are grappling with how to approach AI.

In this session we’ll give you a framework to think about new technologies and innovations like AI and how you might use them in your bank.  We’ll talk about the ways AI is already in the marketplace.  We will explain newer concepts like agentic AI and show you how AI is enhancing payments, authentication and the customer experience.

9:45am – 10:00am Break

10:00 am – 11:00am

The New Fed Roster, and the Bond Market’s Expectations – Jim Reber

New Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh has the financial markets paying close attention as they attempt to decipher the near-term strategy for monetary policy. Still lurking over the conversation is the size, and the direction, of inflation. We will review what we know about the new Chair’s past positions, and discuss market-based expectations for interest rates, and community bank profitability.

11:00am – 11:15am Break

11:15am – 12:15pm

The Golden Window: The First 48 Hours of a Digital Breach – Steven Baskerville

When a digital breach occurs, panic is your greatest enemy. The decisions made by leadership in the first 48 hours will permanently dictate your bank’s regulatory outcome, legal liability, and brand reputation in the community. This fast-paced, non-technical session serves as your bank's tactical "go-bag."

Designed specifically for community bank leaders, you will learn how to verify a true security incident, initiate immediate containment protocols that preserve critical forensic evidence, and navigate the high-stakes regulatory clock—including the federal 36-hour notification rule and the newly updated Oklahoma Security Breach Notification Act (SB 626) requirements.

12:00pm – 6:00pm

Banker Networking

1:45pm/2:00pm

LUNCH

Group LUNCH – Gristmill River Restaurant

1287 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130 - Attendees and Families

* A bus will be available to take you to and from the hotel beginning at 1:00pm and returning at 4:00 pm and 6:00pm; DRESS CASUAL!

Located beneath Gruene’s landmark water tower, in the ruins of an 1878 cotton gin, overlooking the Guadalupe River, the Historic Gristmill has been considered one of the most unique dining spots in Texas for nearly half a century. A rare combination of history, location and turn-of-the-century architecture create the Gristmill’s legendary Texas experience!

Dinner on Your Own

 

Tuesday, June 16th

8:00am – 8:30am Breakfast

8:30am – 9:30am

Navigating the 2026 CRI Framework – Steven Baskerville

With the FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT) officially retired, financial examiners have shifted to the Cyber Risk Institute (CRI) Profile v2.2 as the baseline for operational resilience. Aligned with the modern NIST CSF 2.0 standard, this framework changes how community banks evaluate and present their risk profile.

This session outlines the new standard, explaining how the framework’s "Impact Tiering" scales the assessment down to match community bank realities. Learn how to map your existing CAT data directly into a unified "Resilience Scorecard" that satisfies the FDIC, OCC, and state examiners alike.

9:30am – 9:45am Break

9:45am – 10:45am

 Stop Selling and Start Connecting: Why Your Marketing Program Isn’t Working – Pat Dix

It’s not enough to be your community’s “hometown bank.” It’s more than telling a potential customer it’s “your people” that make the difference. They really don’t care how many years you’ve been in business. It’s time to focus on your story. Information is being delivered faster than ever and the volume can turn to noise if you don’t stop and pay attention. Explore the ways digital media is changing the way we market to consumers, the new ways customers are digesting information, and how you can differentiate your message by connecting with customers through storytelling instead of trying to sell to them.

10:45am – 11:00am Break

11:00am – 12:30pm

Oklahoma State Banking Department Panel – Regina Rainey, Chief of Staff; Mo Wilson, Senior Examiner; Kendall McDaniel, Assistant Deputy Commissioner; Doyle Jones, Regional Examiner

The panel will give you a brief overview of current issues, followed by the opportunity for you to ask those challenging questions.

 

HB Platinum
HB Gold
Sponsor Logo Slides.pdf
HB Bronze

Sponsorship Information

Leadership Retreat Sponsorship

We are excited to provide you with opportunities to promote, educate, spend time and stay in front of our Oklahoma community bankers.

Get involved!

Learn more about how to become an active member of CBAO!