As 2025 winds down, it’s time for community banks to take a closer look at the CORE contracts, digital banking plans, and technology foundations that will shape their strategy in the year ahead. 

Keep reading for actionable insights and resources your community bank can incorporate into its Q1 playbook for 2026–from benchmarking your current CORE system to expanding your bank’s gameplan on AI rollout.

Even if your CORE contract renewal deadline isn’t imminent, Q1 is a smart time to confirm:

• Your renewal and notification windows
• Any pricing or volume triggers tied to growth
• Digital banking, payments, or connectivity terms that may limit upcoming initiatives

Small insights now can prevent rushed decisions later in the year.

Customers increasingly expect frictionless digital experiences. Consider:

• Are we prepared to launch new digital services this year?
• Do we have the right integrations lined up?
• Does our vendor support our next 12–18 months of strategy?

Community banks that invest early in data readiness make faster, clearer strategic decisions throughout the year. Q1 is ideal for checking:

• Accessibility of key performance data
• Integration gaps
• Opportunities for automation or workflow simplification

AI continues to expand capabilities across community banking, but knowing where to start can be challenging. Our upcoming webinar on January 14 is designed to provide practical, achievable approaches for banking leaders to apply AI using the systems and resources they already have.

Our webinar host, Vitex EVP and Chief Strategy Officer Milind Pathak, will cover:

• Real-world use cases relevant to community banks
• Practical implementation paths using existing systems and vendors
• Risk mitigation approaches that support safe, responsible adoption
• Opportunities to improve efficiency and decision-making without replacing the human touch

Event Details

🗓   January 14th, 2025
⏰  2:00 PM EST

We hope to see you there.

This year, we launched something new at Vitex: a holiday giving initiative supporting causes in our local communities. Each Vitex employee selected a nonprofit meaningful to them, and Vitex made a donation in their honor. 

As a remote team, this project gave us an opportunity to come together while making a positive impact where we live. The organizations chosen span the country, reflecting our diverse roots and the collective impact community-focused efforts can make nationwide.

As we wrap up 2025, it’s a reminder of the values that guide us and the communities we’re proud to support heading into the new year.

Community banks thrive when they plan proactively, choose partners wisely, and stay adaptable. 

Here’s to a productive finish to 2025, a wonderful holiday season, and a strategic start to 2026.