On the Balance Sheet®

In the second episode of season 5, DCG’s own Joe Kennerson is back by popular demand and joins the guys to explore his 5 ALCO "Takes" for 2026. The conversation focuses on industry margin projections, a new era of liquidity management, balancing deposit growth vs cost savings, why you should “ignore” your competition, and the power of options both on and off the balance sheet. For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

In the highly anticipated season 5 opener, the guys are joined by Claudia Sahm, Chief Economist at New Century Advisors and architect of the famous “Sahm Rule.” Claudia provides her thoughts on the resilience of the US economy, key elements to be aware of on the unemployment and inflation fronts, Fed rate expectations and whether we are at risk of a policy error, and why she remains cautiously optimistic for 2026. For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on...

In the final episode of the season, Vin and Zach jump into a discussion on the recent Fed Meeting and the outlook for rates in 2026. The guys also probe how various rate outlooks could impact deposit and loan strategy, as well as thoughts on recent Q4 ALCO meetings, budgets, and positive industry margin trends. For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Vin, Zach, and DCG colleague Mike Mitchell are joined by Dan Yates, CEO and Co-Founder of Endeavor Bank located in Southern California. Dan shares lessons learned from training programs early on in his career and how he parlayed that education into the formation of two de novo banks. He speaks about Endeavor Bank's focus on "Consultative Banking," and how the bank's partnership with small- and medium-sized businesses is mutually beneficial. He also discusses Endeavor Bank's adherence to the E...

Cole Watson, CFO of Hoosier Hills Credit Union (IN), joins Vin, Zach, and DCG colleague Mike Mitchell for a terrific episode 10 of season 4. The guys dig into Cole’s background as he transitioned into the banking world post-GFC, the importance of having a “curious mind,” initiating strategic actions at ALCO, and how FIs should embrace culture shifts as deposit gathering becomes more and more important. For more insights and ideas, visit DCG at DarlingConsulting.com or follow us on Linke...