About this episode
What inspires a seasoned bank CEO to come out of retirement? As Jim Reuter, CEO and president of First Interstate Bank, tells Al and Steve on the show: “There’s a saying . …that musicians don’t retire until there’s no music left in them. There was still some music left in me.” They discuss his career, succession best practices and some of the biggest forces reshaping regional banking. Plus, they offer up their 2026 predictions. Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in Chapters: [00:00] Jim Rueter Returns to Plugged In [01:00] From FirstBank to First Interstate [02:10] Vinyl Vault & Music Themes [03:00] Why Jim Came Out of Retirement [05:00] Leadership Lessons & Succession [06:40] Growth Barriers & Competition [08:20] Brand Density and Digital Strategy [11:30] Deposit Displacement Reality Check [16:00] The Scale Debate in Banking [19:15] The ROI of Technology [23:50] 2026 Banking Predictions [26:40] Closing Thoughts & Wrap-Up