After months and months of planning and organizing, the day finally arrived that we gathered at the Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix for Haberfeld Symposium 2025. Now that it’s over, we’ve come away with memories, photos, stronger relationships, new friends, and a whole lot of wisdom.
It’s impossible to distill something like Symposium down to a few paragraphs, but we can share some key observations about our remarkable time together.
It Was a Big Deal.
Already, we’re hearing from clients that this was one of the best Symposiums yet. While we’d love to take credit, we know we can’t—the success of any Symposium is a direct result of the people who attend and the brilliance they share. We also know that we can always improve, which is why we’re already going over what worked well at Symposium 2025, what didn’t, and how to make Symposium 2026 (May 19–21 in Omaha) better still.
It Was the Right Time.
While community banking is always topical and timely, this year felt even more momentous. The industry itself is in flux, with changing interest rates, lower core deposits, and drastically heightened competition from larger institutions. In many ways, the industry’s future is a gigantic question mark, which means we need to be ready for whatever comes next. Shoring up our growth strategy is the best way to do it, and it’s never been more crucial for us to share our insights and experiences to the benefit of all.
It Was the Perfect Group.
The overall effect of Symposium is more than the sum of its parts, and we had the best group of people imaginable. Along with Keynote Speaker Lee Rubin and our presenting Haberfeld experts, the quality of our attendees was top notch, every session and conversation brimming with valuable lessons and actionable takeaways from the nation’s most forward-thinking community bankers. We couldn’t have planned it any better or hoped for a more astute collection of leaders.
It Was a LOT of Fun.
Even if you’ve only been to one Symposium, you’ll have noticed that the connections we make are the best aspects of our time together. Every institution is different, every town and city unique, but we are all the same in that we want to lead our teams into the future of banking with great results. From this common cause, friendships are formed, and we all enjoy the great honor of getting to know each other at dinners, during social events, and in between sessions. Plus, how can you beat a Beer Burro!?!
It Was Just the Start.
However much we accomplished in Phoenix, our work is never done, and this annual event is just the first step of many toward strengthening our institutions, relationships, and results. The good news: You’re not alone! Our family of community FIs stretches far and wide, and the lines of communication are always open. Furthermore, Team Haberfeld is always here to advise on everything from training to marketing and more, and we’ve got the data and products to bring you core accounts and relationships for years to come.
If you came to Symposium 2025 in Phoenix, we can’t thank you enough. Either way, we will see you in Omaha May 19–21, 2026 for a Symposium that’s bigger and better than ever!
