Keynote Speaker & Strategist

Where Fintech
Meets the
Real World.

Rich Perez brings 20+ years of practitioner experience to stages across the country — delivering sharp, actionable talks on AI, digital assets, and the future of banking that audiences actually remember.

Check Availability View Topics
20+ Years in Digital
Transformation
100s of Stages, Boardrooms
& Classrooms
16 Years Building Digital
Products at Scale
Rich Perez
Rich Perez
VP Innovation & Digital Strategy, Texas Bankers Association
Co-Instructor, Foundations in Fintech, Texas State University
AI Digital Assets Fintech Banking
Trusted by & presented to
Texas Bankers Association American Bankers Association Texas State University Arkansas Bankers Association SFA University Adobe Oracle SoftBank
About Rich

A Practitioner.
Not Just a Presenter.

Rich Perez has spent 20+ years at the intersection of technology, strategy, and real-world execution — building digital products for Fortune 500 retailers, advising state banking associations, co-teaching the next generation of fintech leaders, and a frequent speaker at state and national banking associations across the country.

Today he leads digital strategy and innovation for one of the country's most active banking communities, hosts a nationally distributed fintech podcast, and speaks to audiences ranging from bank boards to university classrooms to national conferences.

He does not speak about theory. He speaks from the front lines — and the difference is obvious the moment he takes the stage.

Texas Bankers Association
VP Innovation & Digital Strategy
Texas State University
Co-Instructor, Foundations in Fintech
SFA University
Featured Speaker, Banking & Fintech
Harland Clarke / Vericast
16 Years — Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco
Rich Perez speaking
20+
Years on the
front lines
What Rich Speaks About

The Intersection of
Technology & Financial Services.

Rich speaks across the full landscape of digital transformation in financial services — from AI strategy to digital assets to product innovation. Every talk is customized, practitioner-driven, and built for audiences who need actionable intelligence, not recycled research reports.

01
🤖

Agentic AI: From Hype to Operational Reality

How financial institutions and enterprises are deploying AI agents to eliminate process bottlenecks, automate the mundane, reduce fraud exposure, and achieve the kind of operational efficiency that actually moves the needle — with real examples, not vendor demos.

AI Strategy Operations Risk Fraud
02
🪙

Digital Assets & Stablecoins: What Bankers Actually Need to Know

The GENIUS Act is law. The OCC dropped 376 pages of proposed rulemaking. Stablecoins are no longer a crypto curiosity — they are a competitive threat and a business opportunity. This talk cuts through the noise and tells community bankers exactly where they stand and what to do about it.

Stablecoins Tokenization GENIUS Act OCC
03
⚡

From Watching to Building: A Digital Transformation Playbook for Community Banks

Most community banks know they need to innovate. Few know where to start. Rich walks through the Innovation Magnet model — a proven, multi-state framework for moving banks from passive observers to active participants in the fintech ecosystem, without betting the institution.

Strategy Innovation Community Banking Fintech
04
🛠️

Product Design & Development in the Age of AI

Building digital products has changed permanently. AI is collapsing the distance between idea and execution. Rich shares a practitioner framework for product design and development that works for teams of any size — from a fintech startup to a Fortune 500 innovation lab.

Product Design Development AI Tools Innovation
Audiences

Who Rich Speaks To

From bank board rooms to university lecture halls to national conferences — content that lands across experience levels and industries.

🏦
Community Bankers
CEOs, board members, innovation officers, and lending teams at community and regional banks
🎓
Students & Faculty
University finance, business, and technology programs preparing the next generation of financial leaders
🚀
Fintech & Technology Companies
Founders, executive teams, and product leaders at startups and mature vendors serving the financial services industry
🏛️
Regulators & Associations
State banking associations, regulatory bodies, and banking conferences across the country
💼
Enterprise Teams
Corporate innovation, digital transformation, and technology leadership teams at large organizations
🌐
Industry Conferences
National and regional conferences on banking, technology, AI, and financial services innovation
Formats

Built Around
Your Event.

Every engagement is customized to your audience, your event format, and your goals. Rich works with event organizers to ensure the content hits exactly where it needs to — whether that is a 20-minute keynote or a half-day workshop.

🎤
Keynote
30–60 minutes. High-energy, story-driven, built for large audiences and main stage moments.
💬
Panel & Moderation
Experienced moderator and panelist. Keeps conversations sharp, productive, and on time.
🧑‍🏫
Workshop
Half-day or full-day deep dives for teams who want more than a talk — they want a framework they can use Monday morning.
🎙️
Podcast & Media
Available for podcast appearances, video interviews, and media commentary on AI, fintech, and digital assets.
Book Rich

Let's Talk About Your Event.

Every speaking engagement starts with a conversation. Book a 30-minute call to talk through your audience, your goals, and whether Rich is the right fit for your event.

No pressure. No pitch deck. Just a straight conversation about what your audience needs and whether Rich can deliver it.

Book a Speaking Inquiry Call
30 minutes. No commitment. Just a real conversation about your event and your audience.
Check Availability
Typically responds within 24 hours
Email book@richperez.me
Based New Braunfels, TX — travels nationally
The Podcast

Innovation Magnet Podcast

Rich hosts the Innovation Magnet Podcast — real conversations with community bankers, fintech founders, regulators, and innovators on what is actually happening at the intersection of banking and technology. No fluff. No hype. Just signal.

🎧 Spotify 🎵 Apple Podcasts ▶️ YouTube
🎙️

Innovation Magnet Podcast

Hosted by Rich Perez. New episodes dropping biweekly. Real conversations with the people shaping the future of community banking.