S3 | E8: Business Transformation Starts With Data - w/ guests Vantage Bank CRO & Chief Business Architect

Data is not just a byproduct of operations—it is the foundation for strategic decision-making and risk management. Vantage Bank, a leading community bank out of San Antonio, Texas committed to innovation and operational excellence, has embraced this reality by modernizing its risk management program through data and technology. In this episode of The Risk Intel Podcast, Ed Vincent, CEO of SRA Watchtower and host of the show, sat down with Joel Castaneda, EVP & Chief Risk Officer and Shawn Main, Chief Business Architect at Vantage Bank, to discuss their transformation journey and the story behind their vision for a modernized ERM program.

The Vision for Transformation

Shawn Main, who plays a pivotal role in Vantage Bank’s transformation strategy, shared insights into the origins of their modernization efforts. The need for a dedicated Chief Business Architect arose from a strategic shift to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and drive innovation. This transformation initiative was fueled by a commitment to leveraging technology to optimize risk management processes.

"We knew that to remain competitive, we had to move beyond fragmented systems and truly integrate data into our strategic vision." – Shawn Main

By integrating data into the core of their operations, Vantage Bank sought to move away from siloed systems and inefficient workflows. Shawn emphasized that aligning business goals with a data-driven approach was crucial for ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the financial sector, especially within the community banking space.

The Need for a Modernized Risk Program

Risk management is no longer about reactive measures - it demands a proactive approach powered by timely data. Joel Castaneda highlighted a few of the key drivers behind Vantage Bank’s decision to modernize its enterprise risk management (ERM) program.

• The increasing complexity of financial risk
• The need for real-time visibility into risk exposure
• Regulatory demands for comprehensive data governance
• The opportunity to enhance decision-making at all levels

Additionally, by embracing modernization, Vantage Bank recognized an opportunity to enhance decision-making at all levels and create a more holistic approach to improve communication and collaboration. Leadership needed a system or ERM Platform that would allow them to assess risks dynamically, ensuring they could respond swiftly to emerging challenges and make more informed strategic choices.

“Watchtower allows us to tailor risk attributes to our unique business model, seamlessly connecting our daily activities and risk assessments (RCSAs) with a top-down enterprise risk perspective, said Joel Castaneda, Vantage Bank Chief Risk Officer. "Automating risk data ingestion and streamlining reporting for our board, senior leadership, and risk committees empowers us to make informed strategic decisions, manage risks within our appetite, and remain focused on our goal of being the most remarkable community bank.”

Data as the Foundation for Proactive Risk Management

A core component of this modernization effort was consolidating risk-related data to create a more holistic and actionable view of risk exposure. Joel and Shawn discussed the steps taken to achieve this initiative:

Step 1 | Data Ingestion:

First its important to identify and integrate the key data sources critical to risk assessment, including financial performance metrics, regulatory data, and operational risk indicators.

Step 2 | Data Delivery:

Next, look to source and implement business intelligence and risk management tools that not only aggregate data but also present it in a meaningful and timely way. This ensures that stakeholders—ranging from executive leadership to the board—have access to actionable insights.

Step 3 | Unified Risk Repository:

By centralizing all of their risk data, Vantage Bank improved decision-making, enabling a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks before they escalate.

Step 4 | Data Delivery:

Equally important was the need for a data analytics tool that not only aggregates data, but also presents the data in a meaningful and timely way.

Focusing on these four steps will ensure that stakeholders, from executive leadership to the board, have access to actionable insights and allows for better risk mitigation strategies and a more coordinated response to potential threats.

The Impact on Leadership and Decision-Making

Having a comprehensive risk data repository has transformed how Vantage Bank’s leadership approaches risk. With enhanced visibility and more timely insights, decision-makers can identify emerging risks faster, improve regulatory compliance and reporting, and strengthen internal communication across departments.

"Leadership needs a dynamic view of risk, not just static reports. The ability to assess exposure in real-time allows us to act, not just analyze." – Joel Castaneda

This centralized approach also helps align their risk strategy with the bank's broader business growth objectives. By leveraging data analytics and automation, leadership can make more confident, data-backed decisions that support both risk mitigation and organizational success.

Conclusion: A Risk Management Model for the Future

Vantage Bank’s approach to modernizing risk management through data, serves as a model for financial institutions looking to stay ahead in an increasingly complex environment. By embracing technology and a data-driven strategy, they have not only enhanced their risk program to create greater efficiencies, but also positioned themselves for sustained growth and resilience.

As financial institutions navigate the future of risk management, the key takeaway from Vantage Bank’s journey is clear: transformation starts with data.

At SRA Watchtower we believe data us the currency of the future, if you'd like help tapping into your data to provide better risk and financial insights please reach out and connect with us, we are hear to help.