Trust, collaboration, and innovation are the ideal words that leaders hope describe their organizations, but how are you modeling that for your team? In this episode, Michael Praeger is joined by Jill Castilla, CEO & President of Citizens Bank of Edmond, to discuss how her military background taught her how to lead a team - and later an entire bank - that kept these three words at the forefront.
Jill Castilla is a nationally recognized banking leader, innovator in financial technology, and a driving force in community banking. As President and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond and Chairman of Citizens Bancshares, Inc., she has transformed the banking landscape with visionary leadership, groundbreaking solutions, and an unwavering commitment to serving communities and military members.
In 2015, Jill led Citizens Bank of Edmond to adopt AvidXchange’s automation solutions tailored for financial services, helping drive innovation and strengthen fraud prevention across the bank.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Innovation starts with trust. Jill emphasizes the importance of building a collaborative culture where technology adoption is embraced—and rooted in a shared commitment to serving customers better.
Fraud detection is key. In banking, the accounts payable function is one of the most vulnerable areas for fraud. Jill shares how implementing AP automation helped Citizens Bank of Edmond establish stronger internal controls, faster fraud detection, and better accountability.
Stay agile and open to new tech. With tools like AI and cloud-based platforms evolving rapidly, Jill believes the true advantage lies in being able to quickly evaluate and implement the right technologies. It’s less about any one solution and more about creating a culture of adaptability.
“The Power of Change” is an AvidXchange podcast hosted by Michael Praeger, Co-Founder and CEO of AvidXchange. On this show business leaders discuss leadership topics, industry trends, and embracing change.
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