In this episode of This Month in Banking, presented by Wolf & Company, we explore how financial institutions are moving beyond AI experimentation and toward practical, enterprise‑ready adoption.

Host Tara Ween is joined by John Kowal, Senior Vice President, Managing Director & Chief Technology Officer at Peapack Private Bank & Trust, along with Wolf & Company experts Jeff Marsico and Nelson Obando. Together, they unpack what responsible AI implementation really looks like inside a bank—cutting through the hype to focus on governance, risk awareness, and real‑world value.

The conversation examines where most banks stand today with AI, why data and operating foundations matter more than flashy tools, and how institutions can scale AI safely while meeting regulatory expectations. The group also discusses emerging use cases, workflow automation, "digital employees," and how AI can improve productivity while allowing bankers to focus more on clients.

This episode offers bank executives, technology leaders, risk professionals, and board members a grounded roadmap for adopting AI thoughtfully, competitively, and responsibly in the year ahead.