Most CEOs assume value is about what they’ve built.
Strategic buyers care about what they can become because of it.
In this episode, Kurt Knutson explains how strategic value is actually created — why the right combination of banks can turn “two plus two into five,” and how understanding this perspective changes how you think about your own institution.
Using real-world experience from both sides of the table, this episode shows how strategic fit, not size or headline metrics, drives exceptional outcomes.
What You’ll Learn
The 3 Types of Strategic Synergy
Key Takeaway
Strategic value isn’t static.
It’s created at the intersection of fit, timing, and perspective.
When you understand how buyers evaluate combinations, you make different decisions — about leadership, markets, technology, and what to build intentionally.
Resource Mentioned
📊 Community Bank Value™ Strategic Readiness Score
A brief, eight-question diagnostic designed to help you assess how positioned your bank is today — discreetly and without obligation.
👉 Strategic Readiness Score
What’s Next
In the next episode, we explore the Strategic Window — when timing creates leverage, when control is strongest, and how to recognize where you stand.
About the Show
The Community Bank Value™ Playbook is a weekly video and audio series for community bank CEOs who want to understand their strategic position before anyone asks the question out loud.
About Kurt Knutson
Kurt Knutson is a founder, former CEO, and chairman of a community bank. He brings lived experience from formation through exit to help CEOs lead with clarity, confidence, and control.
