ACG NJ Breakfast Meeting | AI in Banking, Today & Tomorrow: How Banks Will Really Use It | January 13, 2026

Join ACG New Jersey for a fast-paced, interactive conversation on how AI is reshaping banking — not in theory, but in day-to-day banker and client workflows.

Blake Balsamo (i2i Logic), John Kowal (Peapack Private Bank & Trust), and Drew Thompson (Signal and Scale AI) will unpack where AI is already creating value in financial services and where it’s headed next. From smarter prospecting and call prep to real-time portfolio monitoring and tailored capital solutions, the panel will explore how banks are using AI to deepen relationships with middle-market and sponsor-backed companies.

This won’t be a “sit and listen” session. Expect:

• Live demos of AI tools designed for corporate and commercial banking
• Real-time audience Q&A to react to use cases and challenge assumptions
• Interactive discussion where attendees can share their own AI experiences, concerns, and ideas
• Opportunities to shape the conversation by asking questions that matter to your institution and clients

You’ll see how these capabilities can help bankers show up better prepared, ask sharper questions, and deliver more strategic advice to CFOs, CEOs, and private equity sponsors.

You’ll walk away with:

• A clear, non-hype view of what AI is (and isn’t) doing in banks right now
• Concrete examples of AI use cases for corporate and commercial clients
• Perspectives from both a bank practitioner and AI/fintech innovators
• Practical considerations around risk, compliance, data, and change management

Featured Speakers

Image

Blake Balsamo, Executive Director, Americas, i2i Logic
Blake Balsamo is Executive Director, Americas at i2i Logic, a banking analytics and intelligence platform that helps commercial and corporate bankers win deeper client relationships through data-driven insight. Blake works with bank leadership and coverage teams to embed industry benchmarking, peer performance, and scenario analysis into day-to-day workflows—so bankers can lead with relevant, value-added conversations. Prior to i2i Logic, Blake spent more than a decade in commercial banking, advising middle-market companies and supporting complex credit and growth needs. He is passionate about helping bankers modernize coverage with practical technology that improves both client outcomes and profitability.

Image

John Kowal, Chief Technology Officer, Peapack Private Bank & Trust
John Kowal currently serves as SVP, Managing Principal, and Chief Technology Officer at Peapack Private Bank & Trust. In this role, he leads the Bank’s technology operations, overseeing the deployment of emerging technologies, delivery of client solutions, improvement of operational efficiency, and protection against cyber threats. John also leads the Bank’s innovation efforts focused on Artificial Intelligence, process automation, and process modernization. Previously, John held senior technology architecture roles, advising enterprise and financial institutions on technology integration, strategic planning, and project management. His leadership in innovation has been recognized through honors such as the New Jersey Innovate100 and NJBIZ’s 40 under 40.

Image

Drew Thompson, Founder, Signal & Scale
Drew Thompson is the founder of Signal & Scale, an AI training and enablement company that helps ambitious entrepreneurs and executive teams turn emerging technology into real business results. A former agency founder who scaled 19ad4 to $10M in just three years, Drew blends brand storytelling, sales psychology, and operational execution into a uniquely actionable approach to business transformation. He’s coached over 25,000 professionals across industries—working with companies like Starwood Capital, large engineering firms, and leading financial institutions to integrate artificial intelligence into their operations with confidence and clarity. At Signal & Scale, Drew leads with one core belief: AI doesn’t create leverage—until people know how to use it. Unlike typical AI consultants, Drew and his team are practitioners. They’ve seen firsthand what works—and what doesn’t—when organizations try to harness the power of artificial intelligence. Their methodology bridges the gap between possibility and practice, blending strategic thinking with hands-on implementation so teams don’t just learn about AI—they master it.