LEADING

the FUTURE

Helping financial institutions grow, innovate, compete, and stay true to their mission in a digital-first world.

of BANKING

WHO I AM

I AM A STRATEGIC, GROWTH-ORIENTED LEADER for FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

BANKS | CREDIT UNIONS | FINTECHS

My leadership blends the scale and sophistication of the top national banks ($200B+), the agility and innovation of leading fintechs, and the purpose-driven values of community banking to help financial institutions grow with clarity, relevance, and lasting impact.

MY PURPOSE

I BUILD STRONG FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT HELP COMMUNITIES ACHIEVE FINANCIAL WELLNESS

Growing up in a small town in Indiana, where access to quality financial services was limited shaped my belief that strong, locally focused financial institutions are the backbone of thriving communities. From the teller line to the C-Suite, and from credit unions to Wall Street, I’ve immersed myself in every facet of banking. Today, I use that expertise to help institutions deliver modern, relevant services to families, businesses, and communities like the one that raised me.

MY MISSION

I DELIVER GROWTH, STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, AND BUILD HIGH-PERFORMING CULTURES

For 25+ years, my career has spanned retail, lending, technology, operations, risk, compliance, marketing, finance, and enterprise strategy. This breadth equips me to partner with executives, boards, regulators, and teammates to deliver disciplined growth, strong financial results, and resilient operating models for the next era of banking. What defines my leadership is not just strategic vision but the ability to strengthen and mature operations, performance, and culture to drive sustainable value.

Under my leadership, institutions achieved double-digit gains in employee engagement, launched digital sub-brands with a 43% lift in adoption, delivered retail transformation to improve sales and branch economics, and strengthened financial performance with higher net worth ratios. I help financial institutions stay true to their mission while adapting to changing expectations. I build institutions and teams that scale, thrive, and deliver measurable impact for the communities they serve.

BEYOND THE TITLE

MY LEADERSHIP IS GROUNDED IN REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT KEEP ME CONNECTED TO PEOPLE.

Early in my career, I taught college students about money management, advised families struggling with financial wellness, and navigated my own financial ups and downs. These experiences remind me why this work matters: financial services are about people first.

ORGANIZATIONS I’VE LED OR ADVISED

Purdue Federal CU

Nymbus

Premier Bank & Trust

Central Indiana Schools CU

The Bank of Lafayette

Fiserv

CUNA Mutual

Financial Center FCU

SunTrust Bank

Truist

Viewpointe

First Entertainment CU

CineFi

Purdue Federal CU Nymbus Premier Bank & Trust Central Indiana Schools CU The Bank of Lafayette Fiserv CUNA Mutual Financial Center FCU SunTrust Bank Truist Viewpointe First Entertainment CU CineFi

"Jonathan was the catalyst for our digital innovation agenda, strategic planning efforts, and enterprise agility transformation. Equally important, he leads in a way that consistently builds trust across the Board, the C-suite, regulators, and frontline teams. He communicates complex decisions with clarity and holds both himself and his teams accountable to external best practices and to the outcomes they commit to deliver. I strongly endorse him as a top-tier executive for any bank, credit union, or fintech seeking purpose-driven, future-ready leadership."

Tim Coff, Chief Executive Officer
Viewpointe
“Jonathan leads with clarity, cross-functional influence, and a deep understanding of how to move a large organization forward without losing momentum or mission. He’s one of those leaders who can see around corners, bring people with him, and deliver results that last. I would fully endorse him for any executive role at a bank or credit union, or any organization for that matter, focused on driving purposeful, future-ready growth."

Greg Smith, Senior Vice President
SunTrust Bank
“Jonathan brings tremendous strategic insight to the Coles College of Business as an Advisory Board Member. His thoughtful guidance has been especially impactful to our FinTech programs, helping us align academic innovation with real-world application. His deep knowledge of the financial industry, paired with his genuine commitment to developing the next generation of banking talent, makes him not only a valued partner to Coles but also an exceptional executive leader.”

Dr. Robin Cheramie, Dean of Coles College of Business
Kennesaw State University
“Jonathan is a visionary and deeply strategic leader with a proven ability to transform complex organizations. His expertise spans traditional banking, fintech innovation, and emerging technologies, making him uniquely equipped to navigate and shape the future of financial services. In environments where change is often met with resistance, Jonathan leads with calm authority and earned trust, dismantling silos and driving meaningful results. He doesn’t just build strategy, he cultivates culture and empowers talent.”

Reed Irvin, Executive Vice President
Viewpointe
"I had the privilege of working with and reporting to Jonathan during his time as EVP & Chief Strategy Officer, and he was one of the most impactful leaders I’ve worked with. He is an exceptional coach, mentor, and strategist who combines deep technical expertise with outstanding communication skills. Jonathan has a rare ability to break down complex initiatives into clear, actionable strategies that engage teams and earn the trust of boards. Anyone who works with Jonathan will find a sharp, articulate, and forward-thinking leader who creates clarity, drives progress, and develops the people around him."

Daniel Arita, Senior Vice President
First Entertainment Credit Union
"I worked with Jonathan at SunTrust Bank (now Truist) when I was serving as the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer. In working with Jonathan I found him to be a highly organized, focused and professional change leader, capable of navigating up, down and across teams. I saw Jonathan begin with the end in mind, set a high bar for himself and others and hold all parties accountable to achieving intended results. I would hire Jonathan for any role requiring complex change leadership."

Mike Roth, Chief Technology Officer
SunTrust Bank
"Jonathan has a unique ability to see both the big picture and the operational detail. What I value most about Jonathan is that he is both strategic and human-centered. He pushes for innovation, accountability, and results, but he also listens, develops his team, and creates a culture where people want to perform at their best. He elevated my career, and I saw him do the same for many others. Any organization would benefit from Jonathan’s leadership, vision, and commitment to building high-performing teams."

Gregory O’Brien, Director of Strategy
First Entertainment Credit Union
"Jonathan is that rare talent that sits at the intersection of visionary leadership, strategy, technology and innovation, and operational execution. He has a deep understanding of banking technology and operations, while also being able to anticipate customer and market demands, ensuring the strategy evolves in a direction that serves both his financial institution and the people it serves now and in the long term. I saw this first-hand during Jonathan's tenure at First Entertainment Credit Union. He is a strong communicator who delivers operational excellence and drives organizational change, having a profound impact on both the organization and the industry at large."

Jody Guetter, Chief Marketing Officer
Nymbus
"I reported directly to Jonathan while he was the EVP & Chief Strategy Officer at First Entertainment Credit Union. He was my manager and a steady partner to the C-suite and senior leadership team. What stood out immediately was his command of the banking industry. He could move from the balance sheet to daily operations and cut through noise to focus on the handful of metrics that truly drive outcomes for members and the business. Decisions became clearer, trade-offs made sense, and momentum built. If you are looking for a leader with deep banking expertise who builds high-performing cultures, aligns executive teams, and makes strategy executable, Jonathan is that person."

Shawn Tuttle, Strategic Planning Program Manager
First Entertainment Credit Union

FEATURED CONTENT

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS and INNOVATION STRATEGIES

I share practical perspectives on the challenges financial institutions are navigating, including growth, culture, and transformation. If you are an industry peer, let’s connect and advance the industry together.

Community Banks & Credit Unions: Dying Dinosaurs or Hidden Gems?

The Future of Growth in Community Banking

Culture as a Strategic Asset in Banking

Balancing Risk and Innovation in Financial Services

Find All Of My Articles On LinkedIn

“IDEAS CREATE POSSIBILITIES, BUT OUTCOMES REQUIRE LEADERSHIP. TODAY’S TOP TALENT FOLLOW LEADERS WHO ARE AUTHENTIC, CAPABLE, PRESENT, AND FORWARD-THINKING.”

— Jonathan Partridge