Keeping Community Banking Current: Insights from Christian Ruppe

Christian Ruppe of Colony Bank, Keeping Up to Date on New Technology Chief Innovation Officer at Colony Bank Christian Ruppe discusses the importance of staying up to date with new technology in the banking industry. Metro Atlanta CEO

In a recent video, Colony Bank’s Chief Innovation Officer and Co-Chair of CBA’s Innovation Committee, Christian Ruppe, emphasizes the critical need for community banks to stay current with emerging technology.

Christian underscores that to remain competitive and relevant, banks must continuously monitor innovations—from core systems to APIs—and implement tools that directly improve the customer experience.

His practical philosophy centers on targeted adoption: “only pursue the fintechs that solve the problems you’re trying to solve,” ensuring that every technological investment ties back to real banking needs. Colony fosters a culture of proactive, meaningful innovation, moving beyond flashy trends toward solutions that enhance efficiency, service, and community connection.