Wade has spent the majority of his career in banking, starting as a teller and advancing through the ranks to the C-suite. His background makes him an indispensable resource to clients in the banking and financial services industry, who benefit from his extensive knowledge of regulations and current trends. Wade believes that the right use of technology can be a key marketplace differentiator for financial services companies, from both a customer service perspective and a business process and operational efficiency perspective.
“Financial services companies that embrace technology and align it with business strategy will have a significant competitive advantage in our ever-evolving digital world.” – Wade H. Barnes
Most recently, Wade was the chief marketing officer at Howard Bank. In this role, he championed the importance of using technology to source new clients and expand relationships with existing clients by defining the customer journey and personalizing the banking experience. He also created and led a corporate discipline for product development, including a FinTech initiative, with a focus on processes for highly efficient internal operations and enhancements to the customer experience. Wade also held director-level roles in retail banking, marketing and e-commerce at 1st Mariner Bank, where he leveraged technology to automate business processes and used data analytics to drive marketing strategy and automation.
Wade most enjoys spending time at home with his wife and daughter, especially when he has time to try out a new recipe for dinner. You might also find him on the golf course, at a board meeting, or making plans for his next European vacation.