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nvisia + First National Bank and Trust

Case Study

FNBT

Architecting a data strategy to compete in a digital-first world

Helping a community bank build a clear, actionable foundation.

Community and regional banks are under pressure. Digital-first competitors and fintechs are reshaping customer expectations faster than most traditional institutions can adapt.

For First National Bank & Trust (FNBT), it wasn’t about chasing the latest technology—it was about putting the right foundation in place to anticipate needs and serve customers better.

With nvisia, FNBT found a partner who could meet them where they were, listen first, and help architect a data strategy they could actually use.

Summary

The FNBT team had spent several years preparing the bank’s infrastructure for the future. But they were aware that without a cohesive data strategy, FNBT risked falling behind in both competitiveness and customer experience. Like many smaller companies, they rely on third-party SaaS solutions for their IT systems. Their data was locked away from them in these systems, but they wanted to take advantage of AI and automation to improve customer experience, increase efficiency, and cut costs. A new data strategy was required.

Rather than move prematurely, the team did their due diligence first—waiting until they had clarity on what they wanted to accomplish. That’s when they turned to nvisia.

Over the course of a two-month engagement, nvisia delivered a bespoke roadmap that combined technical direction, organizational design, and flexible budget options. Just as important, FNBT gained a partner who gave them confidence to move forward—not with a canned solution, but with a foundation built around their goals, pace, and priorities.

Results

  • Developed a foundational, actionable roadmap for data strategy implementation
  • Produced an organizational structure and skill gap assessment to support future growth
  • Provided budget-ready options for board-level decision-making
  • Conducted embedded, on-site collaboration with FNBT’s product and technical teams
  • Delivered engagement in ~2 months, with core work concentrated in ~5 weeks
  • Equipped FNBT with clarity in decision-making amid rapid industry change
  • Delivered a high value-to-cost ratio with senior-level involvement throughout

“It’s hard to get good advice in this space. What stood out with nvisia was how embedded they felt in our team. They didn’t bring a canned solution—they listened, tailored the approach to our needs, and gave us something we could actually act on. The value for the effort was tremendous.”

 Brian Goeller, CIO, First National Bank and Trust

The Full Scoop

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Challenge

FNBT faced rising pressure from digital-first competitors that were redefining customer expectations. Legacy processes limited the bank’s ability to anticipate needs and scale, turning data gaps into both risk and opportunity. While infrastructure modernization was underway, leadership recognized the need for a true data strategy. The risk wasn’t just falling short today—it was being unprepared for tomorrow.

What set FNBT apart was its intentionality. The team chose not to bring in outside help until they had a solid grasp of their objectives. They didn’t want technology for its own sake. They wanted a strategy that aligned with their culture and goals, and that mindset set the stage for a successful partnership.

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Approach

nvisia partnered with FNBT to design a 100% bespoke engagement. Rather than applying a pre-packaged framework, nvisia embedded deeply with FNBT’s teams, conducting structured interviews, iterating recommendations, and shaping the roadmap in close collaboration with FNBT leadership.

The result was a strategy that paired:

  • Technical direction tied to FNBT’s strategic goals
  • Organizational design and skill gap analysis for long-term capability
  • Flexible budget scenarios to guide board-level decision-making

The resulting roadmap gave FNBT a way forward that they could pursue independently—or accelerate with nvisia’s support when ready.

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Outcomes

By the end of the engagement, FNBT had exactly what it was looking for: a clear data strategy they could trust. The deliverables included a technical roadmap, a business-based assessment for the executive team, and practical guidance on skill gaps and organizational changes.

But the value went beyond documents. The process gave FNBT clarity in an industry crowded with noise and rapid change, and confidence to act at their own pace. FNBT CIO Brian Goeller summed it up simply: it’s hard to get good advice. With nvisia, he and his team received high-value expertise at a cost that made sense—and a strategy that was 100% theirs.

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