{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftexas-talks.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fep-64-chris-williston-SRADga9H","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Ep. 64 - Chris Williston","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/dfcd0ad9-2260-4872-93ef-d778d3e93ff7/6d9b4192-8cb1-4494-9331-ff417c03e507/tt.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/9512a42d-cd24-44a3-848d-a150bbcea1b4\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"Ep. 64 - Chris Williston\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"In this conversation, we’re joined by Chris Williston, President & CEO of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), representing over 2,000 banks and branches across 700 Texas communities.\n\n🔍 In This Episode:\n- The vital role of community banks in rural Texas towns\n- Why swipe fee legislation (SB 2026 & HB 4124) could hurt small banks and benefit big-box retailers\n- How alternative currencies and stablecoins could drain lending power from local banks\n- The legacy of banking in the Williston family and why relationship-based lending still matters\n- Behind-the-scenes challenges facing Texas' independent banks\n- Chris breaks down complex policy issues in a way that makes sense for everyday Texans and small business owners. If you care about local economies, financial policy, and keeping banking close to home, this is a must-listen.\n\n🔗 Learn more at: https://ibat.org\n🎧 Subscribe for more deep-dive conversations from across the Lone Star State."}