Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust’s CEO on how community banks can adapt and excel in the modern era

Michael Rose, the CEO of Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust in Chicago, is a leader who embraces innovation in the ever-changing banking landscape. Rose founded Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust in 2005 to offer more comprehensive financial solutions for SMBs and the owners who operated them. Over the years, he has steered the bank through numerous challenges, including economic downturns and the rise of fintech, by embracing new technologies and staying ahead of market trends. In this Q&A, Rose shares insights into the challenges and opportunities facing community banks, and how international payment solutions with partners like Acceleron are key to the bank’s strategies for the future.

Can you share your journey in the banking industry and what led you to start a bank?

I started working at the Illinois Housing Development Authority right out of law school and then worked my way up to become the Executive Director. However, I had always wanted to do something entrepreneurial. Through the encouragement of mentors who saw the potential of banking as a vehicle, I began to explore the industry more seriously.

I noticed a gap in the marketplace — a need for more comprehensive financial solutions for high-net-worth individuals who ran small to medium-sized businesses, something beyond the fragmented services that were prevalent at the time. After a lot of planning, team-building, and navigating the complex process of obtaining a charter, Metropolitan Capital was born in January 2005. It was a long road, but one worth traveling.

Read the full Metropolitan Capital case study:

 

Future of Community Banking: Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust

What are some of the biggest challenges community banks face today, and what do community banks need to do to survive?

Community banks face several significant challenges today. One of the biggest is margin compression. It’s not just about competing with larger banks anymore; now we’re also up against fintech and digital asset solutions that are disrupting traditional banking services like payments, lending, and depository services. The competition is fierce and comes from all sides.

For community banks to survive, they need to augment their capabilities, especially in payments and digital assets. The financial landscape is increasingly digital, and there’s a real risk of being left behind in the next 5+ years if banks don’t adapt. Fluency in these areas, coupled with an understanding of how to integrate fintech and digital asset solutions, will be crucial. Those who can master this will not only survive but potentially thrive in this new environment.

What opportunities do you see for community banks in the current financial landscape?

Despite the challenges, there are still significant opportunities for community banks, particularly in international connectivity. The world is getting smaller, and there’s growing demand for international payments and investment pathways into the United States. There’s also growing demand from domestic businesses looking to expand internationally through commerce, trade finance, and other activities.

Smaller banks like ours can compete effectively by being more agile and responsive than the larger institutions. While big banks have traditionally dominated the international space, large ships turn slowly with their bureaucratic limitations. Smaller banks that can navigate international activities and digital assets should find themselves with greater opportunities as these markets continue to grow.

How has Acceleron's technology changed the way your bank serves its customers?

Acceleron has been an outstanding partner in the realm of international payments. Before working with them, we were heavily reliant upon correspondent banking relationships that weren’t delivering the level of service we expected to provide to our clients. The systems felt outdated and didn’t give us the execution and responsiveness we needed.

Acceleron offered us a much more robust, user-friendly platform that significantly improved our international wire transfer capabilities. They also introduced us to better FX partners, which has been invaluable. Beyond just providing a better service platform, they’ve taken a true partnership approach, helping us integrate and even expand some of these systems for other uses within the bank. 

Our partnership with Acceleron allowed us to offer a higher level of service to our clients and gave us the confidence to pursue clients with more complex, multi-currency needs. By being early movers in this space and leveraging innovative technology, we’re positioning ourselves to capitalize on these emerging opportunities.

What are your proudest moments?

That’s an easy one—my proudest moment isn’t about my career; it’s about my family. My wife and I have twin eight-year-old boys, and they are, without a doubt, the most important thing we’ve ever done or ever will do. Everything else admittedly pales in comparison.

From a professional standpoint, I’d say it’s the enduring success of Metropolitan Capital. We’ve weathered many storms over the past 20 years—financial crises, market changes, the rise of fintech—and yet we’ve continued to grow and serve our clients effectively. I believe our team merits a significant amount of congratulations for their enduring success, and I am very proud of them.

Acceleron builds cutting-edge software that allows community banks and credit unions to conduct international payment transactions profitably through a foreign exchange (FX) marketplace. Serving over 160 institutions and facilitating more than $1 billion in international payments annually, Acceleron helps small banks generate non-interest income and compete more effectively with high-fee big banks. Our solutions integrate seamlessly with Fiserv, ensuring quick implementation and smooth operation. 

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