Event Agenda
Times subject to change
Monday
April 20
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Arrivals & Registration
Pick up your name badges and welcome kits.
5:00 PM
Welcome to IQ 2026
Explore how AI and innovation are reshaping financial services, kicking off days of conversation, connection, and insight.
5:15 PM
Leading Through TransformationA fireside chat on how AI and innovation are redefining what it means to lead in today’s financial landscape.
6:00 PM
Opening Celebration: A Taste of Santa FeDinner, drinks, mezcal, and agave tastings—a vibrant evening inspired by the flavors and spirit of Santa Fe.
6:45 PM
Opening Celebration: A Taste of Santa FeDinner, drinks, mezcal, and agave tastings—a vibrant evening inspired by the flavors and spirit of Santa Fe.
Tuesday
April 21
7:30 AM
Breakfast and Networking
Start the day off with breakfast and conversation with peers.
9:00 AM
Opening Keynote: Building the Future of Inclusive CreditAI is redefining how lenders understand risk, make decisions, and expand access to credit—but technology alone isn’t enough. Explore what it means to build an inclusive, data-driven credit ecosystem where fairness and innovation move forward together.
9:15 AM
Beyond Automation: How AI is Transforming the Lending Playbook
Dive into how AI is reshaping lending from the inside out. Learn how leading lenders are integrating new tools, balancing innovation with compliance, and using data to unlock smarter, more inclusive credit decisions.
9:45 AM
Product Keynote: The AI Advantage: Modernizing Lending for the Next EraAI is transforming lending from the inside out. Explore how lenders can use intelligent automation to make faster, fairer decisions, manage risk, and modernize outdated systems for the future.
9:45 AM
Leading the Future: Embracing Innovation, Change, and the Power of AIWe’re bringing together the most forward-thinking CEOs who are driving change throughout their institutions. We’ll explore how leaders balance innovation and risk, what AI means for organizational strategy, and how to cultivate cultures that can adapt to rapid technological change.
11:00 AM
Beyond Automation: How AI is Transforming the Lending Playbook
Dive into how AI is reshaping lending from the inside out. Learn how leading lenders are integrating new tools, balancing innovation with compliance, and using data to unlock smarter, more inclusive credit decisions.
12:00 PM
Lunch
Take a load off from the busy day and break bread with your peers.
1:30 PM
Smarter Credit Decisions: The New Era of AI UnderwritingDiscover how forward-thinking lenders are transforming credit decisioning with explainable AI. In this session, Zest customers share how they’re using intelligent underwriting to boost approvals, reduce bias, and make faster, fairer lending decisions that scale.
1:30 PM
Protecting Growth: Rethinking Fraud in the Age of AIFraud prevention doesn’t have to slow lending down. Hear from institutions that are using AI to detect and prevent emerging threats while maintaining a seamless member and customer experience. Learn what it takes to build smarter, adaptive fraud defenses that evolve as fast as the risks do.
1:30 PM
The Power of LuLu: Leveraging GenAI to Drive Strategic IntelligenceExplore how leaders are using LuLu, Zest’s GenAI strategy platform, to unlock insights hidden in their lending data. See how real institutions are leveraging LuLu to analyze performance, improve efficiency, and make confident, data-driven decisions across the credit lifecycle.
2:30 PM
Workshop #1: Establishing Responsible AI GovernanceAs AI becomes central to lending, governance must move from an afterthought to a foundation. This workshop helps executives build practical frameworks for accountability, fairness, and transparency in AI systems. Through real-world scenarios, attendees will identify gaps, strengthen oversight, and create governance processes that evolve with technology and regulation.
2:30 PM
Workshop #2: Building an AI-Ready Lending OrganizationAI success starts with people, process, and purpose. This session helps leaders assess their organization’s readiness and design a blueprint for sustainable adoption—from strategy to execution—building the teams, data systems, and structures needed to scale AI effectively.
3:30 PM
Break and Recharge
Recharge your batteries before our scheduled afternoon experiences!
4:00 PM
Afternoon Experiences: Connect, Create, and ExploreUnwind and connect with peers through curated afternoon experiences designed to keep the conversations going. Choose from a range of activities, including a Wines of New Mexico tasting, leather tooling, archery, guided hiking, sip and paint, and more. We’ll send out a short survey soon so you can lock in your selections and make the most of your Santa Fe adventure.
5:00 PM
Break and Recharge
Rest and recharge before our closing celebration under the Santa Fe stars!
6:00 PM
Closing Celebration: Dinner Under the Stars
End IQ 2026 with an unforgettable night under the Santa Fe sky. Enjoy dinner and drinks with new friends, then head to the top of the property for a guided stargazing experience, complete with s’mores by the fire. It’s the perfect way to wrap up two days of inspiration, connection, and conversation.
Shaping the future of lending
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