JP Nicols
JP Nicols (born 1961) is an American financial services strategist, speaker, and podcast host. He is a cofounder of Alloy Labs, a consortium of community and midsize banks, and the executive producer and cohost of the fintech podcast Breaking Banks. His work has been cited by publications including American Banker, Bank Director, ABA Banking Journal, BAI Banking Strategies, The Seattle Times, and BBC World News.
Background and Career
Nicols spent more than two decades in senior leadership roles at a regional community bank, where he worked on strategy, growth initiatives, and innovation efforts. During this period, he was involved in the development of new business lines and organizational approaches to innovation within regulated financial institutions.
Alloy Labs
Nicols is a cofounder of Alloy Labs, a member-based consortium of community and midsize banks focused on innovation and collaboration. Through Alloy Labs, he works with bank executives on topics including strategy, product development, and partnerships with financial technology firms.
Media coverage and commentary
Nicols has been quoted or featured in financial and business publications, including:
- American Banker
- Bank Director
- ABA Banking Journal
- BAI Banking Strategies
- The Seattle Times
- BBC World News
Teaching and Affiliations
Nicols has served as faculty at multiple graduate schools of banking, including the Pacific Coast Banking School and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He has taught courses on leadership, strategy, and innovation since 2015.