Cleveland banking leader speaks at Black Is Tech conference on AI and digital finance

Timothy Lewis, a Cleveland native and Bank of America financial services leader, spoke at the 2026 Black Is Tech Conference in Houston about how AI, automation and digital banking are changing access to money and wealth-building. His remarks spotlighted the Midwest’s role in national tech conversations and the impact of financial innovation on underserved communities. Why it matters: - Timothy Lewis used a national tech stage to push a Cleveland perspective on how AI and digital banking are changing who gets access to financial tools. - The conversation matters for underserved communities because the panel focused on money, access and generational wealth. - Lewis framed the issue as a question of whether communities are included as financial systems become more automated and digital. What happened: - Timothy Lewis spoke in Houston at the 2026 Black Is Tech Conference as a featured panelist. - The session was titled “Reimagining Financial Institutions: How Emerging Technologies Are Shaping the Future of Money, Access, and Generational Wealth.” - Lewis discussed how artificial intelligence, automation and digital banking tools are reshaping financial ecosystems. - Lewis said Cleveland shaped how he thinks about access, opportunity and responsibility. - Lewis said he wants communities to avoid being left behind as technology changes financial systems. The details: - Lewis currently serves as an Officer & Financial Center Manager at Bank of America. - Lewis leads an AI-enabled financial center and uses digital tools in daily banking operations. - His work includes small-business advising, community engagement and technology-driven financial inclusion. - Lewis serves on multiple nonprofit boards in Northeast Ohio. - Those board roles connect to his focus on economic mobility and culturally relevant financial education. - The Black Is Tech Conference draws more than 20,000 attendees each year. - The event features speakers from global tech companies, venture firms and innovation-focused industries. - Lewis manages one of Bank of America’s financial centers in Cleveland. - Lewis holds an MBA from Western Governors University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and promotional communication from Cleveland State University. - Lewis serves on the boards of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, Front Steps Housing Services and the Urban League of Greater Cleveland Young Professionals. Between the lines: - Lewis’s appearance reflects how local banking and community leadership are increasingly part of national conversations about AI and financial access. - The panel topic suggests the tech industry is looking beyond product innovation and toward the social effects of automation in finance. - Cleveland’s inclusion in the discussion gives Midwest voices more visibility in a space often dominated by coastal tech hubs. What’s next: - Lewis is likely to continue using banking and public speaking roles to advocate for financial inclusion and technology access. - His nonprofit and community work positions him to stay active in Northeast Ohio economic mobility efforts. - The Black Is Tech Conference will continue to serve as a platform for conversations about equity, innovation and the future of financial services.