Arriba Advisors hires fintech veteran Tricia Smith as senior project coordinator

Arriba Advisors added Tricia Smith as senior project coordinator on Aug. 4, expanding its advisory bench for community banks and credit unions. Smith brings nearly 20 years of experience across core banking, digital banking and payments, plus a vendor-side perspective on technology decisions.

Why it matters: - Smith’s background spans core banking, digital banking and payments, giving Arriba Advisors more depth on the vendor landscape it advises clients on. - Her experience is aimed at helping community financial institutions evaluate technology, negotiate contracts and improve operational efficiency. - Arriba Advisors says the hire strengthens its support for banks and credit unions making high-stakes technology decisions.

What happened: - Arriba Advisors announced Aug. 4 that Tricia Smith joined the firm as senior project coordinator. - Smith has nearly two decades of experience helping community banks and credit unions navigate technology initiatives. - Her career includes work with some of the best-known names in core banking, digital banking and payments. - Smith said she was drawn to Arriba Advisors because of the firm’s reputation as a trusted advocate for financial institutions.

The details: - Smith has led project management efforts and guided complex implementations. - Her work has included helping institutions evaluate, adopt and optimize solutions tied to strategic goals. - Smith said she also saw how investor-led ownership can change culture and operations in fintech. - Arriba Advisors said her experience covers core banking systems, digital banking platforms, payments infrastructure and vendor management. - The firm said Smith will be a resource for clients handling evaluations, contract negotiations and technology strategy decisions of varying size and complexity. - Tom Russell, partner and co-founder of Arriba Advisors, said Smith’s time inside the vendor world gives her a broad view that is valuable to clients. - Smith is co-founder of Time to Shine, a nonprofit focused on experiences for individuals with special needs and their families. - Arriba Advisors is based in Tampa, Fla. - The company is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. - Arriba Advisors says it has more than 200 years of combined fintech experience and more than 2,000 successfully negotiated contracts. - The firm says its proprietary Arriba Reserve engine provides live market data, tested redlines and specialized intelligence for PIN network optimization, core renewals and payments selection. - More information is available on Arriba Advisors’ website. - Arriba Advisors also shared its LinkedIn page.

Between the lines: - The hire appears designed to reinforce Arriba Advisors’ pitch as an independent adviser, not just a service provider. - Smith’s vendor-side and implementation experience may help the firm speak more credibly to both institutional buyers and technology suppliers. - Her comments suggest a fit with Arriba Advisors’ emphasis on client loyalty and decision support over outside stakeholder interests.

What's next: - Smith will support clients as they assess technology options, negotiate vendor terms and align systems with growth plans. - Arriba Advisors is likely to continue leaning on its advisory model and contract expertise as financial institutions keep reassessing technology spending. - The firm says it will keep focused on helping institutions across the country accelerate growth objectives.