# Steve Cotton

> Steve Cotton is an Atlanta fintech founder and banking-analytics executive who co-founded BancIntelligence in 2000, sold it to Fiserv in 2007, and returned to the same stubborn problem with FI Navigator in 2014. As CEO and founder, he has helped build a platform that benchmarks U.S. banks and credit unions across performance, products, and technology; in 2026, FI Navigator extended that foundation into AI-generated sales strategies and implementation playbooks.

- **Role:** CEO & Founder at FI Navigator Corporation
- **Organizations:** FI Navigator Corporation, Persint, Fiserv, BancIntelligence.com, U.S. Banking Alliance
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Business Administration in Banking and Finance, cum laude, University of Georgia - Terry College of Business, Master of Business Administration, cum laude, University of Georgia - Terry College of Business
- **Known for:** Founded BancIntelligence, which Fiserv acquired in 2007 after it had grown to more than 500 clients across 49 states., Founded FI Navigator in 2014 and led its development of analytics spanning financial performance, customer offerings, and banking technology., Led FI Navigator through four consecutive Inc. 5000 appearances from 2023 through 2026.

## Career timeline

- **1990-1999** — Served as managing director of the Financial Strategies Division at U.S. Banking Alliance.
- **2000** — Co-founded BancIntelligence.com, a web-based analytics and advisory company for financial institutions.
- **2007** — Fiserv acquired BancIntelligence; Cotton and the management team remained with the business.
- **2007-2011** — Led Bank Intelligence at Fiserv as president.
- **2012-2014** — Founded and led Persint, a web-based consumer analytics startup.
- **2014** — Founded FI Navigator in Atlanta.
- **2018** — FI Navigator launched FIN Advisor, an instant institution-specific strategic assessment product.
- **2019** — ICBA selected FI Navigator as a Preferred Service Provider for analytics.
- **2023-2026** — FI Navigator appeared on the Inc. 5000 for four consecutive years.
- **2026** — FI Navigator launched FIN AI Sales Strategist and FIN Advisor AI.

## Achievements

- Founded BancIntelligence, which Fiserv acquired in 2007 after it had grown to more than 500 clients across 49 states.
- Founded FI Navigator in 2014 and led its development of analytics spanning financial performance, customer offerings, and banking technology.
- Led FI Navigator through four consecutive Inc. 5000 appearances from 2023 through 2026.
- FI Navigator received a TAG Fintech ADVANCE Award in 2023 and Inc. Power Partner recognition in 2024 and 2025.
- Authored industry analysis on mobile-banking adoption and performance.
- Extended FI Navigator's analytics into AI-generated institution-specific sales strategies and advisory implementation playbooks in 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — FI Navigator was named to the Inc. 5000 for a fourth consecutive year, ranking No. 3,805.
- **2026-07** — FI Navigator launched FIN Advisor AI, which generates financial-institution performance opportunities and implementation playbooks.
- **2026-06** — FI Navigator launched FIN AI Sales Strategist for institution-specific B2Bank sales planning.
- **2025-11** — FI Navigator was named a 2025 Inc. Power Partner in the SaaS category.

## Links

- Website: https://www.fi-navigator.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevecottonfin/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/finavigator
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FINavigator/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/steve-cotton
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-25