"The world needs good people - be one of them."

April 2, 2026

There are people who build companies, and there are people who build movements. Dave Mayo did both.

We are deeply saddened by Dave's passing. Across community banking and fintech, he was more than a founder. He was an enabler, a connector, and a true believer in the future of community banks. As the founder of FedFis and Bankers Helping Bankers, Dave helped create more than platforms. He helped build a community rooted in collaboration, shared learning, and the belief that community banks deserve better tools, better information, and stronger support systems.

Dave understood that community banks did not need more noise. They needed clarity, trusted relationships, and innovation that could help them grow without losing what makes them valuable in the first place. Through FedFis, he championed transparency and what the company calls "truth in banking." Through Bankers Helping Bankers, he helped create a space where community bankers could collaborate, innovate, and grow together.

For us at Linker Finance, Dave's impact was deeply personal. Two years ago, during the AFT event, he opened the door for our company and for our CEO, Jorge Garcia, welcoming him into the conversation and later inviting him to the Roundup. It was the kind of gesture that reflected who Dave was: passionate about helping community banks, generous with his time, and genuinely welcoming. Jorge remembers how naturally their conversations flowed whenever they spoke about banking. They would nerd out on ideas, on what was possible, and on how community banks could continue evolving to better serve their communities. More than anything, Jorge remembers how encouraging Dave was and how naturally he made others feel seen, supported, and excited to keep building.

What stands out most about Dave's legacy is not only what he built, but how he built it. He brought people together. He created bridges where others saw silos. He helped foster an environment where collaboration could lead to real progress.

In one of FedFis's recent weekly updates, Sean Mayo shared a line from his brother Davey that feels especially meaningful now: "The world needs good people - be one of them." It is simple, but it says so much about the kind of person Dave was and the legacy he leaves behind.

We are grateful for Dave Mayo. For his vision, his generosity, and the doors he opened for so many. His legacy will live on in the conversations he started and in the principle he stood for: "Innovation at Zero," the belief that community banking must keep innovating, but never at the expense of the people it is meant to serve. And yes, Dave, yes, we can innovate at zero.

- The Linker Finance Team