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Retail-Restaurant SIG | The Penny Dilemma: Navigating the True Cost of Low-Value Transactions Retail-Restaurant SIG | The Penny Dilemma: Navigating the True Cost of Low-Value Transactions Retail-Restaurant SIG | The Penny Dilemma: Navigating the True Cost of Low-Value Transactions
  

Maggiano’s Little Italy, 6001 W Park Blvd. Plano, TX 75093
Wednesday, January 07, 2026 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Central Standard Time

 

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR THIS MEETING CLOSES AT 11:59 P.M. ON 1/5/26. CONTACT ERIC HOLLEMAN FOR AVAILABILITY:  EHOLLEMAN@CONEXUSSG.COM

 

The Penny Dilemma: Navigating the True Cost of Low-Value Transactions 

As the payments landscape evolves, organizations are increasingly confronting the “penny dilemma” — the rising operational, processing, and reconciliation costs associated with low-dollar transactions. While each transaction may seem insignificant on its own, the cumulative impact can materially affect margins, efficiency, and customer experience.

 

In this session, a Senior Manager of Bank Operations from Zions Bancorporation and the CFO of Half Price Books will share real-world perspectives from both the financial institution and corporate sides. Attendees will gain insight into how the penny dilemma is showing up in their organizations today, the operational and financial challenges it creates, and the strategies being implemented to mitigate costs while maintaining strong customer relationships.

Felicia Zenn | Bank Operations Senior Manager – Enterprise Vault Services, Zions Bancorporation

Laura Beverly | Chief Financial Officer, Half Price Books

 

Learning Objectives:

Audience will understand the outlook for:

  • Understand the penny dilemma and how low-dollar transactions can disproportionately impact operational costs and profitability
  • Identify where these costs surface across banking operations, treasury, accounting, and retail environments

  • Learn practical strategies organizations are using to reduce friction, streamline processing, and improve efficiency

 

LOCATION

Maggiano’s Little Italy

6001 W. Park Blvd.

Plano, TX 75093

 

SCHEDULE

4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Check-in & Networking

5:00 - 5:40 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres & Cocktails 

5:40 - 6:30 p.m.  Program & Q&A | 1 CPE

 

STRATEGIC INVESTORS

Baker Tilly

USI

Amegy Bank

 

 

REGISTRATION

Registration deadline | Monday 1/5/26

Open to FEI Dallas members, and non-members with financial or executive roles in the retail/restaurant sectors. 

 

FEI Members – Register on this page.

 

Non-FEI Members (including Strategic Investors) – Contact Nancy Ehlers at nancy.ehlers@feidallas.org with the following information by the registration deadline. 

Name

Company name

Job title

Address, City, State, ZIP

Email

Phone 

Mobile phone (if different)

LinkedIn address

 

CPE CREDIT

This event offers 1.0 CPE credit via FEI’s CPE Center to attendees who complete pre-registration and sign in/out at the meeting.

 

Instructional Method | Group-Live

Recommended CPE Credits | 1 .0

Field of Study | Management Services

Prerequisites/Advance Preparation | None

 

Financial Executives International is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

 

For FEI CPE credits, one credit hour equals 50 minutes according to NASBA guidelines.  Some States boards may differ on how many minutes constitute a credit hour. Contact your state board for more information.

 

CONTACT

Nancy Ehlers

FEI Dallas CPE Manager & Event Support

nancy.ehlers@feidallas.org


Speakers

Laura Beverly

Chief Financial Officer

Half Price Books, Records, Magazines, Inc.

Felicia Zenn

Bank Operations Senior Manager – Enterprise Vault Services

Zions Bancorporation