Results include
Podcasts
Oct 30, 2023
Intentional and successful communication are discussed with guest Alyson Van Hooser, a keynote speaker and trainer focused on multi-generational leadership. Alyson shares tips emphasizing the need for intentional communication and understanding the stories of others, and her three-step listening technique to improve and ensure the results.
Economic Indicators
Jul 12, 2023
Bottom Line: Mortgage activity fell last week by about 20%, almost exactly the reduction in the workweek for the 4th of July holiday. That left the headline number nearly flat, a rather impressive reading given the violent move higher in...
Jul 10, 2023
The long-promised Federal Reserve instant payment system, the FedNow® Service, officially debuts in July 2023. CFIs could see some important benefits from participation. We discuss use cases and benefits of FedNow instant payments as well as how to prepare for the service’s launch.
Jul 11, 2023
Small businesses form the backbone of not only the US economy but the client lists of many CFIs. But almost a third don’t think their banking institutions understand their needs. We look at some ways financial institutions can better support small businesses throughout their growth lifecycle.
May 10, 2023
Almost no bank leaders think they are doing an excellent job providing digital services, and they know the areas that need improvement. The problem is figuring out how to make necessary adjustments and then following through. We provide insight on the top five digital requests from financial customers.
Jul 1, 2022
In the current low-rate environment, almost one in five community financial institutions plan to add new lines of business to boost earnings, alongside leveraging their existing business. Here we look at six potential revenue streams that CFIs may want to explore.
Apr 2, 2024
The right payment platform can create substantial opportunities for a CFI — and a CFI can use what it learns from finding the right payment platform to help business clients do the same. We discuss the factors a CFI should consider when selecting a payments platform.
Mar 25, 2024
Women are launching businesses at a more aggressive rate than men, yet lending disparities continue to favor men as entrepreneurs. With women-owned businesses representing $2.7T in revenue, CFIs should be actively targeting this group.
Mar 20, 2024
Is getting into an interest-rate war the only way for CFIs to compete for deposits at higher interest rates? We review alternative strategies for keeping up with aggressive offers from online banks and other competitors.
Feb 26, 2024
Despite advances in technology, check fraud is on the rise across the US. Given the significant impact on CFIs and their customers, we suggest ways in which CFIs can reduce exposure to fraudulent activity.
Feb 13, 2024
Bank tech is a rapidly changing landscape. Composable banking — building banking solutions through use of multiple APIs and plug-and-play platforms — offers a way for CFIs to more easily and effectively stay abreast of the latest trends.
Feb 7, 2024
The desire for more flexible work arrangements isn’t limited to younger generations. As CFIs strive to hold on to longtime senior employees who may be heading for the exit to retire, flextirement is an option that may allow them to hold onto key employees longer and ensure a smoother transition to the next generation of employees.
Feb 5, 2024
Niche lending can be extremely lucrative — if executed correctly. We highlight some niche industries that are bringing success to other CFIs and provide guidance on how to identify unique, profitable niches in your area.
Jan 22, 2024
Bank Director’s 2024 Bank M&A Survey explores FIs’ attitudes towards M&A. Although enthusiasm for a deal is somewhat flat, stagnant earnings may motivate FIs’ management and their boards to partner with other institutions in search of low-cost deposits. We discuss possible M&A trends for this year.
Nov 20, 2023
Financial institutions are finding that instant payments come with their own array of issues, including outages, fraud, and reputational challenges. We review these challenges and provide ways to handle them if they arise.
Nov 16, 2023
Smart contracts offer the promise of cost savings and greater efficiencies, and have already begun to see adoption within the banking industry. But while industry experts predict that smart contracts will eventually become the norm, there are barriers to consider before outright embracing them.
Oct 24, 2023
Increased competition from neobanks for small businesses and Gen Z customers, rising tech budgets, and emerging opportunities are just a few of the themes highlighted in Bank Director’s 2023 Technology Survey. We summarize some of the key findings and their relevance to CFIs.
Oct 12, 2023
According to the latest Jack Henry survey, an increased focus on lending, faster payments, and small businesses are some of the ways in which FIs plan to adapt their services over the next two years. We highlight the key findings of this survey of banks and credit unions.
Sep 21, 2023
This is the second part of our summary of the FDIC 2023 Risk Review. We take a closer look at the FDIC’s findings on potential credit risks for the banking industry and community financial institutions.
Sep 12, 2023
CFIs and other banking operations could profit immensely from creating embedded finance partnerships, where CFIs offer their digital banking services to be integrated into experiences for a third party’s customers. We review the growth potential for embedded finance partnerships and how to get started.