Is the Branch Dead? Take Two

Posted inCommercial Banking
I wrote this article decades ago. When I reread it recently it reaffirmed that, the more things seem different, the more they are the same. “We have fought for years to keep our customers out of the branch; now we are fighting to get them back in so we can sell the, a variety of products and services,“ says one community banker, echoing the feelings of many others. But what do the customers want? Is…

Top Topics on CEOs Minds as we Approach 2026

Posted inGeneral Management
It’s critically important to every banker to know what their CEO is thinking about. Those topics find their way into your strategic plans, budgets and daily Tasks. Here are the top five topics on most bank CEO lists as they prepare for the coming year. M&A. The change in administration opened the flood gates for M&A activities at all levels, including among the largest banks in the nation. This opportunity window will not be open…

Capturing and Retaining Consumer Deposits in the Next Three Years

Posted inRetail
The assumption that massive investments in technology are essential for our banks to remain successful and retain customers has been with us for decades now. “It’s table stakes”, we were told. We started with perceived core system upgrades and moved onto efficiency plays, followed by database management tools crowned by Salesforce, etc. etc.  The very same assumption, which focused in RPAs and upgrading human production to more value-add activities, is now followed by AI tools…