Years ago, as a small business owner, I spent a lot of time waiting for the mailman. Cash was always tight, and I held out hope that what the mailman delivered would be enough to cover all the checks that had already been mailed. Many of my clients had said the “check was in the mail,” so it was just a matter of time before they arrived. Back then deposits had to … [Read more...]
Banks and Mobile Banking: Fish or Cut Bait!
As we say in the south, either fish or cut bait. When it comes to mobile banking, banks had better get on board or start looking for a closed sign. In the last couple of months, I spoke at the Nebraska Bankers Association Marketing Conference and at the Wolters Kluwer Financial Services Users Summit. I was shocked at the number of banks that said, “We’ll never offer … [Read more...]
A Bank Blog on Bank Blogs
I’m sure half of you reading this blog are sitting there thinking, “What in the world does a bank need with a blog?” The other half is probably thinking, “What in the world is a blog?” Webster describes a “blog” as a website that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer. That’s exactly what … [Read more...]
Bananas, Baking Soda and Bank Marketing
What do bananas and baking soda have to do with bank marketing? I thought you would never ask. Let’s start with the bananas… If I were to hold up a bunch of bananas and asked an audience what they were, most would probably agree they were bananas. But if I held up a green banana and asked the same audience how many would buy this particular banana, less than half would raise … [Read more...]
How can you put more “community” into your community bank?
What truly makes a bank a community bank? Is it because it’s in a small town or community? Is it because the money comes from and stays in the community? If that’s the case, why isn’t the local grocery store called a community grocery store? Is your favorite restaurant referred to as a community restaurant? I think most bankers in “community banks” want you to believe … [Read more...]