Opinion

Take your M&A communications strategy to the next level

The pandemic turned what was a slow shuffle toward the edge of the technology cliff, into a hard shove right off the edge. Banks had to get nimble, creative, flexible and comfortable with a very different way of operating in a very short time period. And frankly, they did. The continuous push toward leveling up in the digital and technology game is often a driver for a larger decision to find one or more strategic partners, to combine resources — or organizations — to build the best, most competitive and sustainable solution. Enter the acquisition strategy! [Continue]

Automation can reduce disparities in loan approvals

The Paycheck Protection Program included guidance from the SBA to prioritize loans to businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Yet an October 2021 research paper, published by a group of New York University professors, found a disparity in the approval of PPP loans to Black-owned businesses. These differences in approval rates are not explained by factors like pre-existing bank relationships or applicant behavior. The paper’s authors suggest that preference-based discrimination occurs — and automation can make lending more equitable.  [Continue]

Climate change beckons bankers

May 1, 2008, was the first time I ever heard a speech on climate change in the context of a banking meeting. The annual “Day with the Superintendent” was taking place in West Des Moines, and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack opened a 45-minute speech by declaring “climate change is real.” I think the speech caught a lot of people off guard, as evidenced by the tepid audience applause at the conclusion of his remarks. In 13 years, the climate change discussion has moved to the center of the policymaking agenda. [Continue]

Empathy humanizes each customer service interaction

The pandemic has been the ultimate stress test for banks, catapulting digital transformation to top priority status. For our 2021 TrendWatch report, we polled banks of all sizes about how Covid-19 affected the way they connected with customers. More than 57 percent of respondents said they’d accelerated their digital transformation, channeling consumers to the digital environment for activities they would normally perform in a branch. While technology continually transforms how people engage, the need — and desire — for human connection remains strong. [Continue]

Community bankers recount recent deals

Buying and selling activity in banking was chugging along through February of 2020. The number of sellers was manageable, said David Stieber, an investment banker with Oak Ridge Financial, Minneapolis, and that created “a really good environment to feed bank M&A.” And just as life on earth as we knew it came to a screeching halt in March 2020, so too did bank M&A.   [Continue]

Community banks can succeed using data analytics

A company called Aunalytics has a pitch specifically designed for community banks: You can analyze your bank data with the same sophistication as the big banks — at a SaaS price. BankBeat spoke with Katie Horvath, the group’s chief marketing officer, about what’s lurking in the data. [Continue]

Steeped in challenges, 2021 also held hope

I’ve heard some people grumble that 2021 (like the year that preceded it) is a year best forgotten. I’ve always been a reflective sort though, more apt to pause and look backward before moving into the unknown. It’s true, 2021 came steeped in challenges. But as I reflect on the stories from banking we published this year, I also find hope. [Continue]

Minnesota’s Bridgewater Bank takes culture, growth seriously

Mary Jayne Crocker, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Twin Cities-based Bridgewater Bank, speaks about the bank’s unconventional culture and how it attracts and retains talent. Transparency, accountability, continuity and recognition all play important roles, from onboarding to discerning when an employee is no longer a cultural fit. [Continue]

Protecting against elder financial abuse response

A year ago in this space, I wrote about an elderly woman who was scammed out of thousands of dollars when a phony lawyer talked her into withdrawing money from her bank account and sending it to him. Financial scams aimed at older Americans are a serious problem. The good news is many banks are training their people to watch for elder abuse and take steps to prevent it. [Continue]

Fintech insiders tout community bank partnerships

Digital engagement with bank services — enrollment in online portals or mobile apps, and opt-in rates for electronic statements or billpay — has grown exponentially during the pandemic. Megabanks and super regionals spend big on technology, and continue to gain market share. In order to compete, community banks face pressure to invest in their technology offerings. [Continue]