Editor’s Picks

Today’s money laundering problem is bigger than we think

Most public comments and reporting following the FinCen leaks focused on whether the government will crack down on banks over money-laundering. But blaming banks misses a bigger point. Do our systems actually permanently put us in a position of playing catch up? Is the way we do automation today deeply flawed? I think it is. Automation actually needs machine learning or it can make problems it’s meant to fix worse. And maybe it’s more than most banks can take on at the same time after all. [Continue]

Where is the industry headed in 2021?

Rows of soy plants in a field

From weather disasters and a pandemic to an increased use of technology that is helping farmers control their own destinies, ag bankers in central states experienced a lot in 2020. Now they look ahead to what 2021 holds, expecting more of the same challenges and uncertainty. [Continue]

Will 2021 deliver catastrophe for commercial real estate?

When the coronavirus struck, people across industries were sent home to work and once-bustling office spaces turned ghostly quiet. Months later, many offices remain empty. And, as the pandemic rages on (and on), and businesses delay asking people to return, one must question the future of the office. Will employers need less space (or more) to bring its people back? Do businesses need people back? [Continue]

Define your target market to stretch your marketing budget

Many bank marketers went into 2020 with flat year-over-year budgets but were expected to produce greater results than in years past. Then the pandemic came, pushing the need for digital transformation to the forefront and compelling executives to reallocate marketing budgets to support critical digital enhancements. [Continue]

Montana Banking Commissioner leverages tech to modernize regulation

Melanie Hall lived through Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the experience surged to the top of her mind this year. The commissioner of Montana’s Division of Banking recently compared the pandemic’s economic impact to the storm and its destruction. Despite state and Federal help, “[the impact] will come home to all people eventually,” Hall said. “We need to be ever vigilant that it could come to our banks. [Continue]

Foster trust in order to delegate successfully

When you’re on vacation, are your coworkers or direct reports frequently contacting you for solutions to normal work issues? The good news is that you are in the driver’s seat when it comes to empowering your team to make decisions in your absence. [Continue]

Pandemic affecting credit card payments

CardX, a Chicago-based company that passes the fee for credit card transactions on to consumers and away from merchants, considers itself both a fintech and a regtech. Michael Tomko, chief operations officer, explained how redirecting this fee helps small businesses and their banking partners.  [Continue]

COVID-19 roils the ag economy

Although farmers and ranchers are resilient and used to adversity, all aspects of their lives and industries have been affected to some degree by COVID-19, whether mentally or physically. Here, regional ag banking experts way in on the impact of the pandemic and the economic downturn have had on the country’s ag industry. [Continue]

Farms yield uncertainty for ag bankers

2020 has been a year of great uncertainty and extreme swings in the ag economy. The year started out with some optimism on grain prices and improved trade conditions with China, Canada, Mexico and other countries. Then COVID-19 hit in March and everything changed. [Continue]

Positioning your bank for 2021

2020 has been unprecedented on many fronts. The way in which community banks have risen to the myriad challenges is one of the many reasons we appreciate being part of the industry and helping navigate the evolving landscape. As we look toward 2021, there are several recurring themes we are helping clients anticipate and manage. [Continue]