Bai Banking Strategies

Wild daily swings in the stock market are just one sign of the sudden toll that the novel coronavirus is taking on America’s economic health. Across the nation, there are plenty of other signs: closed businesses, canceled flights, slower manufacturing and more. Jeff Korzenik, chief investment strategist at Fifth Third Bank, shares his insights on how long and deep the economic downturn may be, and what's important for financial institutions to communicate to customers.

We’re in the thick of tax season now -- that time of year when financial advisors huddle with their clients to discuss planning and portfolios. But at some point in the near future, will those huddles broaden into the client's personal issues and family needs? And if they do, are the advisors equipped to hold up their end of the conversation? Cam Marston of Alabama-based Generational Insights will share some of his thoughts on how the role of the financial advisor may expand from wealth coach to all-around life coach as boomers and Gen Xers make room for millennials and Gen Z.

Data can yield great value for banks and even more for customers. But so much hinges on defining the pain points account holders struggle with and how banks can best aggregate and leverage the data they have. What's more, data behemoths such as Google, Amazon and Facebook may arrive at the financial services winner's circle before banks do. But there is good news in terms of banking data blossoming into insight, shared on this podcast by Todd Barnhart, executive vice president, head of retail distribution for PNC Financial Services Group.

What challenges and opportunities lie ahead for financial services leaders in 2020? What will keep a customer from leaving one bank for another? And will customers trust their money with the Googles, PayPals and Apples of the world? BAI recently conducted its BAI Banking Outlook: Trends in 2020 research, and BAI’s Karl Dahlgren and Jason Mencias stopped by the podcast studio to walk us through the findings.

Whether it benefits customers and employees on the front end or core systems on the back end, digital transformation is a top shelf to-do for banks in 2019. But it's not as though the imperative comes with easy-to-follow instructions where "tech gadget a" plugs into "tough problem b." Here to share her smart strategies, we have Kristiane Koontz, executive vice president, director of banking transformation at Zions Bancorporation.

Making consumer bank strategy stick ranks among the hottest topics in financial services today. But to get there, financial institutions must figure out how to balance a host of channels, from branches to call centers to mobile and its next wave. Ben Hopper of First Tennessee Bank shares his insights on achieving the optimal digital-physical combination to benefit customers and bolster banks in 2019.

Considering that smartphone apps are just a dozen years old, the technology has exploded far beyond anything Steve Jobs might've imagined when he unveiled the first iPhone. Now in 2019, the reality of mobile-centric banking has arrived, with Varo Money already delighting customers to the tune of 13,000-plus five star reviews on the App Store and Google Play. Colin Walsh, Varo's CEO and co-founder, describes the journey from blueprint to charter, and how Varo hopes to help millions of customers improve their financial lives.

Not much thought is always given to exactly what puts the “community” in “community banking.” But the renaissance in arts, technology, culture and entrepreneurial spirit in Detroit goes hand in hand with financial services leadership. It also illustrates beautifully the role banks can play in shaping a modern urban comeback story. Chris McComish, chief banking officer, consumer and wealth management at Chemical Bank, talks about how his institution has worked to foster relationship-driven growth and prosperity, and offers insight into an upcoming merger with another midwestern bank.

Digital transformation. The term and the concept predate smartphones and widespread internet usage. Yet if it’s time to bring the idea up to date in an age of AI and machine learning, what does this mean for the financial services industry? And what's the best way to approach strategy even as the pace of transformation has turned into the financial services equivalent of a rocket launch? Kim Capps, chief operating officer for Southern Bank, shares how financial institutions and community banks in particular can keep up the unprecedented changes.

Who is using direct banks and why? How do their customers define ‘convenience’? BAI’s Jason Mencias and Mark Riddle share insights from the latest BAI Banking Outlook report on this week’s podcast.

Who is using direct banks and why? How do their customers define convenience? BAI’s Jason Mencias and Mark Riddle share insights from the latest BAI Banking Outlook on this week’s podcast.

Small businesses are a big deal to the people who own, operate and create them. But that doesn't mean they've had the easiest time working with banks and credit unions, who aren’t always able to cater to these clients every need. That is changing, though, as banks and credit unions reconsider the possibilities that come from fruitful small business relationships. Chris Spiek, vice president of customer acquisition at Autobooks, talks about designing and executing the right solutions to win the loyalty of this dynamic customer segment.

Over the last decade, financial services innovation has flourished not just in volume but also in variety. In areas such as societal impact, marketing and human capital, a few special institutions are changing how business gets done and progress made. Fresh off announcing this year's winners of the BAI Global Innovation Awards, BAI president and CEO Debbie Bianucci shares what makes this year's crop stand out and how true innovation permeates every layer of a forward-thinking financial institution.

Digital transformation demands that the role of the CFO change to meet a very particular, poignant set of challenges. The question is: How? Enter the "superhero CFO," a gifted and proactive leader who can literally save the day Whether that means breaking data out of silos or finding hidden efficiencies, the tasks of today's data-rich environment demand focus, perseverance and forward-thinking momentum. Danny Baker, vice president of market strategy, Financial and Risk Management Solutions, Fiserv, discusses how today's CFOs can shine in a fast-moving digital world.

Today's community banking environment demands an extra layer of hustle and decisive action to grow and compete. Fortunately, there's already a blueprint for success that leverages three factors: planning, marketing and talent management. To get the mix right, banks must forego the shortcuts and set their sights on creating lasting change. On this podcast, David Furnace, the CEO of Haberfeld Associates, shares nuances and strategies culled from more than 30 years in the financial services industry.

With roots in business academia, behavior finance provides answers to explain the perplexing things all of us do as consumers. Why do we follow others in our spending decisions? Why are we motivated more by what we might lose than what we can gain? To explain, this week's podcast features Meg Goodman, operational leader for Jacobs & Clevenger.

Fraud has moved far beyond the days of passing bad checks and rigging ledger books, both in its volume and sophistication. In the hands of determined hackers, high tech stoops to low levels that threaten everyone, financial institutions and customers alike. Yet banks can build robust defenses into the foundation of all they do and stay steps ahead of even the most determined thieves. Alisdair Faulkner, chief identity officer, Business Services at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, shares how banks can balance the customer's need for speed and friction-free service with sophisticated fraud protection.

Wouldn’t it be nice to program a bank’s digital journey into a computer? Aside from being impossible, the task of digital transformation becomes that much harder for those who run community and regional banks in competitive markets. But there are ways to win the game, which include smart alliances with fintechs. Christopher Maher, president and CEO of OceanFirst Bank in New Jersey, explains how his financial institution has successfully adapted to life and business in a digital age.

Innovation in financial services sometimes overlooks the pressing needs of consumers who teeter on the edge of financial peril. Causes for trouble are many: staggering student loan debt, massive credit card balances and minuscule savings. Yet fintechs can make a major difference. To explain how, we'll chat with David Reiling, CEO of Sunrise Banks and author of the book "Fintech4GOOD."

Thanks to mobile technology and easy ecommerce, consumers find themselves in a new position of power where they compare their banking experience to other aspects of their effortless, seamless world. That poses a major quandary for financial institutions as they struggle to keep up, even as nimble fintechs enter the picture. Tyson Nargassans, CEO of Saylent Technologies, shares how banks can make the best use of data and technology to become increasingly invested--and relevant--in people's lives.