Research

By Dave DeFazio Digital banks and fintechs have succeeded in luring small and medium-sized businesses by embracing a customer-centric approach, creating “reconfigured mashups” of features and functionality that combine multiple financial services. They offer value-added features like subscription management and real-time payment tools as part of their core checking accounts. While many customers may open…

By Dave DeFazio For small and midsize businesses, access to efficient and value-driven services is crucial to managing their financial operations. However, a significant gap exists between what banks offer and what SMBs truly need. This gap presents a challenge and an oppurtunity for traditional financial institutions as they navigate increasing competition from digital banks…

By Adam Thompson In October there were two more clear indicators that banking fees have seen better days as a non-interest income strategy for FIs of all sizes.  First digital banking competition is proving that spotting customers money for OD/NSF fees builds customer relationships and boosts organic growth.  Leading consumer financial technology company, Chime®, announced…

By Dave Crook With growing competition from megabanks and big regionals, community FIs need to leverage their ability to attract new retail and commercial customers.  We hear this all the time and understand the challenges of going up against these Goliaths with just a sling and stone.  But as in the original story of David…

By Mike Branton Given the proposed CFPB rules that are going into effect regarding OD/NSF fees, it’s the right  time to find out how banks and credit unions are dealing and planning to deal with this dominant source of non-interest income being increasingly scrutinized (yep, it’s classified as a “junk fee”) and regulated to generate…

  Editor’s Note: This is the fourth and final part in our series exploring market research we commissioned with financial services firm Cornerstone Advisors to get a state of market view through the eyes of SMB leaders across the country. Our main goal was to understand their challenges now and how community financial institutions could…

By Mike Branton When it comes to finding out what community banks and credit unions are planning for the coming year related to deposit performance the best way is to ask them directly. There’s no doubt that there’s plenty of data regularly published by third parties about community FIs and the broader banking industry regarding…

  Editor’s Note: This is the third in a monthly series exploring market research we commissioned with financial services firm Cornerstone Advisors to get a state of market view through the eyes of SMB leaders across the country. Our main goal was to understand their challenges now and how community financial institutions could best compete…

  Editor’s Note: This is the second in a monthly series exploring market research we commissioned with financial services firm Cornerstone Advisors to get a state of market view through the eyes of SMB leaders across the country. Our main goal was to understand their challenges now and how community financial institutions could best compete…