The Death of The Community Bank
In June of 2008 I gave a speech titled “The Death of the Community Bank” and in that speech I made predictions. Recently I was cleaning out my files and I ran into the hard copy slide deck that accompanied the speech. If I ignore where I was wrong then I am as guilty of […]
Conscious Banking
I was once that guy who pulled into a Whole Foods Market parking lot, parked next to a Prius, revved my Camaro, and smiled. I hope I evolved since then. At least my stereotype about the grocer was wrong. Its co-founder, John Mackey, is a libertarian who believes corporations should serve a higher purpose. It’s […]
The Bank Branch Manager’s Wish List
Now is the time for wishes. And if I were a branch manager, given all of the demands on me, here is what I would wish for: 1. Clarity of Expectations. Do you want me, your branch manager, to grow small business customers by being a trusted advisor to small business owners within a five mile […]
The Slippery Slope of Using Banks to Advance a Political Agenda
On October 29, 2020, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) issued a letter to all depositories and non-depositories regulated by them regarding climate change and financial risks. This post is not about climate change. It is about how an unchecked bureaucracy can implement an agenda it cannot get through duly elected legislative […]
Two High Performing Banks Merge in the Midst of COVID
Guests: Christopher Martin, Chairman and CEO of Provident Financial Services, Inc., and Anthony J. Labozzetta, President, COO & Director of Provident Financial Services, Inc. Podcast Show Notes: Our This Month In Banking (TMIB) podcast features discussion with colleagues and other industry thought leaders on interesting banking news that happened this month. TMIB will be available […]
For Banks, Self Assessments Are Hard
Self assessments are hard, period. Not just in banks. But since this is a banking blog, let’s focus there. Strategic plans should include a fact-based self assessment. Some call it a situation analysis, others an environmental scan. They usually include a SWOT, which some people dislike but I find the vitriol around a SWOT to […]
Transitioning Away From LIBOR – Are You Ready?
Guests: Matthew Tevis, Managing Director, Head of Sales at Chatham Financial, and Kim Johnston, Director of Regulatory Advisory for Chatham’s Financial Institutions Group Podcast Show Notes: Our This Month In Banking (TMIB) podcast features discussion with colleagues and other industry thought leaders on interesting banking news that happened this month. TMIB will be available on […]
How the Pandemic has Fundamentally Changed Community Banking
Podcast Show Notes: Our This Month In Banking (TMIB) podcast features discussion with colleagues and other industry thought leaders on interesting banking news that happened this month. TMIB will be available on the last Wednesday of every month here, and on Apple and Droid podcast apps for your listening enjoyment. Join us on your commute, […]
Online Account Opening – Bring on the Deposits!
Guests: Michael (“Mike”) Bingold, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Retail & Client Development Officer, Flushing Financial Corporation and Raj Patel, Co-Founder and COO of MANTL, an Enterprise Software Company Podcast Show Notes: Our This Month In Banking (TMIB) podcast features discussion with colleagues and other industry thought leaders on interesting banking news that happened this […]
Bankers: Hunker or Pounce?
Unprecedented times. How many of our borrowers on forbearance can begin making payments? What provision do we make this quarter? How do we justify it? What will our constituencies think when we have to foreclose on borrowers? For most of us, the onset of a recession means a time to assess the risk on our […]