The State of Banking
Where are we and where have we been? Trends are telling. In 2013, there were 6,812 FDIC-insured financial institutions. At September 30, 2017 there were 5,737, a 16% decline. There […]
For Banks, What Is Top Quartile Performance?
What is top quartile financial performance? I am often asked this question, and top quartile performance appears as stretch goals in many strategic plans. And I say bravo! Nobody wants […]
Capacity Planning in Banks: Three Measurement Ideas
Joe Lender’s loan portfolio grew $5 million last year. The Trust Department’s revenues grew nine percent. The Market Street branch’s core deposits grew to 64% of total deposits. All objective […]
Banking Economies of Scale Revisited
In 2011, on these pages, I wrote my most read blog post ever, titled: Does your bank achieve positive operating leverage? Even today, nearly six years later, it receives a material […]
A Financial Institution Investment Banker Had Questions. Here Are My Answers.
My colleagues and I are frequent speakers at industry events. At one such event, a financial institution investment banker approached my colleague and handed him a list of questions he […]
Different Paths to Superior Bank Profits
I frequently moderate strategic planning retreats. A recent discussion surrounding bank peer groups was very interesting. I have written and spoken about using peer groups constructively versus striving for “above […]
Will Bigger Lead to a More Efficient Bank?
A friendly competitor of ours, Anita Newcomb, spoke about strategic planning and economies of scale in banking at the recent Maryland Bankers Association annual convention. She led attendees through the […]