Lessons about Banking and America from Three Conferences
The fall conference schedule has just ended for me. This year I spoke to three financial services groups with distinctly different audiences and to some degree interests. Both some of…
Banks Are NOT All the Same
I heard a comment at a banking conference last week that I have heard many times before: “We [banks] are all alike. We only compete on price.” If that attitude…
Buyer Beware
We are seeing more activity in the M&A space than we have for a long while. However, in many cases, banks are pursuing deals for the wrong reasons, supported by…
Targeting Priority Prospects: An Easy Win for Banks
Banks today need to produce higher revenue and returns while, in most cases, operating with either the same or fewer resources. That is difficult to accomplish, but doing more with…
The Widening Gap Between Banks
In recent years banking has changed in fundamental ways, but most bankers still have not caught on. Just as “generals fight the last war,” many bankers continue to compete with…
The Elephant in the Room…Is People
Wikipedia defines the term “the elephant in the room” as referring “to a question, problem, solution, or controversial issue which is obvious to everyone who knows about the situation, but…
Segmentation…A Requirement for Banks Worldwide
I was recently speaking with a colleague who focuses on international work, primarily in what is commonly termed the developing markets. I asked him about the state of small business…
Hey, Let’s Hire Ritz Carlton!!!
In the last few weeks I have heard several banks mention the idea of attending a session with or bringing in experts from Ritz Carlton to provide a training program…
Getting the Most Out of the Annual Strategy Sessions
Ten years ago, I wrote a newsletter with the above title, focusing on why and how to conduct a strategic planning process. While most of what I wrote then remains…
Banking, Zombies, and World War Z
World War Z is the popular novel and now movie about zombies attacking around the world. Despite being written by Max Brooks, the son of Mel Brooks, the story presents…