McBanking: Learning from Fast Food
This week’s U.S. edition of Business Week features a cover story on McDonalds, the recent challenges it faced, and the path it has taken to renewed profitability and growth. Facing…
Six Actions Banks Could Take to Improve Their Performance, but Won’t…and Why
Excuses. Many bankers, including senior managers, are extremely good at coming up with reasons not to take action. Some examples: “It’s been tried before and failed.” “It does not fit…
SME and Wealth Management Banking: Easy Money in a Tough Environment
Virtually every analyst and reporter following the financial services industry appropriately predicts a tougher operating environment for 2007. Most of you know the reasons, among them: flat yield curve, “normal”…
Loans: Achieving Small Business Growth in 2007
At most banks, deposits drive small business and middle market profitability. (See our last newsletter for a discussion of tactics for deposit growth.) The best banks know this and build…
Achieving Small Business Growth in 2007: Tactical Approaches
In recent newsletters we have discussed the combination of factors that will make 2007 a very difficult year for either asset or liability growth: Reduced margins resulting from a flat…
Geography versus Function in Small Business: The Increasing Importance of Centralized Support
Addressing organizational issues and revisiting them when necessary play a critical role in a bank’s success with the small business segment. Issues include: who should own the small business effort?…
What’s on the Mind of Small Business Banking Managers?
A few weeks ago, I spoke at the Consumer Bankers Association’s annual small business conference. Bankers and financial services executives from the U.S. and beyond met to discuss their key…
Say Goodbye to Growth – Part II
Our last newsletter highlighted some of the factors that we expect will result in low-to-zero growth for much of the banking industry in 2007. However, as is always the case,…
Say Goodbye to Growth: Preparing for 2007
Based upon conversations with clients, prospects, and industry observers, including analysts and reporters, 2007 is shaping up as a very tough year for the U.S. banking industry. Many banks will…
A Geographic Organization is Great, But…
Today, an increasing number of banks operate with a geographic structure rather than a functional approach. Of course, many community banks have always operated with such a structure. Branch or…