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…
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”…
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…
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…
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?…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
In years past, by September senior bankers seemed to be focusing more on planning for the following year than exploring how to get more revenues during the few months that…