Turmoil in the Financial Industry = Good Phishing Waters
The financial industry is being rocked by an unprecedented level of mergers, acquisitions and failures. You can count on a fresh batch of FDIC/NCUA seizures every Friday. Estimates vary, but it is expected that the financial crisis will claim between 300 and 1,200 banks before it’s all over. The latest prediction from RBC says 1,000 […]
Meltdown Marketing: 3 Things Credit Unions Must Do
We are at a juncture in our country where cooperative principles are needed. Credit unions were built on this and people can be helped by it.
Two Banks Thwart the Same Robber Using Great Service
The employees working in a Seattle branch of First Mutual Bank recognized the man immediately. They’d seen his photo on a flier from the FBI and knew he was a suspect in previous bank robberies. Instead of waiting for the man to rob them, the bank’s employees snapped to action. But they didn’t trigger any […]
NAB’S UBank: A Cautionary Tale in Social Media
To support the launch of its new online self-service offering, UBank, NAB created a blog at myfuturebank.org. But the bank closed the blog earlier this month after one of its employees posted comments posing as a legitimate customer. At first, the impostor denied he was a bank employee, but forensic internet analysis proved that all […]
Giveaway $10, Get Big PR Splash
For customers with good intentions, they can earn $10 from Seattle Metro Credit Union if they promise to 'pay it forward'.
Mission, Vision, Values… And The Missing Piece
Maybe it's not possible for banks and credit unions to earn the love that Disney has from customers, but they can learn from Disney's brand.
How to Build Relationships with Bank Branch Avoiders
Be honest. If you didn’t work in the financial services industry, how often would you step foot in a branch? So how can financial institutions build relationships with those who prefer avoiding branches as much as possible? Here’s four ideas to get you started. Pick up the phone Many financial institutions use MCIF and other […]
Notably Quotable – Guess what they’re saying about you
“The culprit? Mountain America Credit Union. Check out the site, but don’t sign up to do business with them. At least if I lived in Utah I wouldn’t. Not after hearing about this horror story.” – Joseph “Dear Bank of America, your credit line is a scam!!! Bank of America will screw you, hide behind […]
If Service Is the Answer, What Is the Question?
Few banks do anything better than their peers. When you ask about their strengths, they'll often resort to "service" as a trusty fall-back.
Freeze! The Cold Hard Facts on Robberies 2006
Here is the FBI’s official data on robberies of financial institutions, including injuries and deaths for 2006. TOTAL NUMBER OF ROBBERIES: 6,985 Bank robberies: 6,154 (88%) Credit union robberies: 521 (7%) Other (e.g., check cashing): 372 (5%) INJURIES: Number of incidents in which injuries occurred: 94 (1.3%) Customer: 17 Employee: 75 Employee Family: 0 Perpetrator: […]
New FirstBank branch model features teller pods
FirstBank’s next branch won’t have a traditional teller line. Instead, the bank will have what is known in the financial industry as “teller pods.” Teller pods were introduced into the mainstream by WaMu (shown at right – click on image to enlarge). When customers enter the bank, they will be greeted by a bank employee […]
Omaha Bank’s New Branch Concept Includes ‘Virtual Koi Pond’
First National Bank of Omaha has unveiled a new retail prototype at its new Shadow Lake Towne Center branch. Features include a “virtual Koi pond” that directs customers to interactive kiosks where they can conduct transactions or get information on products and services. The interactive floor display seems to be based off of technology from […]
Chase Launches Massive Ad Campaign
Consumers are increasingly anxious about their finances and skeptical of the customer-service sales pitch.”
A Little Knowledge Is Great Marketing
Bank of America launched an online and in-branch advertising campaign — a bold, successful move for the national bank.
