Bank Marketing Show

The Power of Connection with Neil Stevens Connection – with your team, your bank, your customers, and your own self - is the key to great leadership and to creating a truly engaged team. It starts at the top. Your bank's leadership needs to feel confident in and connected with the values, vision, and mission of your institution. When this happens, and you hire people whose personal visions are alr...

Feeling stuck when it comes to using AI in your bank's marketing? You're not alone. In this episode, Dan and Chris walk through five simple and safe ways to start using Gen AI—without tripping compliance alarms or sacrificing your brand voice. In this episode, we don't just talk about it—we do it. You'll see real prompts, live demos, and practical tips you can implement today. -           Drafting...

In this episode, Dan and Chris explore how AI is reshaping the bank marketing world— and what marketing professionals need to do to stay ahead. From prompting effectively  in ChatGPT to building efficient workflows and bringing human insight to the table, this  episode outlines the skills that will define the next generation of marketing leaders.  You'll hear how to shift from tactical task execut...

Ep 87 – Essential Website Strategy Insights with Brent Feldman Many community banks don't hesitate to invest hundreds of thousands, or even millions, in a new brick and mortar branch—but balk at the cost of a new website. In this episode, we dive into why that mindset needs to change—and what a modern bank website should actually do. Brent Feldman, CEO of Matchbox Design Group, joins us to unpack...

Financial education isn't just about blogging — it's one of the most powerful tools a community bank can use to connect with its audience, build trust, and drive long-term growth. And, it's one that many customers are requesting – information and education from an institution they already trust.  In this episode, Dan and Chris unpack the real "why" behind financial education and dive deep into pra...

Turning Stories Into Strategy: Humanizing Your Brand Think you need a massive ad budget to stand out? Think again. This episode is all about how community banks can turn everyday staff and customer stories into powerful, memorable marketing—while keeping spend to a minimum. If your team's struggling with content ideas, this is your playbook. In this episode, Chris and Dan cover: Why stories beat s...

Forget billboards and banner ads — this episode is all about unexpected , low-cost, high-impact marketing moves that big banks simply can't pull off. Chris and Dan share real-life guerrilla marketing campaigns from community banks that sparked attention, built goodwill, and drove serious local engagement. In this episode: What guerrilla marketing is (and why it works for banks) How surprise and de...

Podcasting isn't just for influencers anymore—banks are getting in the game. In this episode, Chris and Dan sit down with Caleb Stevens, VP of Marketing at SouthState Bank's Capital Markets Division and host of the Community Bank Podcast. From demand generation to practical AI use, Caleb breaks down how banks can modernize without losing sight of what really matters. In this episode, we cover: -  ...

How do you grow your bank's social media presence without relying on your bank's own profiles?  Most banks don't - but in this episode, Chris and Dan explore a different strategy: using your own staff as influencers and brand ambassadors. You'll learn why employee-led content consistently outperforms corporate posts—and how to turn your team into your most powerful marketing channel.  Here's what...

We've met a lot of bank and credit union marketing teams – and we've noticed some commonalities among those that see more success in their efforts.   In this episode, we talk about the role of a marketing director (or VP, or manager, or any lead marketer at a bank) – and the things we see in our work that are most impactful to personal career growth and organizational success (which are highly cor...

Many community banks are missing out on valuable marketing opportunities. Statistics show that many community banks aren't currently utilizing cookies, which used to put them at a disadvantage. However, with cookies being increasingly phased out, updating your website pop-ups and refining your other marketing strategies is crucial. While some data will be lost in a cookieless environment, there ar...

Regardless of your asset size and marketing bandwidth, budgeting is a challenge.  Marketers never have as much as they would like, and those setting the budgets might see it as an expense (hint: it's not!  It's an investment!).  In this episode Chris and Dan discuss the crucial strategies for effective bank marketing budgeting. They emphasize the importance of digital marketing, the evolving role...

Chris and Dan discuss the critical importance of business culture in impacting and enhancing marketing efforts. They explore how a positive internal culture can translate into authentic and engaging marketing & content that connects with audiences. Highlighting real-world examples, they emphasize the value of genuine storytelling featuring employees and community activities. They also outline the...

With over 5,000 community banks and credit unions in the US, your brand is the only thing that differentiates you in your community and online.   "Brand messaging" is the collection of words, imagery, and stories that you use to explain the value your community bank brings to customers. It's not enough to say that your bank is "better" at something than others—better is unclear and doesn't help yo...

Chris and Dan discuss strategies for community banks to enhance their local marketing efforts. They emphasize the importance of connecting digital and brand initiatives with local engagement to build trust and visibility. This episode provides a checklist for banks to leverage local strategies, use digital tools, and measure ROI effectively. Chris and Dan also discuss the benefits of outsourcing t...

Chris and Dan continue the three-part series by exploring the impact of digital marketing on community banks. Building on the previous episode's discussion on branding, they both dive into digital personalization, emphasizing the importance of creating tailored customer experiences and engaging through multiple digital channels.   This episode offers practical advice on segmentation, automation, t...

In this episode of the Bank Marketing Show, hosts Chris and Dan embark on a deep dive into the critical aspects of brand strategy for banks. They explore the importance of distinguishing between brand and marketing strategies, emphasizing the need for consistent brand presentation and leveraging customer stories to build trust. The discussion includes insights on maintaining 'always-on' awareness...

It's time to rebrand your community bank. Where do you start? Rebranding a community bank involves a simple four-step process: identifying the problem, taking time to plan, checking your resources, and then acting on your plan. First, it's about recognizing that something isn't working. Many banks face issues like dropping deposits and having a smaller credit pipeline. While these banks are truste...

Finding the right balance between marketing and compliance is essential for community banks. The first step is ensuring that marketers and compliance officers build a trusting relationship. Compliance should always be involved in marketing decisions to prevent any issues. Community banks need to make sure their marketing messages are clear and easy for the average customer to understand, especiall...

Social media is a key tool for community banks to connect with their local communities and grow their brand, but it's important to follow the rules and regulations to get it right. Community banks need to be creative in what they post, but they also need to ensure they stay within the social media guidelines to protect both the bank and their customers. That's why our guest created a solution to h...

Chris and Dan discuss the importance of leadership in banking, especially focusing on transparency, adaptability, and vision implementation. They dive into how leadership styles impact a bank's marketing strategies, and the necessity for modern leadership that embraces technology and diversity. Key points include the significance of transparency to foster trust, the need for adaptability in a fast...

It's strategic planning season – time to start figuring out what your bank should do next year, and get your budget in order. In our work with banks and credit unions across the country, we've noticed some themes emerge in the form of common marketing goals.   In this episode, Chris and Dan break down the five most common goals they hear – and give actionable advice for how to make real progress t...

Most bank marketing teams are cash-, personnel-, and time-strapped. In this episode, we break down ways to get more from what you already have – through strategic partnerships, networking, outsourcing, and tech. In this episode: -        Why spending more money does not equate to better marketing -        The power of partnerships for social media growth and engagement -        How networking grou...

Even though email has been around for decades, surprisingly, many banks are not utilizing the channel optimally (or at all!).   In this episode, Chris and Dan dive deep into email marketing for banks – everything from the mundane birthday email to data-driven onboarding and cross-selling campaigns.   If you're a bank marketer or a professional in the financial industry, this episode is a must-list...

It's a Bank Marketing Show Best-Ever Summer Replay! This week, we replay one of our most downloaded episodes ever - 'How Targeted Marketing Gives You ROI'. Listen in on why targeted marketing matters and gives you returns, and what you should do about it in your bank.   Stop thinking about selling your product. Start thinking about how it benefits your customer. Data-driven campaigns are the futur...