Banking Transformed with Jim Marous

Banking will never return to the way things were done in the past. Continuous disruption is the new norm. The mission is to become more resilient and to benefit from the change that surrounds us. How can banks and credit unions navigate the intentional evolution of financial services while continuing the existing execution of engagement with customers? In other words, creating new business models...

To thrive in the new digital banking environment, financial institutions need to rearticulate their value proposition, simultaneously simplifying and upgrading back-office processes and the customer experience while creating value through data and analytics. To deliver a market-leading value proposition, banks will need to work like a tech company, with leadership embracing change and acting promp...

The banking industry, while steeped in tradition, is far from predictable. More than ever, marketplace changes are impacting what financial institutions deliver and how solutions are delivered. Unfortunately, not all legacy bankers have kept pace with the changes in the marketplace … either by choice or because their organization has failed to keep up. Without a challenger mindset and a willingnes...

Credit cards are one of the primary foundations for credit relationships at many financial institutions, accounting for 37% of consumer purchases by dollar value in 2021. But the marketplace is changing, as usage patterns evolve due to economic conditions and new credit alternatives. To continue to grow credit card relationships, banks and credit unions must reimagine their products to meet consum...

ChatGPT has taken over the news cycle since launching at the end of November of 2022. Its AI version of human conversation has created optimism and debate around the opportunities and risks associated with this technology. The question is, how can conversational AI impact banking as we know it, from an operational and customer experience perspective? What is the scope of this change and what are t...

Consumer behavior is changing faster than ever. The impact of the pandemic, technological advancements, a greater awareness of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and an uncertain economy are influencing financial wellness and buying decisions. More than ever, banks and credit unions are wondering how they can better shape consumer demand and drive engagement and loyalty as consumers...

An uncertain economy, combined with technological advances, increased customer expectations, and new competition will force banks to reimagine business models and rethink how financial services are delivered. More than ever, banks and credit unions must find ways to meet customer’s individual needs at speed and scale. Continuous digital transformation is required across entire organizations. I am...

Digital banking transformation involves integrating digital technology with data and analytics to enhance customer experiences, drive growth and make an organization more future-ready. Building improved customer experiences and greater engagement involves more than just the customer service area and IT. It must involve the entire organization including the back-end of the business process. The ent...

According to MIT, the biggest challenges to the innovation process include a lack of an innovation culture, fear of change, lack of ownership and vision, inadequate benchmarking and even impatience. Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet or secret formula that can guarantee innovation success. But there are ways to make the odds of success greater. And it is not just new technology or a higher le...

Over three-quarters of consumers said that receiving personalized communications was a key factor in prompting their consideration of a brand, and 78 percent said such content made them more likely to repurchase. But simply putting a name on an email or targeting a sales message based on recent purchases is no longer enough. Financial institutions, and customers, want to engage in a way that exhib...

The increased digitalization of finance has resulted in massive transformations and disruptions across the industry. Opportunities have emerged from these trends like the use of AI to drive personalization, decentralized finance, embedded banking, and increased collaborations between fintech firms and legacy banks. Driven by the increase of consumers with access to more technology, the pace of cha...

Improving the customer experience (CX) is at the foundation of the majority of digital banking transformation efforts. Financial institutions need to deliver a fast, safe, and consistent banking experience in both physical and digital engagements. Delivering a future-ready digital banking experience requires data, analytics, modern technology, and a leadership and cultural paradigm shift that enab...

Open banking has become a major driver of digital transformation across the financial sector, revolutionizing payments, lending, investments, and transactional ecosystems almost overnight. But the full potential of APIs and open banking have yet to be realized. Will 2023 be the watershed year for open finance in the U.S. and globally, or will regulation slow the innovation process? We have Ritesh...

Financial institutions of all sizes must stay focused on providing and improving digital services or they risk getting left behind. The good news is that smaller banks are already experts at relationships and can leverage this expertise and the trust they have earned in a digital world. The questions become where should investments be made and how can a mid-sized bank ‘punch above their weight’ co...

Modern workplace technologies are a primary driver of digital transformation in the banking industry, creating immense opportunities for improved experiences for employees and the customer. With increased competition from fintech and big tech firms, what are the most important workplace technologies that will transform banking services and making banks and credit unions more future-ready? I am exc...

Many banks focus on the technology needed to digitally transform their organization. But technology is only part of the equation. To be successful, leadership must manage internal and external expectations to improve both employee and customer expectations. Being named one of the most powerful women in banking several times, Amy Brady, the CIO of KeyBank, has leveraged her extensive career to buil...

While many digital banking initiatives revolve around making banking easier, that only scratches the surface on how to make digital banking better. Consumers want more than simple transactions … they want personalized solutions. Combining market leading innovation with digital banking transformation, U.S. Bank is working hard to build solutions that can quickly adjust to consumer’s evolving needs...

More than ever, branch networks must be rightsized and optimized. With data and analytics, banks and credit unions can determine the right mix of flagships, self-service locations, and everything in between. The objective is to enhance the organization's brand, creating better banking experiences that strengthen people and communities. My guest on the Banking Transformed podcast is Gina Bleedorn,...

The banking industry is facing an onslaught of competitive pressures — from revenues and profit margins to market share and adoption rates. Banking executives have been forced to reevaluate long held assumptions as they completely rethink their acquisition and growth strategies. What is needed to attract, engage, and expand relationships? How can banks and credit unions rethink their current opera...

Fintech has transformed the financial sector landscape rapidly and has blured the boundaries of both financial firms and the financial sector. This has created opportunities to build more inclusive and efficient financial services and promote economic development worldwide. Countries must embrace the opportunities that fintech firms provide and the potential for collaboration between fintechs and...

As one of the early digital banking leaders, Ally has leveraged product innovation and highly relevant marketing campaigns to drive awareness and growth. Focusing on being an ally to consumers in their financial journey, Ally has tried to differentiate itself from traditional banks and credit unions. Consistency of message and a commitment to incremental product improvements have proven to be a fo...

Marketers and product teams spend heavily on acquiring a customer, only to churn them with a bad first experience. Fraud is becoming an increasing problem with customer experiences, with research finding that payment fraud increased by as much as 70% in 2021. More than ever, we need a new way of looking at fraud prevention, one which deeply inspects user behavior before, during, and after the time...

We continue to see the rise of digital commerce based on customer adoption of innovations like digital wallets, buy now pay later (BNPL), instant payments, and cryptocurrency. It is expected that the payments industry is primed for even more innovation over the next 5 years. The bottom line is investment in payments technology is needed more than ever to enable players to be more agile and future-...

In July of this year, Lindsey Johnson took the helm of the Consumer Bankers Association, replacing Richard Hunt, who had guided the organization for the previous 13 years. This is an important time for the CBA, as economic uncertainty, new legislative initiatives, the introduction of modern technologies, and a redefined structure of the financial services ecosystem are emerging. The challenges and...

Financial institutions must accelerate their use of data and insights to improve customer satisfaction. By harnessing the power of AI-based personalization, banks can deliver the most relevant information, advice, offers and products … at scale and in compliance. It’s time to understand what each customer wants and needs … providing contextual service instantly. It’s also time to democratize data...