Q&A: Open Strategy at Financial Brands
by Audrey Cannata on February 8, 2023
"Open strategy invites minds from outside leadership to be part of the strategic planning process, including frontline staff and account holders.” -James Robert Lay Imagine asking your front desk workers to share their thoughts directly with the CEO. Picture inviting your customers in …
Money and Mental Health: Do Your Customers Need Financial Therapy?
by James Robert Lay on February 1, 2023
“Not only do we not have the skills from not having practiced for our money, we are then conditioned to think every financial conversation has to be negative when it should be the opposite.” -Dr. Megan McCoy
How to Defeat Procrastination (and Eat That Frog!)
by James Robert Lay on January 27, 2023
“The number one reason for procrastination and a lack of motivation is a vagueness or confusion about what it is you’re trying to do.” -Audrey Cannata Have you ever climbed into bed at night and wondered, “What did I even accomplish today?” It’s demoralizing to realize you’re just tre …
Self-Correction: The Secret to Customer-Driven Leadership
by Audrey Cannata on January 27, 2023
“If you are doing customer-driven leadership the right way, it can’t fail because it’s self-correcting.” -Daniel Hammond Most financial brands pride themselves on providing outstanding customer service. Still, the financial industry is one of the least-liked industries in the world. C …
The Behavioral Science Behind Financial Brand Marketing
by Audrey Cannata on January 24, 2023
“All of us rely on decision-making shortcuts. They are ways for us to conserve mental energy because we couldn’t possibly weigh every bit of information before making a decision.” - Nancy Harhut We make snap buying decisions extremely quickly. And all day long. You grab a coffee on th …
Part 2: Are You Thinking Like a Brand, Not a Bank?
by Audrey Cannata on January 17, 2023
“Mission as a product allows you to cast a really important and effective net exactly where you want to cast it.” -Allison Netzer “What if your mission was your product?” Imagine selling your mission as your primary service, rather than just selling your banking services themselves.
Are You Thinking Like a Brand, Not a Bank?
by Audrey Cannata on January 10, 2023
“Brand speaks the language of returns every single time. There's really not a way you can look at it where it doesn't provide a return.” -Allison Netzer Financial institutions struggle with branding. They often focus so narrowly on being a good bank that they forget how to be a good b …
How Financial Brands Can Bridge the Emotional Gap in Customer Loyalty
by Audrey Cannata on December 15, 2022
“Too many banks still look at their customers as account holders rather than people who have emotional expectations in their relationship with different brands.” -Marc Whitehead Imagine that you need help from your bank today. The first thing they’ll say to you is something like, “Let …
The One-Number Budget: Ending the Silent Epidemic of Financial Stress
by Audrey Cannata on November 29, 2022
“The discussion has to start with a lifetime perspective. What are they really working toward? What are they trying to accomplish?” -John Crane Let’s face it: Most Americans have an unhealthy relationship with money. Budgeting makes them feel stressed out and hopeless about ever reach …
Opening Your Mind to Open Data, Open Banking, and Open Finance
by Audrey Cannata on November 29, 2022
“Data is a proxy for money. You don't have a pile of money to bank anymore. All you have is ones and zeros…The idea of open banking, open data, is just the idea that people should be able to access and share that data wherever they want.” -Jane Barratt Anyone who works in banking or f …