The Financial Brand

Forum 2024 breakout speakers and sessions are released! The Financial Brand Forum 2025 will feature dozens of how-to sessions taking a deep dive into a wide range of issues critical to your organization's growth strategy — from disruptive fintech innovations and digital marketing, to CX and generative AI. You'll learn innovative strategies, advanced techniques, and best practices from the brightest minds in banking. These sessions are packed with actionable insights guaranteed to build both your brand and your bottom line. (And keep an eye out — we have more breakout sessions to come!)

Don't miss the banking industry’s premiere networking event. Everyone will be there. Will you? One out of every 11 financial institutions in the U.S will be there. Hundreds have already signed up. Can you really afford to miss the hottest networking and educational conference in the banking industry? Network with the brightest minds in banking: This is your opportunity to rub shoulders, share ideas, and forge invaluable relationships with the most influential and respected leaders in the financial industry. Peer-to-peer networking: Meet with over 2,000 execs from 700+ of the most progressive financial institutions on earth. Two-thirds of attendees work on retail banking's front lines. 65% of attendees are VP-level or higher, and 1 in 4 hail from the C-suite. Discover new opportunities: Looking for new strategic partners? Want to collaborate on an innovative joint venture? Want to expand your team, recruit fresh talent, or maybe take the next step in your own career? The Forum 2025 is the place to be.ne out of every 11 financial institutions in the U.S will be there. Hundreds have already signed up. Can you really afford to miss the hottest networking and educational conference in the banking industry?

Banks face a growing dilemma: combatting surging check fraud without alienating customers who demand seamless experiences. It doesn't help that check fraud is up 90% since 2021 and $21 billion in suspicious activity, leaving financial institutions stuck between a rock and a hard place. Tightening security can mean longer holds and lower limits, but at what cost to customer satisfaction? The solution lies in a delicate balance of technology and strategy. Banks must break down silos, fostering collaboration between marketing, risk, and CX teams. Customer education on fraud risks is crucial, as is leveraging AI and machine learning for personalized risk assessment. David K Donovan Jr of Publicis Sapient highlights the potential: "AI-driven analytics can detect anomalies in real-time, providing faster and more accurate fraud identification than traditional methods." The stakes are high. Recent surveys show 91% of consumers prioritize digital banking security, yet 76% would switch banks for better service. Innovation is key to protecting both the bottom line and the customer experience.

Less than a month before election day, Americans are on edge, with 63% of Americans closely watching the election and 61% believing the outcome will directly impact their wallets. This political-financial tension is only reinforcing unprecedented skittishness that continues to erode customer loyalty. Nearly a third of high-income Boomers would switch banks for better rates – prioritizing this over traditional pain points like fees or branch locations. It's a wake-up call for financial institutions. But the story doesn't end with Boomers. Gen Z is making bold moves, with over half planning significant financial milestones in the next year. From new credit cards to savings accounts, they're reshaping the banking landscape in real-time.

Americans hold over $20 trillion in mortgage debt, putting the housing market at a critical juncture. Rising costs, technological lag and regulatory challenges are reshaping the landscape of homeownership. Banking faces a paradox: skyrocketing demand meets stagnant supply, while outdated systems struggle to keep pace — and Washington doesn't have a lot of levers in terms of housing supply. Enter the rise of non-bank lenders, now originating two-thirds of mortgages, up from 39% in 2008. This shift is driving both opportunity and concern. As the Financial Stability Oversight Council recently highlighted, these new players bring efficiency, but also potential systemic risks. Meanwhile, the fate of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hangs in the balance. Their potential privatization could rewrite the rules of the game.

Wellby Financial understands that our members want more than just transactions from their digital banking experience. That's why we've implemented tools like easy direct deposit connections, integrated credit score monitoring, and identity protection—all accessible within our online banking platform. But we're just getting started! We know that bringing more features into a single app is foundational to helping our members prosper. We're committed to continuously enhancing our digital experience, ensuring that it empowers our members to manage their financial lives with confidence. #FinancialInnovation #DigitalBanking #MemberFirst #Fintech #WellbyFinancial

Across all age groups, from Gen Z to Boomers, the desire for personalized banking experiences is nearly universal. A whopping 74% of consumers want their banks to tailor services to their individual needs. Even more intriguing? 66% are comfortable with their financial institutions using their data to make this happen. However, while digital banking is on the rise (48% log into their banking app daily), the human touch still matters. Take Gen Z, for instance: 65% prefer opening their first account in person. As Jaime Dominguez from Q2 puts it: "Opening the account through a financial institution is difficult for many. Number one, we still use terminologies people do not understand, especially the Gen Z segment." This presents a golden opportunity for banks to simplify processes and provide guidance, whether face-to-face or digitally. With a staggering $72 trillion in assets set to transfer to younger generations in the next two decades, the stakes are high. Banks that can blend digital innovation with personalized, human-centric service will be the ones to watch.

The Galileo Consumer Banking Report reveals a diverse market: Big 4 banks hold 38% of consumers, yet 66% of Gen Z primarily bank with Big 4 or super regional banks. Surprisingly, older millennials and Gen X are the biggest users of online banks. This fragmentation presents a unique opportunity. Is your institution ready to innovate and cater to these diverse demographic preferences?

Paze, the banking industry's own digital wallet, is focused on online shopping this holiday season. By offering a convenient and private alternative to traditional e-commerce checkouts, Paze hopes to solve cart abandonment due to checkout friction. But Paze isn't just about convenience. It's bringing enhanced security to the table by tokenizing payment information, ensuring your data stays safe while you shop with ease. Catherine Murchie, head of operations at Paze, emphasizes the long-term vision: "It's not about specific numbers for us. It's about awareness. It's about the build. It's about the longer term." As we approach the holiday shopping season, Paze is positioning itself as a game-changer in e-commerce. The question is: will it revolutionize how we shop online?

The Federal Reserve's recent 50 basis point rate cut marks the start of a long-awaited easing cycle. What does this mean for banks? While many welcome the potential relief on funding costs, the path forward is far from straightforward. Banks now face critical decisions on CD pricing, non-maturity deposits, Bank Term Funding Program usage, loan repricing, and investment portfolio management. The message is clear: banks must quickly pivot their balance sheet strategies. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan." In this changing rate environment, proactive planning is crucial. "At a minimum, before considering any of the forthcoming strategies in this article, the executive management team must thoroughly comprehend all facets of the models driving decision-making. There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach," writes Darling Consulting Group's Vin Clevenger. Read his full guest post for us here: