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!)

The commercial real estate story of 2024 is shifting from doom-and-gloom headlines to cautious optimism. While challenges persist — particularly in the office sector — many industry leaders are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. "Even though we're at a difficult point in the economic cycle, we are seeing businesses start to act to move toward their business goals versus remaining 'on pause,'" notes Dan Mullinger of PNC, reflecting a growing sentiment across the industry. The narrative is particularly fascinating in the office sector, where location and quality are becoming paramount. As economist Elliot Eisenberg astutely observes, "In the past, you had a nice building to impress your clients. Now you have a nice building to impress your employees." This shift speaks volumes about the evolving nature of workplace dynamics. Despite nearly $1.9 trillion in CRE debt maturing by 2026, market indicators suggest we're turning a corner. The Fed's recent rate decisions are providing much-needed breathing room, and distressed sales remain remarkably low at 3% - a far cry from the 17% seen during the 2010 financial crisis. What's most intriguing? The market's stark contrasts. While some office spaces struggle with record vacancies, others - particularly newer, amenity-rich buildings - are thriving. Meanwhile, sectors like industrial/logistics and affordable housing maintain their stability, pointing to a more nuanced reality than the headlines suggest. Read the full analysis from Matt Doffing on The Financial Brand:

The Galileo Financial Technologies Consumer Banking Report uncovers a paradox: 85% of consumers report positive experiences with their primary financial institution. Yet, these same customers use an average of 2+ key financial tools outside their primary bank. This begs the question: Are you truly your customers' primary financial partner, or just one of many? It's time to bridge the satisfaction-loyalty gap. https://lnkd.in/e_CbZ6fu

Ben Udell, an industry AI savant, has all the tips and tricks for your digital team to get started with AI, from polishing your creating and content generation to building emails and training guides.

Here are the key areas of focus emerging from banking's latest earning calls: • The evolving nature of operational expenses and investments • Shifting patterns in business loan demand • Ongoing challenges in commercial real estate • Strategic approaches to mergers and acquisitions • Changing consumer spending behaviors These topics reveal how banks are adapting to current market conditions and preparing for future challenges. The discussions around these issues offer valuable insights into the broader economic outlook and the future of the banking sector. Read Steve Cocheo's full piece:

When The Clearing House (TCH) launched its Real-Time Payments (RTP) Network in 2017, they embraced the "If you build it, they will come" philosophy. But unlike Kevin Costner's Field of Dreams, the ghosts of payments past didn't materialize as quickly as hoped. Fast forward to early 2023. With FedNow looming on the horizon and RTP usage looking anemic, TCH faced a pivotal moment. "We took a long, hard look at RTP," recalls David Watson, TCH's CEO. "Is it really needed? Should we turn it off? Or do we actually believe in it, and should we double down?" The decision? Double down. This shift from a passive to proactive strategy marked a turning point. TCH began actively seeking out use cases and pain points that RTP could solve. The result? In Watson's words, "Our own volumes have kind of exploded." Today, RTP is approaching 1 million daily transactions and recently celebrated its first $1 billion day. With 735 financial institutions on board, 7 out of 10 U.S. demand deposit accounts can now receive RTP payments. From consumer bill payments to gig worker compensation, RTP is finding its stride.

Join us today on 2pm EST for an exclusive webinar on mastering digital engagement in the financial sector. Andy McKenna, Sr. Director of Conversion Rate Optimization at iQuanti, will share cutting-edge strategies for: • Implementing effective testing frameworks • Optimizing customer journeys • Driving growth while maintaining compliance and trust Learn how to leverage data-driven insights to refine your experimentation processes and enhance digital touchpoints throughout the customer journey. Register now:

Thanks for sharing your excellent insights with us, Miguel. We welcome your guest posts anytime!

BaaS banks partnering with fintechs and middleware providers are finding themselves in a delicate balancing act. On one side, there's the promise of expanded services and customer reach. On the other, a web of regulatory responsibilities that extends far beyond the bank's walls. From initial due diligence to ongoing monitoring, BSA/AML compliance to IT governance, banks must ensure their partners adhere to the same stringent standards they do. As Jason Mikula, Head of Industry Strategy at Taktile, aptly says: "It can quickly become orders of magnitude more complicated to supervise external third parties than if the bank were undertaking such activities by itself."

JPMorgan Chase is doubling down on an unexpected strategy: expanding its physical presence in underserved urban and rural markets. This isn't just about opening branches — it's about creating community hubs. Chase plans to establish over 100 new locations, including full-fledged "Community Center" branches offering financial education alongside traditional banking services. They're also hiring 75 additional community managers by 2030 to spearhead local outreach efforts. "This is not just 'do-gooding,' this is business," Jamie Dimon, Chase's CEO, told the Wall Street Journal. And he might be onto something. Early results from their Harlem flagship suggest this model can successfully attract new accounts and deposits. For Chase, it's a strategic play. It allows them to grow in ways regulators are likely to support, while tapping into underserved markets with significant potential. For community banks, it presents both a challenge and an opportunity to innovate in their approach to local banking. As Gina Bleedorn, CEO of Adrenaline, puts it: "What Chase is doing is what everyone should be doing, in a way. They need to be creating community-oriented centers that are focused on advice and building financial literacy."