Banking on Digital Growth

Financial brands are becoming self-aware of their need to embrace digital, but a vast majority of them still feel they’re falling behind. Craig McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer at Finalytics.ai, feels they missed a golden opportunity during the pandemic by failing to ready themselves for digital transformation. The data they need to reach the next stage of digital growth is right at their fingertips; they simply need to leverage it. Join us as we discuss: - Findings from Finalytics’ 2022 Credit Union Digital Maturity Index Report (1:46) - Opportunities to empower change and align culture (15:46) - Bridging the knowledge gap with training and education (26:38) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Craig McLaughlin - Finalytics.ai 2022 Credit Union Digital Maturity Index Report You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A lot of banks are trying to catch every fish in the ocean. But you don’t need to hook every potential customer in your market - only the ones who benefit from your expertise. In this episode of our Inside Digital Growth series, I answer your questions about niche banking. Banks and credit unions have the potential to build niche portfolios that will help common people with their common problems. They simply need to transform their thinking. Join us as we discuss: - Growth opportunities and finding a viable niche market (3:58) - Rejecting legacy rebranding in favor of transformation (11:34) - Technology as a coaching tool for establishing a niche (16:23) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Text your questions to James Robert at 415-579-3002 - James Robert Lay You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Financial brands will often try to cure a hemorrhage in sales with a marketing bandage. But my guest, Bo McDonald, the president and CEO of Your Marketing Co., believes that FIs are neglecting to dig deeper to discover the root of their problems. He argues that fear and lack of commitment have made marketing teams a convenient scapegoat when times get tough - yet that is exactly when businesses should be pushing their brands. Join us as we discuss: - (6:24) Asking questions to determine why a marketing problem needs solving - (9:30) Overcoming fear of failure through perspective - (19:20) Discerning between passion and commitment to a call to action Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Email bo@yourmarketingco.com Twitter @ymcBO   You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Millions of Americans are drowning in student loan debt. With repayments resuming post-COVID, many borrowers are desperate to find a way to keep their heads above water. My guest, Bobby Matson, founder and CEO of PayItOff, contends that a lack of clarity is the number one culprit hindering people from escaping the student debt abyss. While several opportunities for repayment assistance exist, a complex system has become its own worst enemy. Bobby believes that most borrowers can regain their financial footing - they just need a guiding hand to show them how. Join us as we discuss: - Common roadblocks preventing borrowers from moving forward [3:12] - Opportunities for the workplace to assist indebted employees [13:53] - Steps servicers can take to help relieve their constituents’ financial stress [23:41] Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - bobby@payitoff.io - @bomatson You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Since our pilot episode two years ago, the world has undergone incredible changes. Yet, we at the Digital Growth Institute remain invested in educating and empowering people burdened by financial stress. We have had the privilege of gathering positive deposits from the most brilliant minds in our industry. More importantly, our guests share our vision of helping first and selling second - because healthy communities reflect financial institutions that put service above selfishness. Please join me, James Robert Lay, as I reflect on our transformation journey by revisiting eight memorable exchanges with people using their gifts to help elevate their peers by building personal brands in the banking space. As always, I encourage you to connect with these remarkable men and women as you continue your digital growth journey. As always, I encourage you to connect with these remarkable men and women as you continue your digital growth journey. Only together can we bank on a future worth living in. Join us as we discuss: Taking a proactive stance in relationship building while continuing to market [9:40] What we can learn from Gary Vaynerchuk in creating our own personal brands — even when working in a regulated industry [17:05] How to start building your personal brand even when the listeners and viewers aren’t showing up. [20:08]    Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Paul Long paultlong.com/ Natalie Bartholomew Thegirlbanker.com Greg Martin Theentrepreneursbanker.com Jennifer Beeston Jennifer Beeston (Youtube) Doug Wilber Jay Palter Kerry-Ann Betton Stimpson The Internal Marketing Podcast Eric Cook   You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

We grow personally and professionally through learning, and what better way to self-educate than through books. In the first episode of our Behind the Cover series, I’m joined by my friend and colleague Audrey Cannata, Operations Lead at the Digital Growth Institute, to talk about The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, and Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier. We break down this masterwork that guides leaders in helping their constituents reach the next level so they can embolden others through their transformation journey. Join us as we discuss: - (3:11) Some of the common misconceptions about professional coaching - (7:55) Challenges to building a culture around coaching - (14:53) Seven questions everyone should ask during the coaching process Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Audrey Cannata - The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, and Change the Way You Lead Forever - Michael Bungay Stanier You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What makes your financial institution special? Simply adopting digital concepts in an analog world isn’t enough to stand out in the FinTech crowd. You have to blaze new trails to be unique in the digital world. My guest, Jason Henrichs, CEO at Alloy Labs Alliance, shares why he believes many banks aren’t doing enough to differentiate themselves in their pursuit of banking as a service - and gives some examples of a few who are! Jason also elaborates on the experience he and his team had innovating their new digital banking platform - CHUCK. Join us as we discuss: - Why FIs need to separate themselves from the pack with their digital offerings [4:15] - How human connectivity ties into digital growth [9:16] - The significance of fundamental partnerships with account holders [20:15] Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Alloylabs.com - @jasonhenrichs - Breaking Banks You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A strong financial institution is reflected by a healthy community. By investing in their constituents, FIs can reap sustainable, exponential growth. But as digital banking evolves, so has the definition of ‘community.’ My guest, Jeff Marisco, president of The Kafafian Group, Inc., elaborates on several points from his latest book, Squared Away, in breaking down why he thinks communities as an entity are one of the most important stakeholders in banks. We also cover some of the challenges to grooming success in a remotely digital world. Join us as we discuss: - Community banks embracing niche branding to empower their consumers [6:00] - How FIs balance the needs of ‘the four stakeholders’ [8:59] - The challenge of building a strong culture in the remote workplace and why accountability has been misappropriated as a negative asset [28:06] Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - The Kafafian Group - Personal Blog at jeff4banks.com - Author Website at jeffmarsico.com You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Who do you see when you look in the mirror? Does the world see that same person? Your peers’ perception of you is everything. So, why do some people drag their feet in building their personal brands? In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Lacy, SVP of Marketing at Seismic, to talk about the perks of crafting a positive persona for the masses. A co-author of the book Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself, Kyle lays the groundwork for you to trademark your winning brand. Join us as we discuss: - How personal branding is different from self-promotion [3:18] - Some potential roadblocks, such as compliance and content creation [11:10] - How you can start building your brand and reaping the benefits [17:35] Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn - Email Kyle at kylelacy@gmail.com - Follow Kyle on Twitter You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Great institutions are constantly chasing the ultimate customer service experience. Once they’ve reached a threshold of excellence, how do they retain it? That’s one of the great questions that Todd Treadway, Digital Channels Director and Senior Vice President at Provident Bank, had for me in this episode. Todd and I had a wonderful conversation when we met at the Total Expert event Accelerate in Arizona last fall. We took this opportunity to continue the dialogue and catch up on his experience with his firm’s digital growth journey. Join us as we also discuss: The evolution of personalization in customer service [8:00] Defining the customer service experience [11:15] The importance of building trust in approaching referrals [19:30]   Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Email Todd at todd.treadway@provident.bank Todd Treadway Text questions to James Robert Lay at 415-579-3004   You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Banking on Digital Growth in your favorite podcast player.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.