

Banking on Digital Growth
James Robert Lay
If you’re part of a financial brand marketing, sales, or leadership team, you know the entire industry is in the midst of exponential change fueled by new technologies. Consumers now make purchase decisions long before they walk into a physical branch location, if they walk into a branch at all, while mobile banks, digital lenders, and fintechs have transformed traditional growth models rooted in legacy broadcast marketing and branch sales strategies.Get ready to gain practical insights, proven ideas, and empowering inspiration as financial brand marketing and sales leaders, along with the leading digital marketing and sales technology firms, share their stories to help you maximize your digital growth potential here on Banking on Digital Growth.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 22, 2024 • 34min
419) Beyond Traffic: Enhancing User Experience on Campaign Landing Pages
Many financial institutions experience limited conversions when running paid traffic to their campaign landing pages. They invest significant ad dollars but fail to capture and convert leads effectively, leading to wasted resources and missed opportunities for loans and deposits.To overcome these obstacles, financial institutions should enhance trust by providing clear information about their identity and reliability, display rate information transparently to align with consumer expectations, and offer easily accessible resources like buying guides to nurture leads effectively.Join us as we discuss:-Secret Shopping Study Insights (01:28)-Transparency in Rates (10:30)-Communication Follow-Up (15:32)You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 16, 2024 • 24min
418) The Digital Growth Blueprint: A Roadmap for Financial Brands
Over 80% of financial brands lack a clear digital growth strategy, leading to confusion and misalignment among marketing, sales, and leadership teams. This results in organizations getting stuck in cycles of chaos and conflict, unable to effectively address core fears related to change and growth.The absence of a well-defined digital strategy exacerbates common fears such as fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of failure, and even fear of success. Join James Robert Lay and Audrey Cannata as they unpack the Digital Growth Blueprint and how one credit union in Texas increased alignment and gained a unified path forward through this roadmap.Join us as we discuss:-Identifying and Addressing Misalignment (09:09) -The Role of Stakeholder Conversations (14:00) -Transforming Go-to-Market Strategies (19:55) You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 15, 2024 • 41min
417) Leadership & Change: Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs
Many financial brand leaders often find themselves questioning their role and value within their organization amidst periods of significant change and transformation. This self-doubt is commonly driven by imposter syndrome and a fear that the value they create may not be recognized or needed by their team or organization.By fostering adaptability and resilience, leaders can transform their self-limiting beliefs, embrace discomfort, and ultimately drive themselves and their organizations toward exponential growth. Join James Robert Lay and Audrey Cannata on this episode of the Digital Leadership series as they emphasize the importance of radical honesty, celebrating victories, and maintaining a growth mindset to navigate and thrive in changing environments.Join us as we discuss:-Embracing Discomfort for Growth (06:52) -Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs (17:38) -The Role of Villains in Transformation (24:19) You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 9, 2024 • 33min
416) The Birth of HUSTL: Digital Banking for Small Business Owners
In this episode of the Digital Growth Journeys series, Rob Hoyle, Chief Information Officer at Vantage West Credit Union, shares the story behind HUSTL, a new digital brand specifically designed for freelancers and small business owners. With features like custom project folders, seamless expense tracking, and dedicated customer support, HUSTL helps these entrepreneurs manage their finances more efficiently. The service extends beyond digital capabilities by engaging with the community through in-person events and collaborations, thereby building a stronger affinity with its usersJoin us as we discuss:-Challenges and Lessons in Starting from Scratch (03:29) -Targeting the Freelancer Market (05:13) -The Importance of Affinity and Community (14:40)You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 8, 2024 • 28min
415) The Cost of Internal Misalignment: Benchmarking Your Website
Internal misalignment could be costing your bank or credit union millions of dollars. Many financial brands, while confident about their service and experience, may actually be failing to align their internal messaging and strategies. In this episode of the Practical Perspectives series, we’ll discuss a real-world example of a financial institution struggling with inconsistencies in their product positioning, resulting in missed opportunities and customer confusion. We’ll share the importance of having a unified internal communication strategy and firsthand experiences with both their own financial brand’s services and as well as their competitors' offerings.Join us as we Discuss:-The Importance of Unique Product Positioning (06:21)-The Power of Perspective and Expertise (17:19) -Benchmarking for Better Alignment (21:43)You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 2, 2024 • 47min
414) The Psychology of Money: Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
Despite having access to financial education, the mass majority of people still experience financial stress and anxiety, while struggling with the emotional and behavioral aspects of money management.This financial insecurity is exacerbated by comparison culture and the constant move of goalposts, leading to a sense of inadequacy and perpetual dissatisfaction. Even high-achieving individuals fall into the trap of not recognizing their progress and feeling stuck. Misconceptions about financial success being solely related to income level further complicate the issue, fostering a sense of hopelessness among those with modest earnings.In this episode of the Behind the Cover series, Audrey Cannata joins James Robert Lay to dive into the Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel. They discuss shifting focus from pure financial literacy to integrating emotional and behavioral insights into financial coaching. By addressing underlying beliefs and behaviors, financial brands can better support their account holders, encouraging small, sustainable steps towards financial confidence and long-term wellbeing. Join us as we discuss:-Behavioral Aspects of Money (05:24) -Comparison Culture and Social Media (13:19) -Setting and Achieving Financial Goals (16:19) You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jul 1, 2024 • 38min
413) Boosting Loans and Deposits with Data-Driven Insights
Carlo Cardili, COO at Alpha Rank, discusses leveraging big data and thick data to understand consumer behavior, simplify application processes, and re-engage abandoned applications in the financial sector.

Jun 25, 2024 • 39min
412) Mind, Body, Wallet: The Interconnected Path to Financial Well-being
The commonly held belief that financial well-being is the starting point for achieving overall life satisfaction is misguided. Despite the increased focus on financial literacy and education, financial stress and anxiety are at an all-time high, with many people failing to achieve true financial stability.The path to true financial well-being begins with mastering one's physical and mental health. Through personal stories and philosophical insights, James Robert Lay and Audrey Cannata emphasize that by improving physical fitness and mental resilience, individuals can create a strong foundation for financial stability. They share practical advice, such as integrating physical activity into daily routines and leveraging Stoic philosophies for long-term mental and financial health.Join us as we discuss:-The Five Levels of Wealth and Wellbeing (04:27) -The Role of Emotions in Financial Decisions (07:33) -The Interconnectedness of Physical, Mental, and Financial Health (16:46) You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jun 24, 2024 • 45min
411) Expert Panel Insights: Challenges and Opportunities for Banks and Credit Unions
This panel discussion at the CuneXus Symposium addresses key challenges faced by credit unions, such as achieving positive loan growth, fostering loyalty, differentiating lending products, enhancing member experiences, preventing fraud in digital account openings, managing liquidity, expanding digital presence, and adapting to post-COVID member expectations.Join us as we discuss:-Audience Engagement and Mindset Shifts (05:12) -Navigating Digital Transformation (09:58) -Opportunities and Future Growth (13:59) You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jun 18, 2024 • 51min
410) Seeds of Trust: Nurturing Growth in the Age of AI for Banks and Credit Unions
Discover why EQ plus AQ surpasses IQ and how emotional intelligence can drive your financial brand's growth, just as it has for iconic brands like John Deere since the late 1800s.In this episode of the Practical Perspective series, we will revisit the basics of sowing seeds of trust and nurturing human relationships, essential for guiding both your organization and account holders through complex times. Additionally, we'll explore the science-backed power of positivity, introducing a simple framework to plant and nurture innovative ideas within your team.Join us as we discuss:-The Financial Stress Epidemic (09:09) -The Power of Content and Storytelling (25:26) -Navigating Change and Embracing AI (37:22)You can find this episode and many more by subscribing to Banking on Digital Growth on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or here. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.