Banking Transformed with Jim Marous

The banking industry had been warned for decades to become more innovative, transform to digital, embrace new technologies and become more aware of consumer and societal needs. Rather than moving forward, many organizations hesitated due to cost, the desire to stay the course, or even ‘intentional blindness’.   Unexpectedly, however, the world was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic that required digital engagement, and more recently a social pandemic centered on racial equality, diversity and inclusion. These events created four seismic shifts in awareness and behavior that are reshaping our understanding of business, society, technology and ourselves.   We are joined today by Nancy Giordano, strategic futurist, founder of PlayBig, Inc. and co-founder of the Femme Futurists Society. In the episode, Nancy discusses how the recent confluence of pandemics have impacted the future of work, our perspective on social inequities, changes in consumption and our understanding of ourselves.

The world is faced with uncertain times caused by the global pandemic combined with demands for increased equality, diversity and inclusion. Beyond empty posturing, the banking industry must make a meaningful difference locally and globally on important social issues.   This includes stronger leadership that looks beyond ethics to also include a moral compass for decisions. It also includes increased sustainable investing, greater employee involvement in social causes, and a change in hiring and advancement practices.   To better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by banks and credit unions, we are joined today by legendary basketball coach, author and inspirational speaker, Mike Jarvis. Using his 25 years as an NCAA coach as a guide, Mike shares his insights into what leaders and organizations must do today to meet the needs of the community.

In the past decade, the marketplace has seen the development of more banking competitors than in the previous hundred years. From solution specific fintech firms like Stripe and Robinhood to digital-first neo banks like Revolut and Monzo, the marketplace has been seen entries of all types and sizes.   But, with COVID-19 impacting the funding availability to fintech firms, is there room for new fintech solutions? More importantly, what will happen to those firms that do not yet have scale?   Today, we are joined by Anthony Thomson, serial entrepreneur and founder of three challenger banks … Metro Bank and Atom Bank in the U.K. and most recently, 86 400 in Australia. Rather than triple down on a single banking concept, each organization from Thomson has been an iteration that mirrors the evolution of consumer banking needs. In the show, Thomson discusses his journey, as well as how fintech firms can survive in a post COVID-19 world.

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted both humanity and business in an instantaneous and dramatic way. But, while each pandemic throughout history has been unique, each has brought about massive changes in the way we live, the priorities we set, how we interact and the businesses that emerge. Survival is a great motivator for change. As a result, pandemics have always led to innovations that have changed our lives.   We have already seen the increased reliance on remote working, contactless commerce, video engagement and new forms of entertainment. We have also seen a disruption across financial services.   Today, we are joined by Richard Turrin, financial technology consultant and best-selling author of the book, ‘Innovation Lab Excellence: Digital Transformation from Within’. With a history as a banker and the head of IBM’s innovation lab in Singapore, Richard explains why COVID-19 will fuel the next wave of innovation in banking.  

Data and advanced analytics are the foundation of every organization. Beyond improving efficiency and understanding business success, the power of data and predictive modeling can improve the understanding of consumer needs and personalize experiences.   Bottom line, the survival of financial organizations in a post COVID-19 world will depend on how insights are collected and how they are used for the consumer’s benefit.   In this episode, we are joined by Ryan Caldwell and Brandon Dewitt, the co-founders of MX Technologies, located right outside Provo Utah. MX works with more than 2,000 organizations to gather, enrich, present, and act on data. Today, we discuss how data and advanced analytics is a matter of survival for financial institutions, consumers and even in their personal lives.

The best and most respected leaders shine the brightest during times of crisis. Not relying on a crisis management plan, the best managers surround themselves with the best people and provide a platform for growth for those within the organization.   As a result, moving to a work from home environment should not disrupt an organization, but simply change the environment from where work is done. In all industries, especially banking, those institutions that have most respected leaders will be the winners.   We are very fortunate to be joined today by Tom Peters, one of the most respected names in business for over 40 years. A management revolutionary, Tom was the coauthor of what many considered to be the best business book ever, ‘In Search of Excellence’. A prolific bestselling author, Peters has written close to 20 books over the years. In today’s episode, Tom shares his insights and what differentiates a great leader during times of massive change.

The financial services industry is known for century-old institutions with rules and policies that are often outdated, yet preserved by regulations. Whether we are talking about banking, insurance or investment services, transformation is often slow and outside competition is met with significant resistance.   This is why it is so exciting to do a profile on a disruptor organization that finds success despite these hurdles. Lemonade is such a company, forming an insurance company that aligns the interests of the carrier with those of the customer, in a way that is economically viable. They have found success using cutting edge technology, a completely different business model and a passion for doing good.   We caught up with Lemonade’s CEO and cofounder Daniel Schreiber for an exclusive interview to find out how artificial intelligence, behavioral economics and a focus on transparency and purpose have been used to disrupt the centuries-old insurance industry.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious challenge to retail banking in almost a century. Retail banks have had to rethink distribution, support government relief programs and manage remote workforces, all while trying to meet consumer expectations during a period of household-level economic uncertainty.   These challenges are only the tip of the iceberg, however, as the economic fallout and the redefined structure of the financial services ecosystem are beginning to emerge. It is clear that the ‘new normal’ in retail banking will be far different than we ever imagined only a few months ago.   We are fortunate to get an exclusive interview with Richard Hunt, president and CEO of the Consumer Bankers Association (CBA). Since his appointment in 2009, Hunt has helped to navigate the banking industry through a period of unprecedented change. In this episode, Hunt provides his perspectives for the future of retail banking during a period of tremendous uncertainty.

According to Malcolm Gladwell, a ‘tipping point’ is the moment of critical mass, when an idea, trend or behavior crosses a threshold and spreads like wildfire. The COVID-19 crisis is an example of such a phenomenon and so has been the instantaneous impact of this crisis on the digital transformation of banking.   Organizations that had not already embraced the entirety of how to become a ‘digital bank’ were caught flat footed as branch doors were closed and customers were required to transact on digital channels. In some cases, accounts couldn't be opened or loan applications taken, In all cases, organizations that had not digitally transformed their operations, products and culture delivered suboptimal customer experiences.   We are fortunate to be joined again by one of the foremost authorities on the future of banking, Chris Skinner. Chris is a prolific blogger and he is joining us today to discuss his newest book, “Doing Digital: Lessons from Leaders”. In this episode, Chris capsulizes interviews he did with several of the leading digital banks in the world, providing a detailed guide for those institutions who are now playing catch up.

In the book, 'Disrupt Yourself', by Whitney Johnson, it is suggested that the disruptions and changes that matter most start with personal disruptions and change. There is no doubt that the COVID-19 crisis has disrupted every person’s life and every organization’s business model.   The crisis has impacted the way we learn, the way we interact, the way we work and the way we think about our personal and corporate priorities. Every step of the way, modern digital technologies have been brought front and center, with the importance of data, advanced analytics and contextualization being shown to be more important than ever.   We are fortunate to be joined today by Tamara McCleary, the CEO of Thulium and a top 10 social media influencer in AI, robotics, digital technology and martech. A globally recognized futurist and keynote speaker, Tamara shares her perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on the technology ecosystem and what consumers will be expecting when this crisis subsides.