Blog: insight & Information
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Attracting the Next Generation of Banking Customers
The financial services landscape is evolving rapidly, and so are customer expectations. Millennials, Gen Z, and even Gen Alpha are reshaping how banks and credit unions must think about their role in the marketplace. These younger generations are digital natives who approach financial decisions much like retail purchases; they want speed, convenience, and personalization. And…
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Flexibility Fuels Branch Transformation
Many new employees ask what hours they are expected to work. The answer is simple. Work when your body and brain are at their best and get your job done. This policy not only builds trust but has never failed. When treated like adults, teams show up as adults. As Standard Chartered CEO, Bill Winters,…
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Eight Reminders for High-Performance Teams in Retail Banking
Leadership in the banking and credit union world is never easy. The stakes are high, the regulatory environment shifts, and customer/member expectations are rising. Over time, many leadership teams struggle not because they lack talent or good intent, but because the leader overlooks fundamental truths about building and sustaining culture, accountability, and trust. Below are…
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EVOLVE 2026
Evolve – The Future of Retail Banking Conference is the essential event for anyone in the financial industry looking to keep ahead of trends in 2026 and beyond. With fresh branding and a robust program of innovation, Evolve, hosted by FSI, gathers banking and credit union professionals nationwide for insight, strategy, and connection over three…
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Vision is the Overlooked KPI
As leaders, we’re taught to obsess over revenue, headcount, and the bottom line. While those numbers matter, they aren’t the critical measure of whether we’re actually leading. Working alongside some of the best and brightest bank and credit union leaders in the nation, I’ve come to realize that vision is the overlooked KPI. Ask yourself,…
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Leadership Through Accountability
As leaders, we often focus on metrics like revenue, headcount, and profit margins. While these are important, they don’t always reflect the true measure of our leadership. Steven Covey shares that “accountability breeds response-ability.” In my experience, especially in the dynamic environments of retail banking and design-build projects, the real indicator of effective leadership is…
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Leadership by Listening
I recently stopped by a job site just during the installation phase of a new branch project. The electrician mentioned a change in the layout that hadn’t made it to the construction drawings. It was a passing comment, nothing formal. But it would have caused a serious delay if we hadn’t caught it at that…
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Teamwork is a Competitive Advantage Your Branch Can’t Afford to Ignore
In today’s fast-evolving financial landscape, digital technology, regulation, and client expectations are reshaping the way banks and credit unions do business. Amid all this change, however, one principle remains timeless and more critical than ever…teamwork. Financial Institutions that invest in a collaborative culture outperform those that don’t. Their employees solve problems faster, provide better customer/member…
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Origins of Branch Design Inspiration
Branch Design inspiration can come from anywhere and often does. From the natural curve of two arching tree branches to the intricate shadows cast by late afternoon sun through a lattice, designers are constantly absorbing visual, emotional, and spatial cues from the world around them. A fleeting thought before sleep, a photo glimpsed online, or…
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Strengthening Trust and Community Through Branch Presence
In the evolving financial landscape along with increasing digital banking resources available, physical branches remain powerful symbols of a bank or credit union’s dedication to the community. Physical branches are still critical to strengthening trust and community. A recent report by Q2 Holdings revealed that 61% of credit unions plan to expand branch networks in…
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