The Headache: Sometimes fresh ideas don't come out of your own brain when you need them. And sometimes reading about the victories--and even the mistakes--of others is less painful than learning in the first person. And today's challenges often call for skills new to many bankers.

Our Question: What books have you read lately that helped you and your bank? Have you shared them with colleagues? What did you learn?

Come see what other bankers are reading, and add your own finds

The Headache: Customers, employees, directors, examiners, auditors—everyone seems to be carrying wireless gadgets these days, from smartphones to iPads to Kindle Fires. And they all like internet "hot spots."

Our Question: Should banks provide free public wireless internet access in their lobbies and other facilities?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

The Headache: Money has been tighter this year, and will continue to be. Banks are far from Scrooges, but there's only so much to go around, and often one hears about more organizations needing aid.

Our Question: How has your bank addressed this challenge? And how is your approach working.

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

The Headache: Even in the midst of a recessionary period, competition continues morphing, means of reaching customers and prospects evolve, and even demographics are changing in front of your eyes.

Our Question: How has your bank changed the way, look, or means of its marketing?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

The Headache: Handling asset-liability management proves more challenging than ever for community banks, as they face an unprecedented period of low rates amid increasing economic uncertainty.

Our Question: How has your bank changed its ALCO approach?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

The Headache: The controversial Durbin Amendment went into effect in early October.

Our Question: How are institutions in your market reacting? Has your own bank made any changes?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

The Headache: Recent ABA research indicates that bank customers overall now prefer online banking more than all other channels combined.

Our Question: Does this jibe with your market? And how will it affect your strategic planning for delivering service?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

The Headache: At a recent gathering of community bankers, the issue of the seemingly unstoppable growth in compliance burden dominated discussion after discussion. Bankers shared some solutions they've devised. This is an area where the challenge always seems to outstrip the solution.

Our Question: What new ideas has your bank had for meeting the compliance challenge?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

The Headache: Customers seem to have shorter fuses these days. Aggravation levels are higher. And the stakes for making sure customers are happy have never been higher, especially now that the new Consumer Financial Protectin Bureau has "gone live." 

Our Question: What tips can you offer for helping the irate customer?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

The Headache: Many bankers considering expansion of electronic services have been focusing on Generation Y and other "digital natives." But many older customers—core customers for community banks, especially—are surprising bankers with their interest in online and mobile services.

Our Question: What interest level is your bank seeing in internet and mobile banking from seniors? What are you doing about it? 

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views