HOW ARE YOU HANDLING TIME PRESSURES ON YOUR BOARD?

scocheo — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The Headache: Bank boards are busier than ever, more is expected of them, and this is only going to get tougher.

Our Question: What is your bank doing to streamline things in the boardroom?

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

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How is your bank handling the crunch on the board?

Bank directors have been busier for [...]

HOW DO YOU FIGHT PROCRASTINATION?

scocheo — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The Headache: There is more to do for bankers than there is time to do it. And yet procrastination, the thief of time, raises its ugly head.

Our Question: How do you personally avoid procrastination? How do you keep it from infecting your staff?

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

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How do you fight procrastination?

&q [...]

HOW ARE YOU IMPROVING BANK OR PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY?

scocheo — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The Headache: Today's economics demand squeezing ever more productivity from yourself and from your bank's staff.

Our Question: What are you doing to improve productivity and efficiency?

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

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How are you improving your own productivity? How are you improving th [...]

HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THE SUNSET OF 'TAG'--THE TRANSACTION ACCOUNT GUARANTEE PROGRAM?

scocheo — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Headache: FDIC'S TAG Program--Transaction Account Guarantee--sunsets at yearend, as Congress did not extend it.

Our Question: Will your bank change strategy at all in deposit gathering or working with small businesses in 2013 as a result? Now that TAG is history, will banks in your market begin paying interest on business checking accounts to hold onto funds? Overall, what is your strategy handling the end of TAG?

HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THE STAFFING CHALLENGE?

scocheo — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 01:00:00 +0100

The Headache: With many banks facing lower revenues and the costs of many factors of running a bank heading up, some tough decisions have to be made these days. Often it's hard, but some banks come out the other side of the process with improved outlooks.

Our Question: How has your bank reorganized its staff or revamped its approach to staffing?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your ow [...]

WHAT IS YOUR BANK DOING TO RAISE MORE REVENUE?

scocheo — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 01:00:00 +0100

The Headache: Many banks face increasing financial pressures these days. Traditional activities aren't as profitable as they once were.

Our Question: What steps has your bank explored in repricing and otherwise rethinking bank service fee philosophy?

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

Part 1: What is your bank doing to rebuild profitability?

Banks face finan [...]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO KEEP EMPLOYEES MOTIVATED?

scocheo — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 01:00:00 +0100

The Headache: It's more demanding than ever on bankers. Smaller staffs, increasing regulation, a tougher business environment. It's harder to keep one's chin up and a smile on one's face.

Our Question: What new steps has your bank tried lately to perk up the workforce?

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

What has your bank been trying to keep your people motivated? [...]

WHAT QUOTATIONS, MOTTOES, ETC., DO YOU KEEP BY YOUR DESK?

scocheo — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:00:00 +0100

The Headache: The demands of the banker's day just keep growing. Life is busy on all fronts and you have to take care of your customers, be they the public or, for those on support staff, your fellow bankers. It can be tough to keep your chin up, your shoulder to wheel, and all that. It helps to have reminders of good advice, good attitude, good ideas.

Our Question: What advice, quotations, slogans, or other helpful messages do you keep on your desk [...]

HAS YOUR BANK TRIED STRESS TESTING?

scocheo — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 01:00:00 +0100

The Headache: Regulators made it clear that stress testing as required for banks over $10 billion under Dodd-Frank is not required for community banks. But community banks face many financial challenges today--rate risk, loan risk, and even liquidity risk, over the horizon. Vendors, including one endorsed by ABA, offer stress testing to community banks.

Our Question: Has your bank tried stress testing on its own? Is it worth the time and expense? [...]

WHEN TECHNOLOGY IS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION

arovira — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:00:00 +0100

The Headache: Technology shines like a beacon of hope, but sometimes technology disappoints. Sometimes it lets you down. And sometimes it just plain drives you nuts!

Our Question: How can a bank get what it needs out of technology, without the ulcers?

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

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When technology is the headache, rather than [...]

HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY BANK RELEVANT?

scocheo — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:00:00 +0100

The Headache: There's a huge amount of noise, evolution, change--call it what you will--going on out there in financial services. One community banker recently said he was sure there were competitive factors he wasn't even aware of, the way things are changing.

Our Question: How can a community bank ensure that it remains relevant to its customers and its community?

Come see what other bankers think, and a [...]

HOW DO YOU THINK 'OUT OF THE BANKING BOX'?

scocheo — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:00:00 +0100

The Headache: Bankers frequently steep in their own business thinking. They talk to other bankers, read banking publications, and attend banking conferences. Banking, banking, banking.

Our Question: Where do you go to seek out fresh ideas, so you can think "out of the banking box"?

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

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Where do you g [...]

WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU READ LATELY THAT HAVE HELPED?

scocheo — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0100

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 w [...]

BRANCHES AS 'HOT SPOTS': SHOULD YOUR BANK OFFER FREE PUBLIC WIFI?

scocheo — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0100

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 [...]

HOW IS YOUR BANK HANDLING CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THESE DAYS?

scocheo — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0100

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

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Charitable contribut [...]

HAS YOUR BANK TAKEN A FRESH LOOK AT ITS MARKETING EFFORTS?

scocheo — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0100

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

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What is your bank doing about marke [...]

HOW IS YOUR BANK DEALING WITH ALCO SHIFTS?

scocheo — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0100

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

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[...]

HOW IS YOUR BANK HANDLING THE DURBIN AMENDMENT SEA CHANGE?

scocheo — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:00:00 +0100

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

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How is the Durbin Amendment playing in your markets? Wha [...]

HOW DO YOU MEET CONSUMER BANKING CHANNEL PREFERENCES?

scocheo — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:00:00 +0100

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

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H [...]

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE COMPLIANCE FLOOD?

scocheo — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:00:00 +0100

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 [...]

Blog Entries tagged 'Pass the Aspirin The Blog'

HOW ARE YOU HANDLING TIME PRESSURES ON YOUR BOARD?

HOW DO YOU FIGHT PROCRASTINATION?

HOW ARE YOU IMPROVING BANK OR PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY?

HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THE SUNSET OF 'TAG'--THE TRANSACTION ACCOUNT GUARANTEE PROGRAM?

HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THE STAFFING CHALLENGE?

WHAT IS YOUR BANK DOING TO RAISE MORE REVENUE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO KEEP EMPLOYEES MOTIVATED?

WHAT QUOTATIONS, MOTTOES, ETC., DO YOU KEEP BY YOUR DESK?

HAS YOUR BANK TRIED STRESS TESTING?

WHEN TECHNOLOGY IS THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION

HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY BANK RELEVANT?

HOW DO YOU THINK 'OUT OF THE BANKING BOX'?

WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU READ LATELY THAT HAVE HELPED?

BRANCHES AS 'HOT SPOTS': SHOULD YOUR BANK OFFER FREE PUBLIC WIFI?

HOW IS YOUR BANK HANDLING CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THESE DAYS?

HAS YOUR BANK TAKEN A FRESH LOOK AT ITS MARKETING EFFORTS?

HOW IS YOUR BANK DEALING WITH ALCO SHIFTS?

HOW IS YOUR BANK HANDLING THE DURBIN AMENDMENT SEA CHANGE?

HOW DO YOU MEET CONSUMER BANKING CHANNEL PREFERENCES?

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE COMPLIANCE FLOOD?