The Headache: Traditional banking industry's image has been battered during the financial crisis and the deliberations over the Dodd-Frank Act.

Our Question: What steps has your bank taken among employees, the public, and local media to emphasize the benefits that traditional banks bring to their markets, communities, and customers?

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

What are you doing to rebuild the banking industry's reputation?
 
In his inaugural speech during ABA's Annual Convention in Boston, new ABA Chairman Steve Wilson announced that his goal as chairman will be "to restore pride throughout the banking industry—and to restore our damaged reputation."
 
Wilson put the challenge in a nutshell: "We have been made the villain in the name of regulatory reform. The national media have not taken the time to understand who we are and what we really do for our community."
 
In his speech, Wilson outlined steps that ABA will take at the national level. But he also reminded bankers that the image battle is one that must be won at the local level.
 
The new chairman called on bankers to do three things to help, in their own communities:
 
• Employees. "Make plans to meet with every employee, talk to them about your bank, about the community and their role in helping make things better."
 
• Local media. "Set up meetings with the reporters for the newspapers, radio, and TV stations that cover your area. Talk to them about your traditional banks. Get to know them and let them get to know that you are their go-to person when banking news breaks. Make certain they know how to reach you day and night."
 
• Community outreach. "Reach out to the service and business groups in your town and volunteer to speak to their members about what needs to be done to create jobs in your community, and the role your bank can play."
 
Wilson stressed the need for unity in this effort, and made a pledge: "For my part, I will personally write or call the CEO of any bank running negative ads against other banks and ask them to stop."
 

Read more about Wilson's speech
 
Read Wilson's speech in its entirety

New ABA Chairman Steve Wilson called on bankers to work to restore the industry’s image, taking the effort to the community level. He donned a special button proclaiming “Proud to be a banker,” and pledged to personally contact any bank that runs negative advertisements about other banks. On the right, a closeup of the new association button.

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