BAI Online
Deborah L. Bianucci
President and CEO, BAI |
Community of Bankers
As the ideas of community and collaboration increasingly engage society at large (as seen in the Facebook phenomenon, for example), financial services is moving in that direction, too. Companies such as Prosper Marketplace and Zopa.com are bypassing traditional banks with new models to build communities of lenders and borrowers. Marketocracy.com has created mutual funds around the best ideas of individual investors. The changes are rapidly happening right before our eyes, even in this challenging economic environment.
The connecting thread in these efforts is collaboration and the free sharing of information. We at BAI believe this trend will ultimately transform our industry for the better and we intend to participate by helping develop a community of bankers in the wake of our recent Mavericks in Banking event.
One has only to look at the turmoil sweeping our industry to realize that now, more than ever, financial services requires people who can think outside the box. Maverick Bankers need new and different ways to exchange ideas and experiences. BAI will provide that opportunity in several venues, including: online blogs and moderated chats; on-demand content and resources to address topics and challenges identified by the Maverick community; and onsite networking opportunities at the upcoming BAI Retail Delivery Conference and Expo.
Great trees can grow from small seeds. At BAI, we intend to do our part to cultivate and nourish the growth of new ideas, giving bankers new opportunities to experience the many aspects of the online world.
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