It’s a tough time for community banks to raise capital–and the regulators aren’t making it any easier.

Amid uncertainties about the national economy, bankers are seeking to balance improved service with cost-effectiveness in their branch networks.

When a bank needs to improve risk management systems and IT is absorbed with other priorities, risk managers need to look at intelligent decision automation.

Banks located in earthquake-prone zones stress the importance of a multi-pronged disaster recovery plan that is continually updated and communicated throughout the organization.

Developing primary relationships requires more than customer incentives and new product features. For many banks, the key is improved customer onboarding.

Transforming the customer experience from unremarkable to sensational requires ascertaining the customer’s true needs.

To regain the trust of their customers, small business bankers need to go beyond lending and redefine the offer to include some form of advisory services.

Banking mavericks help design and implement products to meet the real needs of customers.

To help consumers avoid a repeat of the recent financial crisis, banks need to do more to help improve financial literacy.

A changing customer base will require new forms of bank branch networks in the future, with the emphasis on smaller and more specialized facilities.

Consultant Kevin Hoffberg says building a high-performing sales culture in banking requires athletic-like focus and determination.

Turning managers into sales coaches is the key to effective sales performance on the branch frontline.

Effective risk oversight on a national and global scale requires a government-sponsored but non-regulatory organization.

To avoid damaging good customer relationships because of credit issues, financial institutions need to take a more proactive approach to handling delinquencies.

Many banks recoil at the notion of giving up control of their ATM networks, but cost and value considerations make it worth considering.

Post-financial crisis, banks will need to improve their performance in four key areas to restore lost revenue growth.

In the wake of the financial crisis, helping customers in their time of need may be the key to competitive advantage and stability for the future.

As lenders fight for growth through market share gains, the competitive emphasis will tilt from pushing products to cultivating fuller customer relationships.

Although banks have identified small businesses as a priority segment, most have failed to build the online product capability that these customers need.

As consumers fret about the future and seek safety for their funds, banks are actually seeing deposit balances increase even when they lower their interest rates.