Beyond Rates: The 4 Pain Points Financial Institutions Must Solve to Win SMB Accounts
Competition for small and midsize business (SMB) accounts has long centered on pricing—deposit rates, loan rates, and fee structures. But rates alone rarely determine where SMBs bank. Research highlighted in the BAI Banking Outlook points to a growing gap between what small businesses expect and what they experience from their financial institutions. Net promoter scores […]
The Cash Incentive Effect
What Actually Motivates Account Switching Across Generations Cash incentives have become one of the most visible tactics in retail banking. Offers of $200, $300, or even $500 for opening a new account appear regularly in digital ads and direct mail campaigns. These promotions work—but not always in the way financial institutions expect. Research consistently shows […]
Website UX in 2026: A Practical Checklist for Financial Institutions
Summary: This article lays out a practical 2026 UX checklist for bank and credit union websites, focused on building trust and driving conversions through fast, mobile-first performance, clear navigation and content structure, strong security and compliance signals, accessible WCAG 2.2 AA design, solid SEO foundations, and continuous measurement and testing so the site can be […]
Video Banking Trends 2026: What Financial Institutions Need to Know Now
Summary: Video banking is becoming a core channel for banks and credit unions in 2026, combining human connection with digital convenience to boost engagement, satisfaction, and efficiency. Key trends include AI-driven personalization, asynchronous video messaging, embedded video support within digital journeys, expanded use in wealth management, and stronger compliance capabilities through recorded and auditable interactions. […]
Voice of Employee CX: The Insight Source Banks and Credit Unions Are Leaving on the Table
Summary: Banks and credit unions can significantly improve customer experience by treating employee feedback as a core insight source alongside customer data. Frontline staff spot friction in real time, understand root causes inside complex and regulated processes, and often have practical solutions that customers cannot see. The article outlines how to build an effective voice-of-employee […]
Banking CX Trends for 2026
Summary: In 2026, banking customer experience is being reshaped by rising expectations set by digital-first brands, making advanced technologies like AI, biometrics, and embedded finance essential rather than optional. The article outlines key trends financial institutions must prepare for, including hyper-personalization powered by better data and machine learning, banking services embedded into partner platforms, more […]