With so much emphasis placed on customer-facing products and technologies, innovating back-office operations can fall to the bottom of the priority list. ICBA sees things differently. We believe operations is the “engine” that drives every aspect of banking and, ultimately, the bottom line.
Adhering to a “relationships first” philosophy, a partnership between Live Oak Bank and an insurance provider produced a customized, complementary fit that raised the bar on both organizations’ business operations and customer relations.
We live in unprecedented times, filled with new challenges and opportunities for small businesses. Fortunately, community banks have greater access than ever before to advanced solutions and technologies to meet those needs.
An educational nonprofit struggled to find a financial backer for a series of projects to help low- to moderate-income communities. When the need resonated with BankPlus, an unbreakable partnership was formed, with some financially unorthodox and, ultimately, successful outcomes.
When assessing providers, keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all marketing solution. The beauty of innovation is that it comes in all shapes and sizes. Your marketing capabilities must fit your community bank and your customers.
A digital office solutions provider needed critical support with its daily processes in the wake of the pandemic. When major financial institutions proved ineffective, a Georgia community bank stepped up to the plate with its own accessible blend of virtual and tech resources.
ICBA has a growing network of people and resources community banks can tap into as they continue their innovation journeys. The ThinkTECH Accelerator is one of several initiatives underway this year to foster community bank-enabled fintech partnerships.
Banks need to send sensitive documents all the time, but secure email is clunky. Greg Ohlendorf of First Community Bank and Trust worked with a partner to make that hassle a thing of the past.
ICBA has preached the importance of innovation, not as a project or something to silo inside a department but as an inclusive cultural and philosophical endeavor that should be part of an organization’s DNA.
Citizens Bank of Edmond evolves its innovation strategy by working with—and for—its community partners. We spoke to two of its business customers for the first article in a new series.
