Ep 64 - Supercharging Financial Marketing Content with ChatGPT with Ben Udell
Release Date: 07/22/2024
Bank Marketing Show
In this episode, Dan and Chris explore how AI is reshaping the bank marketing world— and what marketing professionals need to do to stay ahead. From prompting effectively in ChatGPT to building efficient workflows and bringing human insight to the table, this episode outlines the skills that will define the next generation of marketing leaders. You’ll hear how to shift from tactical task execution to strategic input, and how banks can stand out in a sea of generic AI content by focusing on what makes them truly different. Key Topics Covered: Why AI won't...
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Ep 87 – Essential Website Strategy Insights with Brent Feldman Many community banks don’t hesitate to invest hundreds of thousands, or even millions, in a new brick and mortar branch—but balk at the cost of a new website. In this episode, we dive into why that mindset needs to change—and what a modern bank website should actually do. Brent Feldman, CEO of Matchbox Design Group, joins us to unpack what makes a website work for banks, how to shift your team's mindset, and the most common traps banks fall into when building or rebuilding their sites. Topics we cover: ...
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Financial education isn't just about blogging — it’s one of the most powerful tools a community bank can use to connect with its audience, build trust, and drive long-term growth. And, it’s one that many customers are requesting – information and education from an institution they already trust. In this episode, Dan and Chris unpack the real “why” behind financial education and dive deep into practical ways banks can use it to boost engagement and loyalty. We discuss: *Why financial education works better than promotional fluff *Real-world delivery formats: blogs, workshops,...
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Turning Stories Into Strategy: Humanizing Your Brand Think you need a massive ad budget to stand out? Think again. This episode is all about how community banks can turn everyday staff and customer stories into powerful, memorable marketing—while keeping spend to a minimum. If your team’s struggling with content ideas, this is your playbook. In this episode, Chris and Dan cover: Why stories beat stock photos every time How to encourage employees to share small, real moments Turning everyday experiences into community trust Mixing personal + professional for maximum impact ...
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Forget billboards and banner ads — this episode is all about unexpected, low-cost, high-impact marketing moves that big banks simply can’t pull off. Chris and Dan share real-life guerrilla marketing campaigns from community banks that sparked attention, built goodwill, and drove serious local engagement. In this episode: What guerrilla marketing is (and why it works for banks) How surprise and delight builds brand loyalty Real examples: food trucks, cookbooks, classroom giveaways & more Ways to turn offline buzz into social media momentum Compliance watch-outs and how to...
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Podcasting isn’t just for influencers anymore—banks are getting in the game. In this episode, Chris and Dan sit down with Caleb Stevens, VP of Marketing at SouthState Bank’s Capital Markets Division and host of the Community Bank Podcast. From demand generation to practical AI use, Caleb breaks down how banks can modernize without losing sight of what really matters. In this episode, we cover: - The rise of podcasting as a bank marketing tool - How digital lead gen is changing—and how demand creation is in ...
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How do you grow your bank’s social media presence without relying on your bank's own profiles? Most banks don't - but in this episode, Chris and Dan explore a different strategy: using your own staff as influencers and brand ambassadors. You’ll learn why employee-led content consistently outperforms corporate posts—and how to turn your team into your most powerful marketing channel. Here’s what we cover: - Why your employees’ social media reach outperforms bank official pages - Creating a culture of brand ambassadorship, not just marketing...
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We’ve met a lot of bank and credit union marketing teams – and we’ve noticed some commonalities among those that see more success in their efforts. In this episode, we talk about the role of a marketing director (or VP, or manager, or any lead marketer at a bank) – and the things we see in our work that are most impactful to personal career growth and organizational success (which are highly correlated!). This episode covers a lot of ground – the essential traits that define top-performing marketing professionals, the importance of building strong internal relationships, and...
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Many community banks are missing out on valuable marketing opportunities. Statistics show that many community banks aren’t currently utilizing cookies, which used to put them at a disadvantage. However, with cookies being increasingly phased out, updating your website pop-ups and refining your other marketing strategies is crucial. While some data will be lost in a cookieless environment, there are ways to continue engaging with customers. In this episode, Chris Bates, Dan Novalis, and Hollie Brown explore what a cookieless future means for community banks. Email marketing is one...
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Regardless of your asset size and marketing bandwidth, budgeting is a challenge. Marketers never have as much as they would like, and those setting the budgets might see it as an expense (hint: it's not! It's an investment!). In this episode Chris and Dan discuss the crucial strategies for effective bank marketing budgeting. They emphasize the importance of digital marketing, the evolving role of bank marketers, and the significance of holding a portion of the budget for unplanned opportunities. Key insights are drawn from the American Bankers Association (ABA) article...
info_outlineGenerative AI, like ChatGPT, can be a helpful tool alongside what you already use at your community bank. But many banks don’t know where to start, or are worried about compliance issues from using it. Banks need to think about how they talk to AI, the rules that guide its use, and what role it plays in their teams.
In this episode, Chris and Dan interview Ben Udell, SVP of Digital Innovation at Lake Ridge Bank, about how he uses Gen AI at his bank and teaches other banks how to get the most out of it.
Topics Include:
● The regulatory and compliance landscape around Gen AI
● How treating Gen AI as a team member, not a replacement, changes how you use it (for the better)
● Creating better prompts for more useful output
● The right way to train ChatGPT on your brand voice
With more than 25 years of financial expertise, Ben Udell, SVP Digital Innovation, is the driving force behind "future proofing" Lake Ridge Bank, a $2.9B community bank in Wisconsin. As a leader in digital innovation, he enjoys working where technology, marketing, and data analytics intersect with consumer financial needs.
He’s a leading banking expert in leveraging practical applications of generative AI and is never afraid to be disruptive went it allows him to find innovative ways to improve the client and associate experience. Recently named one of Bank Beat’s “Rising Starts in Banking”, Ben’s been helping train and consult with other bankers to help them see how AI can transform their organization.
In his free time, he creates content for robotsarepeople.net, an AI and technology focused site, speaks on digital transformation, and writes about the financial industry.”
Resources Mentioned:
● LinkedIn: Ben Udell
● Website: Robotsarepeople.net
● Website: https://bankmarketingshow.com/