Bank Marketing Show

The BANK MARKETING SHOW, the podcast that engages and informs you for success in today's marketplace. It's the show that will make you a better marketer with trends, tactics and inspirations from experts and industry leaders. If you're wanting to impact your personal success and position your company as the best choice in your market, then you're in the right place!

Ep 94 - Sharveen Kumar - How Banks Can Adopt AI While Adding To Their Personal Touch 09/15/2025

Ep 94 - Sharveen Kumar - How Banks Can Adopt AI While Adding To Their Personal Touch There’s lots of hype in the marketplace about how AI is taking over – and while the promise is that AI can help personalize customer experiences at scale, community banks are worried that it will actually make customer service feel more generic and less personal. This week, Chris and Dan talk with Sharveen Kumar, former NVIDIA-backed founder and ex-marketing leader at Amex, about the opportunity for banks to use AI to gain more personal touch with AI. By using AI in the right ways, it takes the mundane, repeatable tasks off your plate and actually creates more opportunities for you to do what you do best: build customer relationships. Main Topics Covered · Personalization is the differentiator: banks have rare, long-term 1:1 relationships—most banks focus on protecting and scaling that edge. · Start with data, not tools: CRM usage, clean legacy data, and connected sources are the foundation for any AI win. · Beware shiny objects: many enterprise AI POCs fail; map processes and decide where AI should (and shouldn’t) play. · Where AI actually helps: automate the 30–40% “one-liner” service requests so teams can focus on deeper conversations. · Practical workflow moves: capture conversation notes, let AI surface opportunities, and free humans for high-value outreach. · Tiered experiences without losing the human touch: segment service levels thoughtfully, then invest saved time into relationship banking. Books Mentioned · On the Road — Jack Kerouac · Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art — James Nestor Guest Bio Sharveen is a former NVIDIA-backed AI startup founder, now pioneering multi-agent solutions for finance and technology enterprises. He previously led marketing at global powerhouses including Singapore Airlines, American Express, LinkedIn, and The Trade Desk. Beyond building companies, Sharveen invests in emerging ventures and mentors the next generation of professionals. Links & Resources Website: Sign up for our newsletter: Contact Chris and Dan: /episode/index/show/04da1040-085f-40ef-ac62-e433248c6bdc/id/38201195

Ep 93 - Use AI to Build a 90-Day Content Calendar (in Real Time!) 09/01/2025

Ep 92 - Justin Stayrook – The Opportunities of AI Beyond LLMs 08/18/2025

Ep 91 - Autumn Jose – Creating Social Stars for Marketing Success 08/04/2025

Ep 90 - The Power of Connection with Neil Stevens (RERUN Ep 38) 07/21/2025

Ep 90 - The Power of Connection with Neil Stevens (RERUN Ep 38) The Power of Connection with Neil Stevens Connection – with your team, your bank, your customers, and your own self - is the key to great leadership and to creating a truly engaged team. It starts at the top. Your bank’s leadership needs to feel confident in and connected with the values, vision, and mission of your institution. When this happens, and you hire people whose personal visions are already aligned with yours, you start building a great company culture, too. In this episode, Dan Novalis, Chris Bates, and Neil Stevens discuss what goes into connected teams. Neil shares his LEAD methodology for creating stronger connections: Love, Equip, Affirm, and Develop others. Being a better and connected leader starts with prioritizing yourself and your emotional and mental health. When you treat yourself right, you can encourage a better performance from your team. Topics Include: ● Why connection is so important for bankers ● How to develop a company culture that makes sense for your organization ● Why you need strong leadership to lead your company culture ● Why leaders need to prioritize themselves and their emotional/mental health ● How to encourage better performance in your team Neil Stevens is an accomplished banker, speaker, community leader, brand strategist, and fitness enthusiast. As President & CEO of Oconee State Bank in Watkinsville, Georgia, his visionary perspective inspires growth, drives direction, and helps clear obstacles for team members to achieve their personal and professional goals. Happiest when surrounded by his family, Neil’s passion is to create a positive impact on others through servant leadership. Resources Mentioned: ● Website: ● The Remarkable Foundation: ● Make Your Remarkable Podcast: ● Book: Love Works by Joel Manby: ● Book: Good to Great by Jim Collins ● Book: The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath ● LinkedIn: ● Email: /episode/index/show/04da1040-085f-40ef-ac62-e433248c6bdc/id/37480340

Ep 89 - AI Starter Kit for Community Bank Marketers 07/07/2025

Ep 88 - Skill Building In The Age of AI 06/23/2025

Ep 87 - Essential Website Strategy Insights with Brent Feldman 06/09/2025

Ep 86 - Banking on Knowledge: How Teaching Builds Trust 05/26/2025

Ep 85 - Turning Stories Into Strategy - Humanize Your Brand 05/12/2025

Ep 84 - Guerrilla Marketing - High-Impact Engagement & Tactics 04/28/2025

Ep 83 - The Future of Community Bank Marketing with Caleb Stevens 04/14/2025

Ep 82 - Building an Army of Brand Ambassadors 03/31/2025

Ep 81 - Traits of a Successful Marketing Director 03/17/2025

Ep 80 - Marketing in a Cookieless Future with Hollie Brown 03/03/2025

Ep 80 - Marketing in a Cookieless Future with Hollie Brown 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 effective strategy that doesn’t rely on cookies, and by using techniques like lookalike marketing, community banks can keep reaching the right audience. They also share other smart strategies to meet your customers. Chris, Dan, and Hollie look at how fintech companies are stepping up to meet these challenges and how community banks can model their marketing strategies after them. They also share easy-to-follow tips on how community banks can use customer data more wisely and show real returns on their marketing efforts. Topics Include: What can we do about a cookieless future Why older generations are less likely to accept cookies and information How to collect more information from your website visitors A comparison between Fintech companies and community banks How a cookieless future will affect the marketing landscape About Hollie Hollie Brown is Vice President of Marketing for Coastal Community Bank. Coastal provides personal and business banking services for Puget Sound, WA customers, and Banking as a Service (BaaS) for fintech partners. At Coastal, Hollie leads marketing strategy, brand and corporation communication, public relations, and digital marketing. Hollie earned a BA in Journalism from Western Washington University, an Executive Development Professional certificate from the Washington Bankers Association, a certificate in Bank Marketing from the American Bankers Association, and she is a Certified Financial Management Professional from the American Bankers Association. She is currently enrolled in Pacific Coast Banking School. Before joining Coastal, she was the Regional Marketing Manager for Moss Adams LLP in Seattle and the Vice President and Director of Marketing for Peoples Bank in Bellingham, WA. Resources Mentioned: Website: LinkedIn: Website: : bankmarketingminute.com /episode/index/show/04da1040-085f-40ef-ac62-e433248c6bdc/id/35427305

Ep 79 - How Much Should You Spend on Marketing 02/17/2025

Ep 78 - Good Marketing Starts With Culture 02/03/2025

Ep 77 The Essentials and Benefits of Brand Messaging with Erin Fults 01/20/2025

Ep 77 The Essentials and Benefits of Brand Messaging with Erin Fults With over 5,000 community banks and credit unions in the US, your brand is the only thing that differentiates you in your community and online. “Brand messaging” is the collection of words, imagery, and stories that you use to explain the value your community bank brings to customers. It’s not enough to say that your bank is “better” at something than others—better is unclear and doesn’t help you stand out. Instead, your brand message should answer important questions: What makes your bank different? What problems do you solve that other banks don’t? A strong brand message helps you connect with your audience and clearly show why they should choose you. In this episode, Chris Bates, Dan Novalis, and Erin Fults discuss community banks' challenges when building a brand message as a team. Your message isn’t just about telling customers what you do—it’s about inviting them into a story they want to be part of. Erin talks about the seven key points that help you create a unique and powerful message and how those points can make a big difference to your bank over time. By the end of this episode, you’ll see how a strong brand message can help your community bank stand out in the competitive market. Topics Include: ● Why brand messaging is important for community financial institutions ● The challenge in crafting a brand message as a community banking team ● The process of crafting a brand message ● How to use the seven key messaging points to create unique, compelling brand messages ● The benefit of having an external brand messaging expert ● The current challenges facing community banks About Erin Fults Erin Fults is a messaging strategist and communications coach. She helps companies develop a clear way to articulate the value they deliver in the marketplace, align their team around that message, and then coach them to implement it in their marketing and sales to attract and close more of the right customers. Erin’s background includes over 15 years of experience as a small business owner, where she earned her "street MBA" along with certifications as a StoryBrand Certified Guide and They Ask You Answer Coach. A teacher at heart, she also speaks and facilitates workshops nationwide. She and her husband have three children and live in central Mississippi. Resources Mentioned: LinkedIn: Website: : bankmarketingminute.com Website: : bankmarketingshow.com /episode/index/show/04da1040-085f-40ef-ac62-e433248c6bdc/id/34592875

Ep 76 - The Power of Local - Banking in the Community 01/06/2025

Ep 75 - Personalized Banking - Driving Engagement in a Digital World 12/23/2024

Ep 74 - Building a Bank's Brand That Lasts 12/09/2024

Ep 73 - The Great Brand Refresh Tale of A Community Bank with Dave Peters and Marty Heger 11/25/2024

Ep 73 - The Great Brand Refresh Tale of A Community Bank with Dave Peters and Marty Heger It’s time to rebrand your community bank. Where do you start? Rebranding a community bank involves a simple four-step process: identifying the problem, taking time to plan, checking your resources, and then acting on your plan. First, it’s about recognizing that something isn’t working. Many banks face issues like dropping deposits and having a smaller credit pipeline. While these banks are trusted locally, they might struggle to reach younger audiences or keep up digitally. This isn’t just about offering competitive rates but making real improvements to stay valuable and relevant to the community. In this episode, Chris Bates, Dan Novalis, Dave Peters, and Marty Heger discuss the four steps to rebranding. The next step is to pause and plan, often with a consultant who understands the industry and can offer a fresh view. This planning stage is all about defining the bank’s brand message, creating a guide for brand voice, and deciding on important and doable changes. Some actions, like updating signage and the website, may take more effort but have a big impact. Smaller updates, like changing email signatures, require less work but still boost brand consistency. Successful rebranding needs everyone involved, from leadership to every staff member, and careful progress tracking. By following these steps, banks can align internally and make a stronger connection with their communities. Topics Include: The four-step narrative to a rebrand Who do you serve uniquely well Why a community bank’s rebrand needs to be an entire staff effort, not just the CEO How to deliver a brand refresh Why you have to schedule/block out time to work on your rebrand About Marty Heger Martin “Marty” Heger, Jr., is the President and CEO of Dearborn Federal Savings Bank, a true community bank that has served Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and the surrounding communities since 1936. Marty joined the Bank in 2002 as its Chief Lending Officer, where he was responsible for all aspects of residential and commercial lending. In 2022, Marty assumed the role of President and CEO. He is responsible for all Bank operations and reports directly to the Office of the Chairman. Marty graduated from The University of Michigan with an A.B. degree in Economics and earned an M.B.A. with a Finance concentration from Wayne State University. Before joining Dearborn Federal Savings Bank, Marty began his banking career with the National Bank of Detroit (now J.P. Morgan Chase). With NBD, he progressed quickly from Branch Management Trainee to Corporate Cash Management Officer, Vice President, and Commercial Credit Officer in the Middle Market Division. Marty has held several leadership positions with various professional, civic, and social organizations, including the Michigan Bankers Service Corporation, the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, the Exchange Club of Dearborn, the Dearborn Centurions, and the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra. He has also volunteered his time and effort at the Festival of Trees organization, which supports pediatric research at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. When not involved in his professional and civic duties, Marty and his wife, Vicky, enjoy following the active lives of their two adult children, Trey and Zachary. In addition, Marty is an accomplished musician who dedicates his musical talents to various charitable organizations. About Dave Peters Dave Peters majored in Accounting at Hillsdale College and began working for a regional Accounting firm in the Metro Detroit area a few months later. After licensing as a CPA just over a year later, Dave continued to grow in his responsibilities with the firm by leading client meetings, preparing complex analyses and returns, conducting CPE training sessions, leading various technology initiatives, and even sporting a tux as an emcee for the firm’s first “work-from-homies” paper plate award show in the midst of 2020’s tax season. After several years, Dave moved to Dearborn Federal Savings Bank as its Chief Financial Officer, trading tax optimization strategies for interest rate risk analysis, call reports, and reconciliations. Throughout his almost three years at the Bank, Dave continued to modernize its efficiencies and processes while strategizing and leading ways for future asset growth and revenue development. Resources Mentioned: Email Martin Heger: LinkedIn: Website: /episode/index/show/04da1040-085f-40ef-ac62-e433248c6bdc/id/33818822

Ep 72 - The Latest Essentials In Bank Marketing Compliance with Memrie Fortenberry 11/11/2024

Ep 72 - The Latest Essentials In Bank Marketing Compliance with Memrie Fortenberry Finding the right balance between marketing and compliance is essential for community banks. The first step is ensuring that marketers and compliance officers build a trusting relationship. Compliance should always be involved in marketing decisions to prevent any issues. Community banks need to make sure their marketing messages are clear and easy for the average customer to understand, especially as regulations like the new FDIC are becoming stricter. In this episode, Chris Bates, Dan Novalis, and Memrie Fortenberry discuss how community banks must ensure their third-party vendors are properly managed. Even if a third party handles your marketing or creates your ads, the bank is ultimately responsible for ensuring everything complies with regulations. Banks must carefully monitor their advertising to avoid issues like redlining or unfair practices, which have been the focus of recent DOJ actions. It’s important to review all marketing materials regularly to ensure they reach the right audience and are not misleading. As technology and customer expectations evolve, staying on top of compliance and regulation changes is critical to maintaining trust and success in the community banking space. Topics Include: Why compliance should always be involved in your marketing strategy Why your marketing needs to be easy for the average customer to understand What regulations community banks are currently focused on The new FDIC compliance rules that are clear, conspicuous, and clear What the recurring regulation problems are What you need to know about third-party vendor management What the future of compliance and regulations looks like Memrie Fortenberry is the special counsel for the Banking & Financial Services Industry Team and a member of the Corporate Practice Group. She advises community banks and other financial institutions on compliance and regulatory matters. Memrie is an experienced lawyer focused on bank regulatory and compliance matters. She regularly advises clients on federal and state financial services regulations and laws, including the Bank Secrecy Act, fair lending, and other consumer protection regulations. Memrie is a certified community bank compliance officer representing a broad range of banks, lenders, and other financial institutions with significant experience serving as outside counsel for community banks. Memrie is also a presenter with the Bankers Compliance Task Force. While in law school, Memrie served an externship for Judge Neil P. Olack of the US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Mississippi. Before entering law school, she completed the management development associate program at Trustmark Bank and went on to work as a corporate services officer. Resources Mentioned: Website: /episode/index/show/04da1040-085f-40ef-ac62-e433248c6bdc/id/33568657

Ep 71 - Essential Social Media Compliance Guidelines with Jill Williams 10/28/2024

Ep 71 - Essential Social Media Compliance Guidelines with Jill Williams Social media is a key tool for community banks to connect with their local communities and grow their brand, but it’s important to follow the rules and regulations to get it right. Community banks need to be creative in what they post, but they also need to ensure they stay within the social media guidelines to protect both the bank and their customers. That’s why our guest created a solution to help banks balance effective marketing while still following the rules. In this episode, Chris Bates, Dan Novalis, and Jill Williams discuss managing risks while marketing & posting on social media. With the help of BANK MONITOR, you can monitor and report on your community bank’s social media activity, ensuring your success while meeting all compliance regulations. Jill emphasizes the importance of identifying risks, filling gaps, and understanding what regulators look for during audits. Having a clear social media policy is crucial to keeping everything in line. With these steps, community banks can confidently use social media to engage with their audience without worrying about compliance issues. Jill also suggests working with a marketing agency that understands banking to help balance compliance and creativity. Topics Include: How social media guidance and compliance has changed over the years What happens when something gets flagged on a community bank’s social media How BANK MONITOR tracks a community bank’s social media activity and user engagement The extra precautions community banks need to take to protect their customers on social media What regulators look for during a social media compliance audit What it looks like to be both compliant and successful on social media Jill Williams has spent over two decades as a senior-level banker in human resources, retail, and marketing roles. As a community banker, she struggled to balance the time demands of social media while ensuring adherence to the laws, regulations, and policies governing this type of marketing. During this time, Jill recognized the critical need for a comprehensive solution to ensure compliance with the FFIEC Social Media Guidance established in 2013. This realization and a lack of existing industry solutions inspired her to develop BANK MONITOR. This program is an all-encompassing answer to the FFIEC Social Media Compliance Risk Management Guidance requirements. success in safeguarding her community bank spurred her passion for extending this innovative solution to community banks and credit unions nationwide. Jill’s mission is to provide a white-glove service that simplifies and secures social media compliance. Resources Mentioned: ● ● (Strictly Bankers) Website: /episode/index/show/04da1040-085f-40ef-ac62-e433248c6bdc/id/33555572

Ep 70 - Three Key Leadership Facets That We Don't See Enough Of 10/14/2024

Ep 69 - 5 Most Common Community Bank Goals 09/30/2024

Ep 68 - Working Smarter with the Resources You Have 09/16/2024

Ep 67 - 5 Things You Should Be Doing With Email 09/02/2024

Ep 66 - How Targeted Marketing Gives You ROI [Replay Of Ep 26] 08/19/2024

Ep 66 - How Targeted Marketing Gives You ROI [Replay Of Ep 26] It's a Bank Marketing Show Best-Ever Summer Replay! This week, we replay one of our most downloaded episodes ever - 'How Targeted Marketing Gives You ROI'. Listen in on why targeted marketing matters and gives you returns, and what you should do about it in your bank. Stop thinking about selling your product. Start thinking about how it benefits your customer. Data-driven campaigns are the future of marketing. By gathering data on your existing customers, large and small banks can use this information to create better-targeted advertising campaigns. In this episode, Dan Novalis, Chris Bates, and Ria Iyengar discuss how data-driven, targeted marketing gives banks a better return on their investment. Benefit-driven marketing helps you map out which products make sense for your customers. Banks can start using the information they already have about their customers to create better, more engaged campaigns. Ria also recommends directly asking your customers what interests them about your bank and what products they want more information about. What is your role and experience as a bank marketer? to share your bank marketing stories. Topics Include: Why data-driven marketing is the future How segmented marketing can help drive your campaigns How to use data to acquire new customers How data lets you know your customers and their needs better How to start a data-driven marketing campaign Ria Iyengar is Business Director at Cossette, a Toronto, Canada-based creative marketing and communications agency. She excels at leveraging the power of CRM to deliver highly efficient data-driven campaigns for her clients, including TD Bank. Ria says data has the power to transform customer relationships and better decision-making through optimized campaigns. She believes the future of marketing will be in personalized content driven by customer data. As a first-generation immigrant to Canada, a person of color and a member of the LGBTQ2+1 community, Ria has a unique perspective on how personalized and data-driven marketing can speak to all stakeholders and customers. Ria also speaks on the topic of DEI. Resources Mentioned: : bankmarketingminute.com Website: : bankmarketingshow.com LinkedIn: Email: For a free guide to creating your brand voice, email: with Subject Line “Brand Voice” /episode/index/show/04da1040-085f-40ef-ac62-e433248c6bdc/id/32545027

Ep 65 - The Importance of Brand Voice [Replay of Ep 39] 08/05/2024

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