Category: Community

Brand Management Manifesto

Effective brand management requires developing a good relationship with your target. If I were to ask you, “Who makes up your ‘target market’,” I’m sure I would receive answers that include both existing customers and potential customers.These are accurate responses, but how many of you would have included “employees” as a target market for your brand? As marketing leaders, it is imperative that we think of brand management in the three pillars that make up our brand: Market, Customers and Employees. All three are critical to the strength of our brand.

Read the full report below by: Karen Kislin at Raddon

Source: Brand Management Manifesto

Community Banking – a critical role in the US economy

Recently, I made the switch from a mega-national bank to DNB First, an authentically local, community-based bank in the Greater Philadelphia suburbs operating in the region since 1860. It’s been an absolutely wonderful experience and I am left wondering why it took me so long to make the switch!
Some well known mega banks deliver products, services and pricing nationally, and yet attempt to compete and win business on a local, market level. Few are successful in keeping the customer at the center, maintaining local focus and presence, while complying with national big-bank policies, procedures and expectations. Customers can get lost in the shuffle.

I came across this article about local banking and the impact it has on the economy, and the community we live and work in. The article highlights some of the obvious (and not so obvious) comparisons between community and mega-banks. Of course selecting a financial services partner is an important and highly personal choice. At the end of the day, consumers must work with those trusted professionals that are committed to helping them achieve their most important hopes, dreams and desires.

The article cites some pretty important distinctions to make when evaluating financial providers.  Read more…..

Vince Liuzzi
EVP, Chief Banking Officer at DNB First

Community-based banks have long played a critical role in the U.S. economy and this has never been more important than in today’s unprecedented times. The central principle driving community banks is “The Relationship”.

This approach provides customers financial services based upon the ongoing personal interactions that improve the flow of information, resulting in an understanding of all of your financial needs and allowing for customized solutions.

  • Community bank executive officers, including the President & CEO, are typically accessible to their customers. Megabank CEOs are headquartered in far-away office suites with little customer dealings.
  • Community banks focus attention on the needs of local businesses. Conversely, many of the nation’s megabanks are structured to place a high priority on serving large corporations and investment banking activities on Wall Street.
    Community banks are strong supporters of local nonprofits both with their dollars and volunteer hours.
  • Community banks channel most of their loans to their depositors’ neighborhoods, helping to keep local communities vibrant and growing. Megabanks may take deposits in one state and lend in others.
  • Community bank executives and directors typically are deeply involved in local community affairs, while large-bank executives are likely to be detached physically and emotionally from the communities where their branches are located.
  • Many community bankers are willing to consider character, family history and discretionary spending in making loans. Megabanks, on the other hand, often apply impersonal qualification criteria, such as credit scoring, to all loan decisions without regard to individual circumstances.
  • Community bankers can offer nimble decision-making on business loans because decisions are made locally. Megabanks usually have limited loan decision-making authority at the local level.
  • Community bank boards of directors are local businesspeople, leaders and your neighbors who often played a role in starting the bank. It’s unlikely that big bank corporate board members live, work or operate businesses in your neighborhood.

 

John Wooden and the Pyramid of Success

John Wooden: basketball player, coach, author and legend. Known as the “Wizard of Westwood” Wooden is probably best known as the Head Coach of UCLA’S Basketball team where he won 10 NCAA championships and was named National Coach of the Year six times.

Continue reading “John Wooden and the Pyramid of Success”

Early Mortgage Payoff?

DNB First shared a link to an article today about “why you should make an extra mortgage payment” and it made me wonder, how many people have been able to pay off their mortgage early? Continue reading “Early Mortgage Payoff?”

Thinking of a refinance – what’s holding you back?

Since 2012, many consumers across the United States took advantage of low rates and refinanced their high rate mortgages, lowering monthly payments and freeing up cash for other purposes. If you happen to be one of the approximately 20 million households who have never refinanced, and are paying 6% or more on your mortgage, you may want to take advantage of the current environment and refinance now, but hurry – time’s a wastin!

Continue reading “Thinking of a refinance – what’s holding you back?”

Celebrating President’s Day

Today we are celebrating President’s Day,  though it is known to be George Washington’s birthday, we can celebrate all our presidents and their guiding wisdom throughout the years.

So, if you have the day off and are looking for something “presidential” to do, check out some of these free in Philly museums. Around the country there are other various museums and presidential libraries also opening free to the public. Check them out and celebrate our presidents.

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The Salvation Army Responds to Rare Southern Winter Conditions

212px-The_Salvation_Army.svgAs the American South struggles with unusually cold weather, the Salvation Army has teamed with other organizations to deliver comfort to people in need. Many of the cities that have received snow this winter do not even have snowplows because snow is so unusual, meaning that only an inch has caused major gridlock. In Atlanta, Georgia, and Jackson, Mississippi, the Salvation Army has offered hot meals and coffee to drivers stranded on the Interstate. In Atlanta, some drivers were trapped on the road for more than 16 hours. In Jackson, about 50 trucks became stuck when icy weather prevented them from climbing the slight inclines around the city.

The terrible conditions in Jackson also stranded individuals at bus stations as trips were continuously postponed or even canceled. To provide a bit of comfort to these individuals, the Jackson Salvation Army emergency team offered food, beverages, and a sleeping bag to the people, many of whom stayed at the station for multiple days.

The Salvation Army has a long history of responding to natural disasters like hurricanes. Its immediate and effectual response to the cold weather demonstrates the organization’s adaptability and dedication to meeting people’s needs.

Introducing… Your Community Bank Wealth Advisor!

Financial planning is a very important and very sensitive matter for consumers to tackle. When individuals think about and reflect on their future with respect to financial growth and stability, they are caused to deal with so many “what if” scenarios. What should I do if rates sharply rise? How about if they fall? How can I feel secure about my investment portfolio in an uncertain economy? How does the local economy factor into my decision making – should it? What investment strategy is appropriate given my current life stage and goals? How should I be looking at protecting my assets and ensuring an income stream consistent with my lifestyle choices? WOW – so many important questions to ask that must be answered.

Forward thinking community banks like DNB First (DNBF) are expanding the services they provide to include wealth management, trust services, investment planning and insurance. These services are delivered to bank customers through licensed and professional, experienced advisors who have a deep and core understanding of their client’s needs. These days, wealth services provided by some community banks are delivered with similar platforms that clients may experience when dealing with a major, national banking or financial services giant. The capacity for community banks to offer these services has improved dramatically. This has created an environment where customers of smaller banks can experience services consistent with some of the major players.

The big difference of course, comes down to the relationship that community banks enjoy with their customers. Large banking giants drive “referral” programs where customer information is shared from one part of the operating entity to the other. This creates an environment where the main relationship manager becomes secondary to the wealth or investment professional. Effective community bank models “introduce” or INCLUDE the professionals into an already effective rapport with the bank relationship manager. Like the song says, “You want to go where everybody knows your name.”

The subtle word difference between referral and introduction is actually an important distinction to make. When working with your bank or financial institution, find out if you are being “referred” away to someone else, or if a licensed investment professional is being “introduced” or included in an already effective banking relationship. It makes a huge difference in how you experience your bank!

Vincent Liuzzi

Executive Leader