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Swimming With Sharks

A resident of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas
A resident of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas

I’ve been on a lot of planes lately, and while I read a ton, I also listened to several interesting podcasts to pass the time.  One in particular brought statistician Nate Silver and author Malcolm Gladwell together with ESPN’s Bill Simmons to discuss how periodicals are adjusting to the Internet age (ok, some sports came up too). I liked their premise that it doesn’t take much skill to be the first to do something, but the later you are, the smarter you have to be.  Much as the publishing/media industry needs to speed up the creative process, so too do financial institutions of all sizes.  Take a listen to the podcast if you’re interested in their take; for three things I’m thinking about based on the last four days, read on.

(1) Yes, credit unions and banks are both financial institutions; this, however, is where the similarities end in my opinion.  I spend so much of my time with bankers that I decided to flip the script and attend the National Directors’ Convention for credit unions in Las Vegas this week.  As I depart the Mandalay Bay (today’s draft title was “Banking on Sin”), today’s tongue-in-cheek title is a nod to those organizations that compete with banks.  True, I enjoyed the cheerleading aspect of certain sessions; for example, “A Higher Purpose: Why Credit Unions Are Different Than Banks.”  Nonetheless, as session after session juxtaposed a credit union’s marketing, lending and risk & compliance efforts with those of community banks, I’m not sure why credit unions should continue to be exempt from taxes as they are.  Look, my Grandfather helped set up a credit union in Massachusetts, and I appreciate why credit unions were initially granted nonprofit status.  But as they directly compete with banks, the tax question stirs the pot at our conferences… and does have me scratching my head about the fairness of an uneven playing field.

(2) Woody Allen is credited with saying 90% of life is showing up. But John Kanas and his team at Florida-based BankUnited (which has $12.6 billion in assets) are doing a lot more than that.  At least, that’s what I’m thinking after reading “A Steal of a Deal” by our very talented Managing Editor, Naomi Snyder.  While a lot of attention in Bank Director’s current issue goes to “The Top Performing Banks” due to our scorecard that ranks all NYSE and NASDAQ listed banks, Naomi’s piece is a must-read.  As you will see, the best mid-sized bank in the country is headed by an incredible dealmaker with an appetite not just for risk but with an eye for long-term growth.

(3) Thinking about growing a bank puts a board’s role in strategic planning front and center.  So when Promontory’s founder and CEO, Gene Ludwig, writes that “Big Changes Loom for Bank Boards,” I think it’s an appropriate link to share.  In a piece that runs on American Banker, the former head of the OCC writes “the do’s and don’ts of board governance are still emerging, and there is an honest debate over the core topics — how effective new and detailed expectations are at improving safety and soundness, and whether new standards are merging the concepts of governance and management. However, the fact of the matter is that regulators are not going to back away from their enhanced expectations for the board. Board members and managers who do not take heed proceed at their peril.”  Take a read if you’re interested in his nine points a bank and its board might consider in today’s highly charged regulatory environment.

Aloha Friday!

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Caveat emptor (with a banking spin)

Kelsey, Jake, Mika and Katy outside our D.C. offices
Kelsey, Jake, Mika and Katy outside our D.C. offices

I had the pleasure of welcoming two new members to Bank Director earlier this week… Jake Massey and Katy Prejeant joined our team and both have set up shop in our Nashville offices.  As you can see, we invited them east to spend some time in D.C. with our Associate Publisher (Kelsey Weaver), SVP (Mika Moser) and me.  With the five of us huddled around a table on Monday and Tuesday, my focus was admittedly more internally focused then normal.  What follows, however, are three things I subsequently heard, discussed and find myself thinking about as the week wraps up.

(1) Politico shared the opinions of Chris Dodd (Connecticut’s former senator) and Barney Frank (a former congressman from Massachusetts) in an op-ed entitled “Pulling the Plug on Failed Financial Institutions.” In it, the two contend that their infamous financial reform legislation ends forever the ability of the U.S. government to provide support to failing financial companies.  “The Dodd-Frank Act is clear: Not only is there no legal authority to use public money to keep a failing entity in business, the law forbids it,” they write.  While there are parts of their bill that are potentially helpful, “on the bigger picture – whether too-big-to-fail financial institutions still benefit from implicit government subsidies and a high probability of explicit bailouts,” the former Chief Economist of the IMF respectfully disagrees with duo.  Indeed, on the NY Times Economix blog, Simon Johnson writes he feels this way — and is not alone.  Case-in-point, he highlights a point Fed Chairman Bernanke made in response to recent questioning from Senator Elizabeth Warren.  Essentially, Bernanke “confirmed that credit markets still believed the government stands behind big banks.” A fascinating juxtaposition of perspectives courtesy of Politico and the NY Times on our biggest financial institutions.

(2) Last week, Davis and Henderson (D+H) announced it was buying Harland Financial Solutions.  American Banker subsequently ran an interesting article appropriately named “Your Tech Vendor’s Been Sold — What Do You Do Now?” (*subscription required).  While not so much a blueprint as an overview, take note that “regulators are pressing banks to complete thorough due diligence on third-party vendors. But things can get complicated by consolidation of technology firms.”  I wrote about this after our annual Bank Audit Committee conference; albeit, with an eye towards evaluating your external auditor.  The same principles apply here, and a separate article on AB identifies several key components of IT contracts that need extra attention.  Having worked for an IT company from ’05 to ’10, I do understand the challenges they have as services and tools providers in terms of pricing and structuring mutually beneficial contracts.  I do wonder how thoroughly bank executives consider strategic and risky technology plans.  Sure, the expense side can be calculated.  However, this second piece makes clear that “many smaller banks fail to think about exit strategies when negotiating technology contracts.”  Caveat emptor…

(3) Leaving the Latin, but not learning, aside, my final point goes to a new training program spearheaded by our very talented Editor, Jack Milligan.  Now, its been said that you rarely see a strong board with a weak bank — or a strong bank with a weak board.  So as part of our commitment to building stronger banks by building stronger boards, we introduced the Board Training Program yesterday afternoon.

This is a comprehensive and board-focused educational platform developed by a faculty of industry experts.  Take a look and listen to Jack as he explains how we will cover such important topics as the role of the board, risk management, key audit, compensation and governance issues, and advice on growing the bank. 

Aloha Friday!

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Back in the Saddle

A summer vacation sunset
A summer vacation sunset

It’s been a few weeks since I last shared what I’ve heard, learned or discussed on this site. Yes, vacation treated me well. But I’m excited to get back into the swing of things and especially pleased to welcome two new people to the Bank Director team: Katy Prejeant and Jake Massey. Both can be followed on Twitter @BankDirectorAE and @WJ_Massey. As always, what follows are three things that relate to bank executives and boards that caught my eye and/or ear this week.

(1) Drive a few hours west of our Nashville offices and you can find Memphis-based Mercer Capital. The advisory firm assists banks, thrifts and credit unions with “corporate valuation requirements and transactional services.” Each month, their Bank Watch newsletter pulls together a series of articles from around the web. From stress testing to Basel III, ESOPs to a Midwestern public bank peer report, there are some interesting reads this month. But one that caught my eye wasn’t in their report – it can be found on their main site. It’s a white paper on Creating the Potential for Shared Upside. Authored by Jeff Davis (a speaker at last year’s Acquire or Be Acquired conference), the piece reviews various financial issues arising when community banks merge or sell to a larger, public institution. With many anticipating an upswing in M&A deals in the second half of 2013, it is an interesting perspective to consider.

(2) In past posts, I have noted how the banking industry is a mature one. That is, where competing on price with the BofA’s of the world may best be seen as a fool’s errand. Nonetheless, McKinsey’s classic article on “Setting Value, Not Price” should be a must read this week. While not specific to the financial space, they lay out a reality where ”people buy products and services not on price alone but on customer value: the relationship between costs and benefits.” Although this trade-off has long been recognized as critical for marketing, this month’s “Insights & Publications” shows that businesses frequently get their price–benefit position wrong. They wrote in 1997 that “value” may be one of the most overused and misused terms in marketing and pricing. If you’re game, drop me a line below and let me know if you agree this is still the case.

(3) Spend any time talking with a bank’s CEO, and keeping pace with technology (and by extension, technology risk management) is sure to come up in a discussion that involves improving their business, brand and reputation. According to a new “FS Viewpoints” published by PwC, financial institutions have, for too long, “viewed technology risk management as a defensive tactic or regulatory compliance activity.” Based on the consultancy’s observations, “existing approaches to technology risk management often provide limited value to the business.” They see a real opportunity to leverage technology risk management to provide strategic business value. This piece shows how leading institutions are shifting their focus on risk management, moving from a fragmented and reactive compliance approach to a more balanced, business-aligned, risk-based strategy.
Aloha Friday!

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Happy July 5th!

Union Station in D.C.
Union Station in D.C.

As we wrap up this short week, here are three “stories” that caught my eye. As I pack my family up for a few week’s vacation in New England, please enjoy. Happy 5th of July!

1. On Monday, Curtis Carpenter shared with me the news that Prosperity Bank in Texas acquired First Victoria — a deal struck for approximately 2.3x tangible book and 18x earnings. As Houston’s Business Journal details, Prosperity has been on an acquisition streak for some time. The bank has completed six merger or acquisition agreements in the past 18 months. Maybe this deal portends a busier 2nd half of the year, deal-wise, than the first? Certainly something Curtis and his team at Sheshunoff & Co. stand ready to support.

2. On Tuesday, the Fed held an open meeting to finalize “highly-anticipated rules” needed to implement Basel III’s capital requirements in the United States. Since its proposal last year, many executives from banks under $10Bn in asset size have expressed strong concerns with several aspects of the proposed rule. Now, the plan adopted on Tuesday will force all banks to hold more and higher quality capital. However, smaller banks will have a bit more leeway with their capital — which should allow them to take more risks than their larger competitors. While the Fed’s plan requires the nation’s largest banks to abide by stricter capital requirements than had been originally planned, mid-size and community banks appear to have received several breaks. Fed governors, according to the American Banker, said the final package offered an “appropriate sensitivity” in its treatment of smaller-sized financial institutions, “forgoing placing too much burden on firms while still strengthening overall capital standards.” If you want to dig deeper, this table from the Fed highlights those provisions most relevant to smaller, non-complex banking organizations and compares the new capital requirements to the current standards.

3. A lot of digital ink was spilled on Basel III this week; in my opinion, I think the ABA wrote it best: “the real test for Basel III is whether the rule makes it easier or more difficult for banks to serve their customers. If it makes it harder, that’s not what our still-recovering economy needs.” So on a much lighter note, the ICBA shared a top 50 “Community Bank Leaders in Social Media.” Based on fans/followers, engagement, content and frequency of posts, the small bank advocate lists the social media channels being put to use. All have a Facebook page; interestingly, not all have a Twitter account, few utilize YouTube and shockingly few employ LinkedIn (shh… don’t ask about Pintrest, Instagram or other social sites frequented by their young customers). Taking it a step further, they shared a top 20 “Community Banker Influencers on Twitter.” While I’m not sure how some qualified based on the number of followers and/or tweets, it is a good list of bankers if you’re looking to start or expand your twitter-verse.

Aloha Friday!

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Know thy customer

The Park Hyatt Washington
The Park Hyatt Washington

Earlier this week, I spent a night at one of my favorite DC hotel’s, the Park Hyatt Washington.  As I checked in (and later, out) I paid close attention to their customer service efforts — and by extension, my customer experience.  Off-the-charts positive from start to end.  So as I wrap up this week’s travel (DC, Nashville and St. Louis to be exact), I thought to share three customer-focused thoughts from the last few days.

(1) I wrote about Brett King leading up to our annual Growth Conference.  He’s a best-selling author who, in this video “The Battle for the Bank Account: And Why the Banks Will Probably Lose,” explores the end-game in the emergence of the mobile wallet and what it means for the “humble” bank account. How does this apply to the experience a consumer may have with their bank?  Simply, when one can get a salary paid directly onto a phone, when your iTunes account doubles as a prepaid debit card and when you can use Facebook to send money – its fair to wonder will there be any need for traditional retail banking in the future?  A longer video than we normally post to BankDirector.com but one certainly worth a watch.

(2) Today’s American Banker shares a recent study from Market Rates Insight.  Their work found that customers want products like identity theft alerts and mobile bill pay from their banks. As the publication summarizes, many community banks are unable or unwilling to offer those products.  So community banks may be leaving money on the table due to an inability or an unwillingness to offer a number of coveted financial products.  One wonders how much financial flexibility these institutions have in terms of new investments relative to the heavy compliance costs burdening such banks?  However, if smaller banks cannot compete on price, can they really expect to maintain a loyal customer base without fulfilling “basic” customer expectations?

(3) A I head towards the mighty Mississippi this morning, I took note of another report, this one by assurance, consulting and tax firm Moss Adams.  Western bank CEOs and their direct-report executives should expect average salary increases in the 3% to 5% range during 2013, according to a survey run by the firm.  Also, the industry as a whole should expect a nearly 50% reduction compared to 2012 in the number of institutions that continue to subject their executive officers to a salary freeze.  The firm also found compensation strategies continue to favor incentive-based compensation over salaries in order to place a greater emphasis on variable costs for the retention of key executive officers.  So if a key to great customer service includes a consistency of communication and direction from key leaders, this report bodes well for executives meriting a salary increase. 

Aloha Friday!

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Quality never goes out of style

Wait... there was something going on other than the Stanley Cup finals this week?
Wait… there was something going on other than the Stanley Cup finals this week?

Today’s title, inspired by my uncle who founded and continues to run Computech, a very successful technology firm here in the D.C. area, is both simple and profound.  I believe the three points shared below reflect the same spirit of craftsmanship and professionalism he built his firm on.  Working smarter, building better, doing it right the first time… themes I picked up this week and thought to share below.  And yes, #LetsGoBruins!

(1) One of the work questions most frequently asked of me at conference cocktail parties and in social settings concerns the future of banks. So the fact that the St. Louis Fed published a study that examines banks that thrived during the recent financial crisis proved irresistible.  After all, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  I’ve alluded to this research in a previous post; for me, it is interesting to note that some of the most profitable banks, in the short-term, are not necessarily the best banks.  Instead, the so-called “best banks,” in my opinion, get creative in offering new products. They watch closely what is working for other banks in and out of their own market. They watch what products and services are being brought to market by vendors to our industry.  This survey, in a broad sense, backs this up.

(2) In the St. Louis Fed’s survey, the authors conclude that there is a strong future for well-run community banks.  In their estimation, banks that prosper will be the ones with strong commitments to maintaining risk control standards in all economic environment.  This aligns neatly with most discussions about a board’s role and responsibilities. Indeed, one of the critical functions of any bank’s board of directors is the regular assessment of their activities and those of the bank’s management in terms of driving value. As C.K. Lee from Commerce Street Capital explains, this may be defined as value for shareholders, value for the community and the perception of strength among the bank’s customers and regulators. Over the last few months on BankDirector.com, he’s explored the concept of tangible book value (TBV) and its relationship with bank valuation. He also looked at internal steps, such as promoting efficiency and growing loans, which boards could take to drive more revenue to the bottom line and drive bank value.  The “final installment” of his series is up — and if you are interested in two additional factors that drive value in both earnings production and market perception, a good read.

(3) Over the last few weeks, I have shared my take on a few issues near and dear to audit committee members.  These committee members have direct responsibility to oversee the integrity of a company’s financial statements and to hire, compensate and oversee the bank’s external auditor.  So on the heels of Deloitte’s trouble with New York’s Department of Financial Services comes this week’s final point.  In case you missed it, the state’s regulator cracked down on Deloitte’s financial-consulting business, essentially banning them from consulting with state-regulated banks for the next year.  Big enough news that the American Banker opined “it will send waves through its bank customers, competitors and federal regulators.  Banks will have to scrutinize their relationships with consultants, brace for the possibility of a wave of regulation of consulting practices and have backup plans in case a key advisor ever receives a punishment like the one New York state dealt Deloitte.”  As many begin to re-examine the relationships they have with outside vendors, here is a helpful evaluation assessment tool offered by the Center for Audit Quality, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group based here in Washington, D.C.  While specific to an audit committees needs, the sample questions highlight some of the more important areas for consideration.  As with CK Lee’s articles on building value, this form is worth a look if you’re considering the strength of your vendor relationships.

Aloha Friday!

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What you learn at a puppet show

Hank Williams "walking" the red carpet in Nashville

I wrapped up a fairly intense period of travel with a day trip to NYC on Monday and a subsequent overnight in Nashville on Tuesday & Wednesday. While in the Music City, our Chairman invited me to join him at a puppet festival (yes, you read that right). The show, a musical chronicle of the history of country music, benefitted the Nashville Public Library Foundation and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Laugh if you will, but I will tell you, it was amazingly creative. As I mingled with various benefactors of both institutions, I found myself engaged in conversation with the former managing partner at Bass, Berry & Sims. Having led one of the preeminent law firms in the Southeast, his perspective on how dramatically the legal profession has changed in the last fifteen years struck a nerve. The parallels between his profession and the banking space were immediately apparent. So with Patsy Cline playing in the background, we talked about the future of banking, professional services firms and relationship building in general. As we did, I made a mental note to share three thoughts from this week that underscore how things continue to change in our classically conservative industry.

(1) First Republic’s founder and CEO, Jim Herbert, shared some of his Monday morning with me while I was in NYC. Jim founded the San Francisco-based bank in 1985, sold it to Merrill Lynch in 2007, took it private through a management-led buyout in July 2010 after Merrill was acquired by Bank of America, then took it public again this past December through an IPO. For those in the know, First Republic is one of this country’s great banking stories. Not only is it solely focused on organic growth, it’s also solely focused on private banking. While my conversation with Jim was off-the-record, I left his office convinced its the smarts within, not the size of, a bank that will separate the have’s from the have not’s in the years ahead. Clearly, as new regulations and slim profit margins challenge the banking industry, the skills and backgrounds of the employees who work in banking must change.

(2) Speaking of successful banks that have successfully navigated recent challenges… KeyCorp’s Chief Risk Officer, Bill Hartman, joined us last week for Bank Director’s annual Bank Audit Committee Conference in Chicago. Bill is responsible for the bank’s risk management functions, including credit, market, compliance and operational risk, as well as portfolio management, quantitative analytics and asset recovery activities. While I shared some thoughts about that program last week, I thought to elaborate on how KeyCorp divides the roles and responsibilities of its Audit and Risk Committees. Some still think you “retire” to the board; as he showed, that is definitely not the case – especially not at an institution that counts 2 million customers, 15,000 employees and assets of $89 Bn. In terms of Key’s Audit Committee, members oversee Internal Audit, appoint independent auditors and meet with the Chief Risk Officer, Chief Risk Review Officer, and of course, for financial reporting, the CFO. I thought it was interesting to note their Audit Committee met 14 times in 2012 — twice as often as the institution’s Risk Committee convened. With many smaller banks considering the creation of such a committee, let me share the focus of their Risk Committee. Strategically, it is responsible for:

  • Stress testing policy;
  • Dividend and share repurchases;
  • Modeling risk policy;
  • Asset and liability management; and
  • Setting tolerances, key risk indicators and early warning indicators

For those thinking about introducing a Risk Committee into their bank, take a look at what some of our speakers shared leading up to last week’s Audit Committee conference for inspiration.  For a recap of the event, our editor shares his thoughts in today’s Postcard from the Bank Audit Committee Conference.

(3) Yesterday, I was pleased to learn that ConnectOne’s CEO, Frank Sorrentino, agreed to participate in our annual Bank Executive & Board Compensation Conference in November. In addition to being one of the more active bankers I follow on Twitter, I’ve written about his bank going public in a previous post. Today, it’s a WSJ piece that shows U.S. regulators grilling banks over lending standards and “warning them about mounting risks in business loans” that has me citing the NJ-based bank. This particular article quotes the CEO of the Englewood Cliffs, N.J. bank in terms of lending standards (yes, a subscription is required). He reveals that regulators recently asked what he is doing to ensure he isn’t endangering the bank by making risky loans. His response: “the bank is trying to offset the lower revenue from low-interest-rate commercial loans by cutting expenses.” While I get the need for oversight, I do wonder how far the regulatory pendulum will continue to swing left before sanity/reality sets in at the CFPB, FDIC, OCC, etc. I’ll stop before I say something I regret, but do want to at least encourage a Twitter follow of Frank and his “Banking on Main Street” blog.

Aloha Friday!

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Swimming without a bathing suit?

A full house in Chicago
A full house in Chicago

A busy week in Chicago… one highlighted by Bank Director’s annual Bank Audit Committee at the JW Marriott that kicked off on Wednesday morning and wrapped up about a few hours ago. For those that missed the event, today’s title comes from a conversation I had with the CEO of Fifth Third before he took the stage as our keynote speaker. Without going into too much detail, it refers to a line favored by our former publisher (and head of the FDIC) Bill Seidman. At conferences like this one, Bill was fond of saying when times are good, no one sees what is happening under water. But when things get tough and the tide goes out, well, you see who has been swimming without a bathing suit. In that spirit, what follows are three things I heard while hosting 350+ men and women, an audience representing 150 banks from 38 states.

(1) To kick off the conference, we invited the head of Hovde Financial to present on “Navigating Complex Financial, Strategic and Regulatory Challenges.” While we welcomed attendees from institutions as large as SunTrust, Fifth Third and KeyCorp, Steve Hovde’s presentation made clear that while larger banks like these continue to increase in size, many smaller community banks are fighting for survival in today’s regulatory and low-interest rate environment. Case-in-point, mobile banking technology is already in place at larger banks, fewer options are available to smaller banks to replace declining fee revenue (which could offset declines in net interest margins) and increased regulatory burdens favor large banks with economies of scale.

All of this suggests M&A should be hot and heavy. However, Steve pointed out that 2013 has not started out strong from a deal volume standpoint. In fact, only 59 deals were announced through April; annualized, this will result in significantly less deals than in 2012. Naturally, this leads many to think about building through more organic means.  To this end, he suggests that bank boards and management teams focus on questions like:

  • Is adequate organic growth even available today?
  • Are branches in urban markets more important than rural markets?
  • How much expense base would need to be added to fund the growth compared to the revenue generated by new loans?
  • Are we better off deepening penetration of existing markets or expanding physical premises into neighboring markets or both?
  • What steps can we take to enhance web and mobile platforms?

(2) In the spirit of asking questions like these, it strikes me that everyone has something to learn as we come through one of the deepest recessions in history. As businesses and regulatory agencies debate what could have been done differently, everyone is looking for an answer to avoid the next one, or at least, minimize its impact. Clearly, as directors and officers search for ways to manage future risks, they need to understand how to work together without impeding the organizations’ efficiency of operations while preparing for unexpected events.

Accordingly, we opened this morning with a session to explore this unique balance of corporate governance. The session included Bill Knibloe, a Partner at Crowe Horwath, Bill Hartmann, the Chief Risk Officer at KeyCorp and Ray Underwood, the Bank Risk Committee Chairman at Union Savings Bank. Together, they emphasized the need for both management and the board to understand current initiatives, future initiatives and various risks embedded in each to design plans for various oversight roles. For me, “plan to manage, not eliminate” stuck out in their comments.  If you were with us in Chicago, I wonder what was yours?

(3) Think about this: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­it might be easier and safer today to rob banks with a computer than with a gun. While banks design their internal controls to help mitigate risk, our final session of the day looked at how an audit committee needs to properly address cyber risk as more and more attempt to attack an institution through the web. Here’s a link to a piece authored by our Managing Editor, Naomi Snyder, entitled Five questions to ask about cyber security; short, sweet and to the point. I hope to have more on this topic early next week as it kept the room full (I took the picture above just a few minutes before the close). Until next week…

Aloha Friday!

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A grown up swinging town

San Francisco, CA

I spent the last few days in San Francisco meeting with various companies (think BlackRock, Fortress, Raymond James, Pillsbury, Manatt Phelps, etc.).  Those conversations caught me up on various trends impacting banks on our west coast. As I do each Friday, what follows are three things I heard, read and learned this week — with a big nod towards the bear republic.  Oh yes, thanks to old blue eyes for inspiring today’s title.  Sinatra certainly knew what he was talking about when it came to the bay area.

(1) Every bank has a story, and the old Farmers National Gold Bank (aka the Bank of the West) certainly has a rich one.  Begun in 1874, it was one of just ten banks nationwide authorized to issue paper currency backed by gold reserves.  Long a favorite of mine thanks to an academic / St Louis connection with their CEO, I had the opportunity to sit down with one of their board members on Tuesday and hear more about the $60Bn+ subsidiary of BNP Paribas.  As I reflect on that conversation, it strikes me that the bank’s growth reflects smart credit underwriting, a diversified loan portfolio and careful risk management. Yes, there have been strategic acquisitions (for example, United California Bank in ‘02, Community First Bank in Fargo in ’04 and Commercial Federal Bank in Omaha in ’05); however, their growth has been more organic of late — fitting for a “community bank” that has grown to more than 700 branch banking and commercial office locations in 19 Western and Midwestern states.  While their geographic footprint continues to grow, take a look at their social media presence. In my opinion, it’s one of the best in the banking space.

(2) From Bank of the West to US Bancorp, First Republic to BofA, bank branches dominate the streets of San Francisco.  As competition for business intensifies, I thought back to an article written by Robin Sidel (Regulatory Move Inhibits Bank Deals) that ran in last week’s Wall Street Journal.  I’m a big fan of her writing, and found myself re-reading her piece on a move by regulators “that put the biggest bank merger of 2012 on ice (and) is sending a chill through midsize financial institutions.”  Her story focuses on M&T, the nation’s 16th-largest bank (and like Bank of the West, operates more than 700 branches) and its $3.8 billion purchase of Hudson City Bancorp.  According to Robin, the deal that was announced last August is on hold after the Federal Reserve raised concerns about M&T’s anti-money-laundering program.  The fallout? Since the Fed’s decision, CEOs of other regional banks “have shelved internal discussions about potential transactions.”  For those interested in bank M&A, this article comes highly recommended.

(3) So if certain deals aren’t going to be considered (let alone closed), it naturally begs the question about how how and where banks can add new customers and increase “share of wallet” to improve profitability.  I brought this up in a conversation with Microsoft on Wednesday and found myself nodding in agreement that financial institutions should “audit their customer knowledge capabilities” to provide an optimal experience.  “Customer centricity” is a big focus for the tech giant, and it is interesting to consider how things like marketing, credit management and compliance might benefit from a well-designed strategy for managing customer knowledge.  I know some smaller banks are doing this (Avenue Bank in Nashville comes to mind) and I’m curious to hear how others might be taking advantage of tools and techniques to out-smart the BofA’s of the world.  If you know of some interesting stories, please feel free to weigh in below.

Aloha Friday!

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Before I pack my bags

DC food trucks got some business...
By staying local, a few DC food trucks picked up extra business this week…

For the first time in nearly two months, I did not leave the friendly confines of Washington, D.C. for work.  Next week, AA gets my business back with a trip to San Francisco — followed by one the following week to Chicago and the next, to New York and Nashville.  Yes, I anticipate sharing a number of stories in the weeks ahead, but these three had me excited to post today.  As always, my #FridayFollow-inspired post on things I heard, learned or discussed that relate to financial organizations.

(1) File this one under “things that make you go hmmm.”  Earlier this week, the American Banker published an interesting piece entitled “Fed Reveals Secret Lessons of Successful Small Banks.”  As I’ve written in multiple M&A-focused posts, many investment banks  predicted a wave of consolidation among community banks after the financial crisis hit while positing that financial institutions need at least $1 billion of assets to compete/remain relevant.  This piece, however, cites recent St. Louis Fed research that shows the asset range with the most “thrivers” — the term the StL Fed used to describe remarkable banks — was $100 million to $300 million.  As the American Banker notes, much of the research stemming from the crisis focused on the mistakes banks had made, so the St. Louis Fed decided to take the opposite approach.  If you have a subscription to AB, their recap is worth a read.

(2) Disruptive technologies were front & center a few weeks ago in New Orleans at our annual Growth Conference.  Yesterday afternoon, McKinsey put out “Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy.”  While not specific to our industry, the fact that the “mobile internet” placed first should reinforce the conversations taking place in bank boardrooms today.  According to the authors, 4.3 billion people are yet to be connected to the Internet, with many expected to first engage through mobile devices.  Considering the six-fold growth in sales of smartphones and tablets since launch of iPhone in 2007, well, you can see why I’m bullish on banks getting social and enhancing their mobile offerings ASAP.

(3) Finally, for those quants looking for a good, non-Krugman economics piece, look no further than the NY Times’s “Economix” blog.  The most recent post: How a Big-Bank Failure Could Unfold.  In the piece, the authors consider what could happen if there were a hypothetical problem at a major international financial conglomerate such as Deutsche Bank or Citigroup.  As they note, “defenders of big banks are adamant that we have fixed the problem of too big to fail.”  This entry considers the alternative.  So for those with a desire to stay up late during this Memorial Day three-day weekend?  This might be a read for you.

Aloha Friday!

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Do we have enough banks in the U.S.?

Pirates-baseballAs I do each Friday morning, what follows are three things I’ve learned this week that apply to the financial community.  Let me start with the inspiration for today’s title and end with that for the picture of Pittsburgh’s PNC Park above.

(1) I’ve shared ideas from KBW’s Fred Cannon in the past; let me do so again based on a note he put out this Monday (FSW No New Bank Charters) that I strongly encourage you to read.  In my opinion, Fred is at the top of his field, so when he looks at the decline in new bank charters during the last two years (to zero) and wonders if we have enough banks in place today, its a thought provoking question.  To wit:

U.S. banking is being squeezed from the top, with high levels of concentration, and from the bottom, with no new banks, creating a less dynamic financial sector.  While regulators and legislators worry about the size and concentration of the largest banks, there is an equally concerning trend on the opposite side of the bank size spectrum. There have been no new bank or thrift charters issued during the past two years. This trend stands in sharp contrast to history, with dozens to hundreds of new banks starting each year, including during years of deep recessions. The lack of new bank startups may be causing limited competition for loans for small regional businesses and builders and pushing lending outside the banking system, essentially meaning that there aren’t enough banks in the country to promote maximum economic growth. Concentration and limits on size at the top end, and the dearth of new banks at the small end, will push greater market share of banking into mid-sized banks, in our view. This is good news for profitable mid-sized banks that can take advantage of both trends.

(2) t_1368782681Switching gears to the biggest of the big, we might have to honor Jamie Dimon by making it “his” week if the amount of media coverage continues for the man.  From American Banker to Bloomberg’s Businessweek to the WSJ, not a day went by without some mention of Wall Street’s “Indispensable Man.”  With JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s annual meeting in Tampa next week, our own editor thinks it should be a doozy for Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon and the company’s 11-member board. The country’s largest bank has come in for some withering criticism ever since it lost a reported $6 billion last year on a disastrous credit derivatives trading strategy.  Ah, trading credit derivatives… I wonder if they will soon replace collateralized debt obligations as the scorn of the American public.

(3) Finally, a tip of the cap to Mars National Bank near Pittsburgh for “tapping a native son’s ties to America’s pastime to raise its local profile.”  According to a piece in the American Banker, the $351 million-asset institution in Mars, Pa., has formed a marketing campaign around pitchman Neil Walker, 27, a second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates who grew up seven miles away from the bank’s headquarters.  Mars National is “among several banks that have recently turned to sports stars to build business and spur goodwill;” for those interested in examples of how smaller banks are working to build brand loyalty in their community, this is an easy read that might inspire.

Aloha Friday!

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Standing Out on a Friday

Fenway Park's red seatComing off of last week’s Growth Conference, I found myself planning for next year’s program. As we recognized Customers Bank, State Bank & Trust and Cole Taylor Bank for “winning” our annual Growth rankings, I spent some extra time looking at other banks that performed exceptionally well this past year. So today’s Friday-follow inspired post shares a few thoughts and conversations I’ve had about three very successful banks.

(1) While easy to frame the dynamics of our industry in terms of asset size, competing for business today is more of a “smart vs. not-so-smart” story than a “big vs. small.” During one of my favorite sessions last week — David AND Goliath — Peter Benoist, the president and CEO of St. Louis-based Enterprise Financial Services Corp, reminded his peers that as more banks put their liquidity to work, fierce competition puts pressures on rates and elevates risk. My biggest takeaway from his presentation: we all talk about scale and net interest margins… but it’s clear that you need growth today regardless of who you are. It is growth for the sake of existence.

(2) During the afore mentioned presentation, the participants all agreed that you cannot compete with BofA on price. Consequently, the ability to introduce new products (e.g. increasing deposit platforms) is key for many banks today. So from diversification to differentiation, let me turn my attention to San Francisco-based First Republic. Their story is a fascinating one. While not with us in New Orleans, I heard a lot about them yesterday while I was in NYC visiting with KBW. Subsequently, our editor wrote me with some background: Jim Herbert founded the bank in 1985, sold it to Merrill in 2007 for 360% of book, took it private through a management-led buyout in July 2010 after Merrill was acquired by Bank of America, then took it public again in December through an IPO. First Republic is a great bank: it finished 3rd out of 80+ in the $5-$50 billion category in Bank Director magazine’s 2012 performance rankings. But not only is it solely focused on organic growth, it’s also focused solely on private banking.

(3) Finally, as we move our attention from growth to risk in advance of our annual Bank Audit Committee conference, I started to think about the challenges facing banks of all sizes. Admittedly, I started with Fifth Third as their Vice Chairman & CEO will be joining us in Chicago as our keynote speaker. Yes, I am very interested to hear his perspectives on the future of banking. Quite a few small bank deals have recently been announced, and I have to believe many sales came together thanks to escalating compliance costs and seemingly endless regulation. For larger institutions like Fifth Third, it will be interesting to see what transpires over the next few years and where he thinks the market is moving for banks of all sizes. If you’re interested, take a look at our plans for this year’s event.

Aloha Friday!

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About today’s picture:

I’m a die-hard Boston RedSox fan, and for anyone whose been early to, or stayed late at, Fenway Park, you’ve probably seen one red seat in the right field bleachers (Section 42, Row 37, Seat 21). Did you know it signifies the longest home run ever hit at Fenway, one struck by the great Ted Williams on June 9, 1946? While a nice chance for me to share my love for the RedSox, I thought the visual made a lot of sense when writing about standing out from the crowd… -AD