Our new podcast, Banking on Community: A Podcast for Community Bankers, is here! Hosted by Tara Schultz, CSI’s SVP of strategic insights and industry relations, Saxon Prater, CSI’s manager of PR and corporate communications and Brett Glover, CSI’s director of relationship management, Banking on Community will dive into how community banks are staying competitive, using technology to grow, making a difference in the lives of their customers and more. In our first episode, our hosts explore the current state of banking, from AI and open APIs to leveraging data and partnering with fintechs. We also highlight how Signature Bank of Arkansas met a need in its community by opening two Spanish-speaking branches to serving a growing population. Listen to our premiere episode now. Thanks for listening! Feel free to submit questions on X or LinkedIn using #BankingonCommunityPod and give us a follow! LinkedIn X Facebook YouTube

Increasing cyber risks mean financial institutions must up their game to protect their data, reputation and bottom line. How are institutions that want to innovate doing so with a strategic risk-based approach? And how does technology fit into it? We invited two industry experts to share their perspectives as well as the most significant trends and challenges in Cybersecurity Insurance and IT Governance. All this and more in this insightful episode of Fintech Focus.

What can financial institutions and other regulated organizations do to stem the rising tide of fraud and money laundering? We invited two compliance experts to share their perspectives and offer insight into today’s trends. We discussed the risks, how organizations are merging their efforts into a comprehensive FRAML approach, today’s latest technology and more.

As the release of the FedNow Service approaches and new business models like Banking as a Service  gain steam, there’s much for traditional financial institutions to consider in 2023. In this second part of our conversation with Shane Ferrell, CSI’s Vice President of Product Strategy and Innovation, we discuss these technological opportunities and ways to get the most from them, along with more key takeaways from CSI’s 2023 Banking Priorities Executive Report. 

With the height of a pandemic in arrears, 2022 saw continued shifts in customer behavior, business models and economic concerns. So, what does 2023 have in store for the financial services landscape? We invited Shane Ferrell, CSI’s Vice President of Product Strategy and Innovation, to discuss the trends he’s seeing, plus some notable findings from CSI’s 2023 Banking Priorities Executive Report. In this first half of our wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the landscape as well as hot topics like employee churn, using data to its full potential and banks’ technology priorities.

As sanctions increase at an unprecedented rate, so grows the list of risky entities that organizations should avoid doing business with. What's changed in recent years, which organizations should stay alert, and how should those organizations approach compliance? We discuss it all with Josh Shrager, Senior Vice President at Kharon, a leading data and analytics company focused on financial crimes compliance and risk management.

In the digital era, convenient eSignatures have evolved from a “nice to have” to a “must have.” But where are they going, and how can your institution get the most out of this digital transformation enabler? We invited an eSignature expert to walk us through how the landscape has changed, new developments in eSignatures and the values of a bank-centric solution.

It’s the perfect storm. Cybercriminals have more potential targets than ever, and their tactics keep getting more sophisticated. Meanwhile, consumers are almost numb to the headlines. What can financial institutions do to maintain security? Join us as we talk through the landscape and methods to maintain security with a resident cybersecurity guru.

Cryptocurrencies have evolved from sideline oddities into hot commodities. Where does this leave financial institutions? We asked our resident payments expert and a representative from NYDIG, a technology and financial services firm dedicated to bitcoin products across industries, to explain why financial institutions should care and how to move forward.

2020 showed us just how important it is to embrace retail and commercial customer relationships that exist solely in the digital realm—meaning relationships that have no face-to-face interaction whatsoever in the customer lifecycle. We spoke to CSI’s Senior Director for Digital Strategy to find out how. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the American economy, but debit card growth has rebounded and remained strong. Will the migration from cash to card continue at a solid pace once the pandemic has (hopefully) gone? We asked a senior director of global product at Visa for her thoughts.

Discussing the changing perceptions of working with marijuana-related businesses with Becki LaPorte, CSI’s Director of Global Risk and Compliance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how financial institutions will serve their customers for years to come, including accelerating adoption of digital communication tools to meet evolving consumer expectations. As demand for digital solutions increases, how can financial institutions bridge the gap between digital communication and the human touch that many consumers still crave? We spoke to the Senior Vice President of Products and Markets at Revation Systems to find out.

At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, top cybersecurity agencies issued warnings that cyber criminals were stepping up their efforts in attacking the health care industry and people working from home. But how can financial institutions protect themselves? We spoke to CSI’s vice president of internal audit to learn how. 

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and open banking have been in industry headlines for quite some time. But how can APIs transform your financial institution? We discuss with an API guru.

As banking customers get younger and technology becomes more advanced, it’s no surprise that bank branches aren’t getting as much traffic as they once did. So, is it the right time for your bank to launch a digital branch? We discuss with the information security officer from Banterra Bank.

When it comes to payments, 2019 has been the year of the megadeal. Now that the dust has settled, how have three huge deals shaped the future of the payments landscape? We discuss acquisitions, open banking and consumer payments with a senior analyst from Celent.

It’s no secret that email is the number one vector for both malware and phishing distribution. But could we be facing bigger threats from our watches, cars and refrigerators? We discuss with a security architect from Cisco.

In this episode recorded live at CX19, we discuss financial institutions’ growing need to implement solid cybersecurity education and awareness training for employees. But how to get started? We asked a seasoned bank CIO for tips.

On September 25, the House of Representatives passed the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which aims to provide a safe harbor for financial institutions who wish to work with legal marijuana-related businesses. So, what does this mean for the future of marijuana banking? We discuss with two compliance gurus in a conversation recorded live at CX19.

According to our recent consumer cybersecurity poll, 74% of respondents said they would likely participate in a cybersecurity awareness program if their financial institution offered one. So, what are you doing to educate your customers on cybersecurity? We talked about this with CSI’s vice president of internal audit live at CX19.

In the previous episode of this show, we discussed why the U.S. is behind the rest of the world in implementing contactless EMV payments. But things are starting to change. So, what are payments companies doing to help fuel the nationwide contactless EMV movement? We continue our contactless EMV conversation with a vice president at Visa, a sponsor of CX19. 

In the beginning of July, Bank of America started mailing contactless cards to customers in New York, Boston and San Francisco. Chase and Wells Fargo are also getting in the game, sending contactless cards to new customers, as well as existing customers when their current card expires. So does all this activity signal the beginning of the contactless boom in this country? We asked CSI’s Director of Payment Services what he thinks.

Andy and Laura have a quick announcement regarding CSI Customer Experience 2019 in Chicago. Then, we talk to some attendees at last year's conference.

In the coming years, we will see automation replace an increasing amount of workers. But we will also see advancements in machine learning that will benefit workers in many industries, including finance. We spoke to the co-founder of an AI solutions firm about how financial institutions are using machine learning effectively to enhance their risk and compliance efforts.

We spoke to 220 banking executives for our Banking Priorities 2019 study, and 71% of respondents said new customer acquisition will be a major tactic toward reaching their revenue goals this year. So how are banks stepping up their acquisition games in 2019? We discuss with Valerie Woodrum, vice president, retail operations and process improvement manager at Illinois National Bank; and Laura Ryan, product manager with CSI.

We saved one of the hottest topics in the industry for our final episode of 2018—APIs. We spoke to a senior analyst with Celent’s banking practice to explore how banks can fully reap the benefits of APIs, including simplified integration, reduced costs and enhanced customer communication.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), widely considered the most comprehensive privacy law in the United States, was signed into law on June 28th, 2018. The law gives consumers much more control over their personal information. So how will the CCPA affect financial institutions when it goes into effect on January 1, 2020? We discuss with Joseph Lynyak, an attorney and frequent lecturer on legal topics in the financial services space. 

As part of President Trump’s decision to abandon the Iran nuclear agreement, the U.S. reinstated sanctions against Iran on November 5. So what do these recent actions mean for U.S. financial institutions—and all American businesses—for that matter? We discuss the ramifications with a compliance strategist and an attorney specializing in international trade law. 

According to ITSP Magazine, financial services firms get hit with cyber attacks 300 times more frequently than businesses in other industries. So is your financial institution an easy mark for hackers? For National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we discuss strategies for keeping your institution safe with Steve Sanders, CSI’s vice president of internal audit.And don't forget to register for our free semiannual cybersecurity update on October 25!

From modern play areas for children to state-of-the-art discovery bars for adults, HOMEBANK of Palmyra, Missouri, is putting a stronger emphasis on the entire customer experience in its branches—and the results have been quite positive. We discuss branch optimization strategies with Joe Thomas, chief executive officer and chairman of the board, and Caly Cramsey, chief financial officer and director of customer support at HOMEBANK.

From 2000 to 2008, nearly 1,100 banks were newly chartered in this country. But that number fell drastically following the financial crisis in 2008. In fact, when Infinity Bank in Santa Ana, California, opened its doors on February 1, 2018, it became only the ninth bank in the United States to open after the crisis. We discuss the experience of launching a de novo bank with Victor Guerrero, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Infinity Bank.

We recently conducted a survey of more than 2,000 Americans, ages 18 and above, to help uncover some of the driving factors they look for in their banking relationships. So what did they have to say about digital banking, social media, the security of their accounts, and more? We analyze the results of the survey with Eric Cook, a digital strategist specializing in community banks at WSI.

When President Trump signed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act into law on May 24, the banking industry celebrated. So what happens now? We talk to Keith Monson, CSI's chief risk officer, about the provisions of the law that will provide the most benefits to financial institutions—and when they will begin feeling the relief.

Despite thorough planning and exhaustive preparedness, things can happen spontaneously at a financial institution that are beyond control. So what's the best way to handle a crisis? We ask David Jones, vice president of William Mills Agency and an experienced crisis management professional, about what to do (and what not to do) when a crisis hits.

We are in the age of the Internet of Things (IoT), where you can pay for coffee with your watch and buy eggs from your fridge. But are these payments secure? According to our guest, IoT is something society is moving toward whether it is secure or not.

When it comes to services that can help reduce risk, increase earnings and meet customer needs across several fronts, financial institutions should look no further than treasury management services. On this episode, we talk to Terry Bradley, Senior Vice President and Director of Commercial Depository and Treasury Management Services at Paducah Bank, about how he leverages core treasury services into increased revenue. He’ll also provide tips that will help any institution launch a successful treasury initiative of its own.

In a recent global study from Oracle, 69 percent of respondents said they want their entire financial lifecycle on digital channels. So how important is digital banking to a financial institution's fiscal health and omnichannel strategy? We discuss the current state of digital banking, and what it will look like in the future, with a panel of digital banking strategists.

Joseph Otting, the Comptroller of the Currency, has repeatedly expressed the desire to overhaul the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). So will a BSA revision be the next big legislative change to affect financial institutions? We talk to Paja Crider, COO and vice president of Farmers Bank & Trust in Marion, Kentucky, and Amber Goodrich, CSI’s compliance strategist, about what it's like trying to comply with the BSA now, and what it could look like in the near future.

Introducing Fintech Focus, a new podcast from CSI discussing the latest fintech news and trends with industry experts and thought leaders.