Top Quartile

Steve Mertz, EVP of Growth & Strategy with People First Federal Credit Union, joins Dan Marks to discuss how their team is leveraging data to boost member and revenue growth. Key points covered include: Steve's broad background with banking and credit unions and how that has prepared him to drive the overall growth agenda at People First Steve's passion for family and baseball  The new executive team at People First being in place to accelerate growth after a period low to no growth The challenge in brand perception and delivery that had to be addressed as a foundation How to use data-driven insights to effectively coordinate marketing and sales activities  Where Steve sees the puck going in applying data to generate tangible revenue outcomes  Setting an array of proactive touchpoints to communicate to members in the way that they have signaled they prefer – including emerging channels like text and OTT video

D.G. Markwell with Credit Union Leaders joins Dan Marks to discuss leadership skills, best practices, and habits that will be essential to maintain strong growth into the future. Key points covered include: How D.G.'s background growing a credit union from $100M to over $2B in assets set the stage for Credit Union Leaders  How the mission of Credit Union Leaders helps the industry grow Competing with the big banks and supporting communities  How leadership looks in the digital age  Best practices in data-driven digital growth and keeping a heart and passion for the community How credit unions under $5B can tap into essential data-driven expertise without having to hire full time Leadership essentials looking out 36 months, including: Empathy, mental health, digital transformation, the culture of data-driven decisions, financial education, marketing, and product development 

Drew Manning, CIO at KeyPoint Credit Union, joins Dan Marks to talk about how technology enables KeyPoint to deliver a great member experience today and into the future as the landscape changes. We specifically talk about: Drew's background and current role as CIO, along with his hobby as a Jazz musician (Drew's Jazz Spotify channel) Recent growth at KeyPoint  Drew's experience as a developer and how that informs his approach to leading as CIO  Key growth drivers  The role of data analytics – both historical trending and forward-looking predictive  Managing risks to protect the member experience Drew's perspective on where the technology landscape is going 

Tim Keith, CEO at Infusion, joins Dan Marks to discuss what it means to deliver over $10 billion in balances for clients, how that connects to the Mission, and key lessons learned along the way, grounded in deep analysis of what actually drives tangible results. Key points covered include: The $10B response balance milestone What this means for clients and how it connects to our Mission Lessons learned across four key performance optimization dimensions: Audience selection and the capacity/propensity equation Offer structure related to product mix Creative/positioning Channel mix including digital and OTT/CTV How results are tracked and optimized

Ashish Agarwal, CMO at Kin Insurance (previously with Prosper), joins Dan Marks to discuss leaning in with strong analytics, customer, and commercial orientation and building a talented team to drive results. Some of the points we highlight in this episode are:  Ashish's background and progression through roles at Capital One, Remitly, Prosper, and now, Kin  Observations on growth drivers and current consumer behavior from the FinTech perspective  How the interest rate environment affects the marketplace  How to use data and insights to inform marketing strategy  Lessons learned from recent changes in consumer behavior and preferences  How Brand and Performance disciplines in marketing work together to drive results 

Stephanie Dennehy, Chief Marketing Officer at Cape Cod Five, joins Dan Marks on this episode to talk about some of the best practices for community banking. Stephanie has been in banking and financial services for 11 years and talks about the growth she has seen in her time in the banking industry. Some of the points we highlight in this episode are:  Stephanie's background and experience as a digital leader  How Cape Cod Five expanded its leadership in business lending  How culture and brand mutually reinforce each other  How Stephanie's marketing leadership has supported growth at Cape Cod Five  How the mission of expanding financial wellness informs the go to market approach  How the bank's mission and values informed the key strategic decision to completely eliminate Overdraft fees  How Cape Cod Five is implementing P2P payment systems to

Top Quartile brings you part 2 of our special year end episode as we talk with a few of this year's guests on the show about what kind of things they are keeping their watching as we go into 2023 and what key trends they are seeing, strategizing for, and are excited about in the coming year in the banking industry. Guests appearing in this episode and links to their original Top Quartile episode include:  Janelle Herrera, the head of Marketing and Business Development at OnTap Credit Union https://infusionmarketinggroup.com/podcast/tapping-growth-through-a-focused-strategy-w-janelle-herrera/  Kim Vogel, Board Director TriCo and TriplePoint https://infusionmarketinggroup.com/podcast/the-board-of-directors-perspective-on-growth-in-community-banking-and-fintech-w-kim-vogel/kim-vogel/  Tim Keith, Chief Executive Officer at Infusion https://infusionmarketinggroup.com/podcast/growing-deposits-at-attractive-cost-by-applying-advanced-data-analytics-with-tim-keith/  Douglas Scarboro, SVP of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Regional Executive Memphis Branch https://infusionmarketinggroup.com/podcast/helping-communities-thrive-and-fostering-payments-innovation-w-douglas-scarboro/ 

Top Quartile brings you a special year end episode bringing back guests from the past year to talk about some of the key lessons they learned in 2022 as well as some of the books they have read that have helped shape strategies in the banking industry. Guests appearing in this episode and links to their original Top Quartile episode include:  Kim Vogel, Board Director TriCo and TriplePoint https://infusionmarketinggroup.com/podcast/the-board-of-directors-perspective-on-growth-in-community-banking-and-fintech-w-kim-vogel/kim-vogel/  Rick Claypoole, Managing Partner at Infusion - The Value of Customer Data For M&A https://infusionmarketinggroup.com/podcast/the-value-of-customer-data-for-ma-with-rick-claypoole/  Douglas Scarboro, SVP of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Regional Executive Memphis Branch https://infusionmarketinggroup.com/podcast/helping-communities-thrive-and-fostering-payments-innovation-w-douglas-scarboro/  Janelle Herrera, the head of Marketing and Business Development at OnTap Credit Union https://infusionmarketinggroup.com/podcast/tapping-growth-through-a-focused-strategy-w-janelle-herrera/ 

Neil Stanley, the CEO of CorePoint and a former Bank CEO joins host Dan Marks to talk trends and best practices on liquidity management.  Neil has an extensive experience from his time working for a bank and running a bank as CEO as well as his current role at Corepoint.  Neil has a passion for diving deep in understanding all of the levers that influence deposit growth at a bank and an interesting perspective that may be a source of new ideas and inspiration for enhancing your strategy.   Trends across the industry related to liquidity management  The catalyst for shifts in balance sheet priorities and how to get prepared for what is coming  The balance sheet view compared to the customer view  The value of personalization in setting deposit pricing and processes  Updating processes and approaches for the mix of digital and personal channels  Key take-aways and best practices 

Amber Callahan who leads marketing for 1st Advantage Credit Union joins Dan Marks how a data driven foundation for marketing leads to brand growth as well as product growth. Some of the points we highlight in this episode are:  What growth has been like recently at 1st Advantage  1st Advantage's marketing strategy  How the 70-year legacy of community involvement builds the brand  Using data and analytics as a strong foundation for the entire marketing plan  Best Practices and lessons learned  Advice Amber would give to her younger self 

Rilla Delorier, who sits on multiple bank and fintech boards, joins Dan Marks on this episode to discuss how banks can ensure innovation gets the proper attention at the board and management level.  Innovation from the perspective of a bank executive vs a bank board member  How Rilla filters and prioritizes key information Understanding the customer perspective to inform strategy  The importance of having people from different perspectives to spark inspiration  Key innovation areas of opportunity for community banks Avoiding the ‘twin traps' of being too aggressive and too massive on a transformation program as opposed to not doing enough  3 key lessons learned by Rilla that would be helpful for bank management 

Tim Keith and Dan Marks discuss how smart banks and credit unions are able to apply practical analysis to create a data driven strategy that results in reaching funding goals and relationship growth goals at a lower total cost than other alternatives.  Macro trends from across peer banks and credit unions  Similarities and differences from prior rate cycles going back to the 1970s  Differences between relationship and prospect driven approaches  How personalized digital media changes the game  Key lessons learned and practical examples 

Janelle Herrera, the head of Marketing and Business Development at OnTap Credit Union talks with Dan Marks about OnTap's unique mission tied to their roots and it focuses the growth strategy. Dive into the history at the bottom of the bottle on this fascinating Podcast episode of Top Quartile.    How OnTap Credit Union was […]

Gentry Moyes, Head of Paid Media at Mountain America Credit Union, goes behind the scenes with Dan Marks to unpack the who, what, and why of the MACCEE award winning campaign that Mountain America recently wrapped up that used influencers to authentically promote the My Style checking product.    Gentry's background and current role at […]

Jeff Keltner and joins Dan Marks in this episode of Top Quartile to discusses credit, digital lending, and how to use data in new ways to expand access to credit. Jeff is the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Upstart and has a Computer Systems Engineering Degree from Standford.   Upstarts background and what […]

Join Kim Vogel and Dan Marks as they discuss the unique role of the board of directors in overseeing rather than executing a bank strategy.  Kim serves on the board of directors for Tri Counties Bank as well as two FinTechs.  How Kim's background in Equity Research and FinTech startups informs her perspective The board's role as overseer rather than management Effective board and management interactions How to assess and manage risk rather than try to eliminate it Keys to successful innovation and how to create a culture of “smart innovation.” Real world stories and examples from multiple chairs What Kim secretly wanted to be when she grew up and the advice she would give her younger self about pursuing a board role

Sean Kouplen and Dan Marks discuss the culture of support and giving that Regent Bank has been thriving on both internally and externally, and how Sean has learned and developed his leadership strategy over the years as the Chairman and CEO at Regent Bank.    How Regent Bank has generated sustained double-digit growth  Regent's use of technology enables their “niche is the new local” strategy  Discover which niches Regents focuses on and why  How building a culture of giving has attracted employees and customers  Sean's top 3 lessons learned around leadership

Nicholas Holland and Dan Marks explore lessons learned from Nick's perspective as a marketer and now head of product at HubSpot – a leading provider of CRM technology.    How HubSpot has grown recently  How HubSpot used the voice of their customer to inform the product and growth roadmap  How orchestration of marketing, sales, and service activities via a CRM can turbocharge growth  Omni Channel customer journeys and how to use best practices for banks and credit unions  How platforms, integrations, and ecosystems are impacting the future of technology for the front office 

Tim Keith and Dan Marks provide an introduction and overview of the best practices to actually use Digital Marketing to drive tangible measurable growth. This overview comes from years of experience and analysis based on what does and doesn't work at banks and credit unions around the country.  Highlights include:  The Digital landscape and why First Party data matters so much.  How capacity and propensity inform targeting and awareness and engagement, and drive results.  How to practically orchestrate a true omni-channel growth strategy.  How Digital marketing drives measurable results across channels both online and in branch.  How real account tracking works across channels and devices in the crazy world of people using ad blockers and click blockers

Chief Marketing Officer at USE Credit Union, Amber Fielder, talks marketing strategy and her “Digital First” approach with host Dan Marks. Including:  Amber's marketing and sustainability background  Growth at USE  The brand journey  Surprising data driven insights that drive strategy  How Digital First comes to life in marketing  How Digital First comes to life in the branch  Amber's advice to her younger self  USE website   Connect with Amber on LinkedIn  Amber serves on the board of the Marketing Association of Credit Unions  MAC spring conference 

State Employees' Credit Union's SVP of Marketing, Amy Tharrington, talks about agility and change management to build brands with host Dan Marks. Including: • Growth at SECU • How personal balance drives high performance at work • Amy's progression of roles at different types of financial institutions • The importance of understanding the associate and member mindset to build change programs • Using data to inform a strategy • How “playing up” helps develop talent Connect with Amy on LinkedIn Check out SECU

Community Resource Credit Union's Marketing Director, Kristen Curette, talks all things design, digital, community, and leadership with host Dan Marks.  Highlights include:  Big digital advances that helped lead to CRCU's steady growth amidst the pandemic  How Kristen's creative background informs her leadership  Kristen's focus on community   Using design to improve the customer experience How staying grounded in the fundamentals while always learning and innovating are both super important  Kristen's advice to her younger self  Connect with Kristen on LinkedIn  Check out CRCU 

President and CEO of Baker Hill John Deignan talks all things loan growth with host Dan Marks.  Highlights from a career spent helping financial services companies grow  How work styles and processes are adapting to a hybrid world  The most effective things financial institutions are doing to grow quality loans  Keys to successfully digitizing an end to end loan origination process  The top three (plus one) things that banks and credit unions to accelerate loan growth  John's advice on addressing and thriving in challenging situations  Connect with John on LinkedIn  Check out Baker Hill 

Several key thought leaders share their perspective on key trends shaping 2022. Check out the video version of this episode on Youtube. Guests appearing in this episode and links to their original Top Quartile episode include: Sarae Janes Lewis SVP, Director of Associate & Client Experience at Pinnacle Financial Partners – The Inside Story of Pinnacle's Growth  Rick Claypoole EVP, Client Analytics at Infusion – The Value of Customer Data For M&A Delynn Byars SVP of Marketing at First South Financial CU – Systematic Onboarding  John Oxford SVP and Director of Marketing at Renasant Bank – Key Marketing Trends  Douglas Scarboro SVP of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Regional Executive Memphis Branch – Helping Communities Thrive and Fostering Payments Innovation  Tim Keith CEO at Infusion – Loan Growth Best Practices 

We bring back some of the guests that were part of the inaugural year of Top Quartile for a roundtable discussion about key lessons learned in 2021. Check out the video version of this episode on Youtube! Guests appearing in this episode and links to their original Top Quartile episode include:  Sarae Janes Lewis SVP, Director of Associate & Client Experience at Pinnacle Financial Partners – The Inside Story of Pinnacle's Growth  Rick Claypoole EVP, Client Analytics at Infusion – The Value of Customer Data For M&A  Delynn Byars SVP of Marketing at First South Financial CU – Systematic Onboarding  John Oxford SVP and Director of Marketing at Renasant Bank – Key Marketing Trends  Douglas Scarboro SVP of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Regional Executive Memphis Branch – Helping Communities Thrive and Fostering Payments Innovation  Tim Keith CEO at

Business Development Strategist and author of How to Turn Order Takers Into Rainmakers, Charlie Moon, talks about how banks can enhance revenue growth through a systematic approach to sales coaching and management with host Dan Marks, including:  Charlie's unique background in banking  How Charlie applies his skills to help non profits raise funds in his spare time  Charlie breaks down his book and the acronym embrACe  Navigating the relationship between technical skills and personal skills in sales  The importance of engaging clients with a story  Charlie's process for individual development  Charlie's advice to his younger self   Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn  Check out getcharliemoon.com  Download Charlie's book 

Senior Vice President and Director of Associate and Client Experience at Pinnacle Financial Partners, Sarae Janes Lewis, talks with host Dan Marks about how building a great culture focused on delivering a great client experience drives growth at Pinnacle, including:  Sarae's background and the genesis of her role  How Pinnacle has grown from 250 employees to a top 40 bank by assets  How culture and delivering an excellent client experience interrelate  Pinnacle's leadership philosophy and the story behind using Partners in the name   Pinnacle's distinct operating approach and how analytics and listening to clients drive Top Quartile growth  Sarae's advice to her younger self  Connect with Sarae on LinkedIn  Check out Pinnacle's website  Fastest Growing Metro Areas in the US 

Will Chase, the founding CEO of Triumph bank, discusses key observations and lessons learned that led to the founding, profitability, rapid growth, and eventual successful exit with host Dan Marks including:  Will's journey from repossessing cars to founding Triumph  The banking climate in Memphis while starting Triumph  The strategies that kept Triumph successful through all types of economic cycles   How Triumph built a differentiated brand  How a community bank can use data and analytics to win customers  Will's view on adopting technology and how a community bank can be successful even in a “scale game”  Reflections on leadership, culture, and learning from mistakes

Scot Lenoir, Chairman at Evolve Bank and Trust, talks with host Dan Marks about their partnerships in the FinTech and Crypto space and how it drives growth! The conversation includes:  How Scot started Evolve  Scot's love for sports and music  Evolve's role in in FinTech and Crypto  How Scot thinks about the current banking and financial services space  How Evolve embraces innovation and regulation at the same time  How FinTech partnerships benefit end consumers  How Evolve leverages data and analytics to serve clients  Scot's key takeaways around serving the FinTech and Crypto space 

CEO at Infusion Tim Keith talks best practices in growing loans with host Dan Marks based on analyzing billions of industry specific peer data points.  How macro trends impacts planning  Peer benchmarking to uncover new opportunities  Data mining to prioritize high potential opportunities  Understanding needs along the customer/member lifecycle   How to grow loans with higher risk adjusted returns  How to easily and quickly discover new data-driven opportunities for loan growth   Connect with Tim on LinkedIn  Check out infusionmarketinggroup.com

B2B Marketing maven, author, and podcaster Drew Neisser sits with host Dan Marks to discuss some of the marketing guidelines outlined in his new book Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands, including:  Drew's role at Renegade and what lead him to write his new book  Drew's fascination with Ben Franklin  Why Drew has a passion for B2B Marketing specifically  The CATS methodology  How to be a Courageous marketer  How to be an Artful marketer   How to be a Thoughtful marketer – and why purpose matters  How to be a Scientific marketer – and how to focus on metrics that matter

Georgia United Credit Union's Chief Marketing Officer, Aaron Chestnut, joins host Dan Marks to talk branding, mission, the heart of marketing, and how to build an analytic-driven marketing culture! Highlights include:  Aaron's role at Georgia United (plus his company band!)  Recent growth at Georgia United  GU's mission to serve, and why a company should walk the walk  Aaron's unique history building brands and how it helps Georgia United grow  How “Freedom to Fail” leads to more winning  Balancing the art and science of marketing 

Cornerstone Advisors' Sam Kilmer, co-host of The Fintech Hustle, and host Dan Marks discuss the latest technology and data driven growth trends from Sam's perspective advising hundreds of institutions including:  Sam's banking career history and his current role at Cornerstone  The story of Gonzobanker  How the ecosystem of Financial Institutions is changing  Banks utilizing data and analytics to gain market share  Real world observations on lessons learned in using data for revenue growth  Organizing for success to unlock the potential for data driven growth  The importance for executives to recognize pain and using data to alleviate that pain  What Sam's priorities would be if he were to take a Chief Banking Officer/Chief Revenue Officer role in a bank or credit union 

Ed Francis, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer for InBankshares, Corp and InBank, talks with host Dan Marks about the re-invention of the 100 year organization and subsequent growth including: How InBank's growth has doubled in 3 years The importance of humanizing CEO's and being “touchable” InBank's origin story and the “why” of the InBank brand Ed's leadership philosophy and being hands-on Using research and analytics to make better, data driven decisions and build long lasting relationships with customers Over-delivering on customer expectations with a combination of quick service technology and human interaction Ed's advice to his younger self – and all new bankers Connect with Ed on LinkedIn  Visit Inbank.com

President and Chief Executive Officer at Washington Federal Bank, Brent Beardall, talks with host Dan Marks about where WaFd came from and to where he wants to drive it in the near future, including: The impressive growth at WaFd Brent's philosophy around driving growth The idea of frictionless banking WaFd's push to be a digital-first bank by 2025 The difference between digital-first and digital-only Using data to make banking easier for the client Brent's advice to his younger self Connect with Brent on LinkedIn  Visit wafdbank.com  Investors, view WaFd's Investor Relations page

Ed Francis, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer for InBankshares, Corp and InBank, talks with host Dan Marks about the re-invention of the 100 year organization and subsequent growth including:  How InBank’s growth has doubled in 3 years  The importance of humanizing CEO's and being “touchable”  InBank's origin story and the “why” of the InBank brand  Ed's leadership philosophy and being hands-on  Using research and analytics to make better, data driven decisions and build long lasting relationships with customers  Over-delivering on customer expectations with a combination of quick service technology and human interaction  Ed's advice to his younger self – and all new bankers   Connect with Ed on LinkedIn  Visit Inbank.com 

CAO/CMO at Grand Savings Bank, Natalie Bartholomew, AKA The Girl Banker, talks with host Dan Marks about her role in driving growth by creating a better place to work for everyone, including:  Growth at Grand Savings Bank  Natalie's unique role at Grand Savings – Head of Marketing and Human Resources  How branding and culture are two sides of the same coin  The dangers of devaluing any roles in the bank  Natalie's philosophy around developing people  The origin story of The Girl Banker brand and why it was important to develop her personal brand  A take on the white-collar moms coming back to work after the pandemic and workplaces recognizing the value of being flexible   Natalie's advice to young women in banking    Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn and Social Media Visit TheGirlBanker.com  Visit Grand Saving Bank's website  Listen to Natalie's podcast 

President and Chief Executive Officer at Washington Federal Bank, Brent Beardall, talks with host Dan Marks about where WaFd came from and to where he wants to drive it in the near future, including:  The impressive growth at WaFd  Brent's philosophy around driving growth  The idea of frictionless banking  WaFd's push to be a digital-first bank by 2025  The difference between digital-first and digital-only  Using data to make banking easier for the client  Brent's advice to his younger self  Connect with Brent on LinkedIn  Visit wafdbank.com  Investors, view WaFd's Investor Relations page 

The President/CEO at OnPath Federal Credit Union, Jared Freeman, shares his story and leadership philosophy with host Dan Marks, including:  The growth at OnPath at its 60th anniversary  Key strategies for driving growth  The use of analytics and research to inform strategy  Jared's leadership philosophy  An approach to fostering innovation and problem solving  The story of Jared's path to becoming a CEO at a young age  Jared's advice to his younger self 

Infusion CEO Tim Keith talks ROI tracking and multi-channel attribution amongst the impending “cookie-pocalypse” with host Dan Marks, including:  How do we practically link outcomes to key marketing activities to understand impact?  How do we avoid stopping short and only looking at activity metrics like impressions and clicks?  How can you put in place a practical measurement framework that avoids crumbling under its own weight of complexity?  How to solve tracking outcomes across devices  Best practices and practical tips based on decades of experience  Connect with Tim on LinkedIn  Visit Infusion Marketing Group to learn more about how their knowledge, data, and marketing expertise helps community banks and credit unions grow their business 

 Kyle Edmonds, VP and Partner at Mitchell Signs, talks about the importance of physical branding with host Dan Marks, including:   Signage trends and changes within the financial services industry  Why banks and credit unions invest in physical branding  Developing a strategy to begin or update exterior and/or interior branding  New tech in signage  How a comprehensive brand plan includes both physical and digital elements  Kyle’s advice to his younger self  Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn  Visit Mitchellsigns.com  Watch this drone footage of an innovative signage install  

Shane Loper, COO at Hancock Whitney Corporation talks to host Dan Marks about how his company’s values and mission relate to achieving top performance, including:   Shane’s background and how it influences his leadership philosophy  Shane’s journey from programmer to COO  How core values and company mission impact decisions  Examples and stories of how the company and community benefit from strong values  How strong values help chart a path of innovation and growth  Key take-aways and lessons learned  Shane’s advice to his younger self.  Expanded on in this downloadable resource: Build a Great Personal Brand, a Message to My Younger Self   Connect with Shane on LinkedIn  Visit Hancockwhitney.com   

In this episode, host Dan Marks and Matt Allen, CMO at Flagstar Bank,  discuss using customer analytics to drive a shift in promotional strategies, including:   Research and analysis used to identify opportunity to shift marketing strategies  Gaining buy-in for that strategic shift  Outcomes and impact from this strategy  Actionable insight on implementing a relationship-based approach to marketing  Matt’s advice to his younger self  Connect with Matt on LinkedIn   Visit Flagstar’s website 

James Schenck, President & CEO of PenFed Credit Union and CEO of the PenFed Foundation, talks to Host Dan Marks about pay, performance, and culture at PenFed, including:   James’ thoughts on his role as CEO Growth highlights at PenFed PenFed’s key growth drivers, including people, products, and channels Unique aspects of PenFed’s culture and the organization’s philosophy around people leadership and pay The impact on culture and performance of pay practices Key insights about leadership and integrity James’ advice to his younger self Connect with James on LinkedIn Visit penfed.org and penfedfoundation.org

Douglas Scarboro, Senior Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Regional Executive in charge of the bank’s Memphis branch talks to Host Dan Marks about the work the Federal Reserve is doing in community development and modernizing the US payment system, including:   How the Fed’s dual mandate shapes inclusion and innovation  Which programs are positively impacting communities the most  Using data and analytics to guide decision making  Segmentation and relevance in the context of community development work  How modernizing the US payment system is beneficial  Payment modernization, digital currencies, and crypto  Douglas’ advice to his younger self  Connect with Douglas on LinkedIn  Visit stlouisfed.org/memphis 

John Oxford, SVP and Director of Marketing for Renasant Bank and author of the book No More Next Time: Marketing in the Age of Distraction, discusses the latest marketing trends for banks with host Dan Marks:   Bonus: hear the story behind the SEC Shorts YouTube channel  The idea behind John’s book  Why branding is crucial for banks, and why banks typically don’t do branding at a high level  How and why banks should leverage social media  The importance of “retargeting”  The effectiveness of email marketing and marketing automation for banks  How audience, channel, and message work together to drive impact  John’s take on SMS marketing  John’s advice to his younger self  Connect with John on LinkedIn   Check out John’s Book, No More Next Time: Marketing in the Age of Distraction 

Delynn Byars,  SVP of Marketing at First South Financial Credit Union, discusses onboarding best practices with host Dan Marks:  Why creating and implementing a systematic onboarding program was a priority  Key components of First South’s systematic onboarding program  How First South’s approach to onboarding has evolved and improved over time  The results First South has seen from implementing onboarding changes and how the credit union measures results  How the systematic onboarding program fits into the overall member experience  Key take-aways for others considering implementing or upgrading an onboarding program Delynn’s advice to her younger self … and her work with Mid South Therapy Dogs   Connect with Delynn on LinkedIn  About First South Financial Credit Union  Learn more about credit union marketing with the Marketing Association of Credit Unions  Check out Mid South Therapy Dogs 

Host Dan Marks and Katie Grover, SVP and Marketing Director at Fidelity Bank,  discuss high-performance branding in the world of community banking, including:  Katie’s definition of “high-performance branding”  How Fidelity’s core values have shaped the bank’s brand  The ideal set of buying personas Fidelity’s brand is crafted to reach  Strategy driving the brand’s visual identity  How customer experience and community involvement help “prove” Fidelity’s brand values  The roles that targeted or addressable marketing, such as digital and direct mail, play in building the Fidelity brand  Katie’s advice to her younger self  Connect with Katie on LinkedIn   Visit Fidelity Bank online  Check out the Bravely Onward website  Read about Bravely Onward in The Wichita Eagle 

Why is customer analytics crucial for planning and executing a bank or credit union merger or acquisition? In this episode, Host Dan Marks and Rick Claypoole, Infusion EVP of Client Analytics, discuss this important topic, including: Keys to successfully executing a merger integration How banks and credit unions should use customer-level data alongside account data to plan for a successful customer experience  Virtual clean-room compliant customer analysis techniques and approaches How an Infusion Opportunity Assessment applies in M&A situations  Some of the key impacts in the customer experience that can make or break a deal meeting pro-forma The role “Super Onboarding” plays And … Rick’s surprising connection to Groundhog Day and advice to his younger self. Connect with Rick on LinkedIn  Visit Infusion online to learn more about how an Opportunity Assessment can help facilitate your M&A initiatives.

Why is Infusion starting a podcast? Because, says Infusion CEO Tim Keith, Infusion has a unique perspective on what’s happening in the community banking and credit union industry. “We get data every day from banks and credit unions all across the country, and we’ve built a standardized data model that allows us to take that data and transform it into normative intelligence in a lights-out, automated, rapid-fire kind of way.” In other words, Infusion has a unique knowledge base to share and a finger on the pulse of the day-to-day goings on the in the increasingly complex world of community banking.  In upcoming episodes you’ll hear from Infusion experts as well as other thought leaders in the industry, sharing best practices and discussing how industry trends affect their brands. “We’re super excited about this initiative want to be a more pollinator in the industry of the most up-to-date intelligence on what’s working, what’s not working, and what’s happening out there.” And why the podcast is called Top Quartile? Because, Tim says, it’s all about the strategies and tactics that drive top quartile performance in community banking. “In other words, you are outperforming 75% of the market because you figured out how to make the particular strategy you’ve undertaken work in the environment you’re in,” Tim says. “What we want to offer the industry in this podcast are the factors that correlate with top quartile performance and the fundamental metrics to define profitable banking.” Connect with Tim on LinkedIn  Visit Infusion Marketing Group to learn more about how their knowledge, data, and marketing expertise helps community banks and credit unions grow their business. 

Why is customer analytics crucial for planning and executing a bank or credit union merger or acquisition? In this episode, Host Dan Marks and Rick Claypoole, Infusion EVP of Client Analytics, discuss this important topic, including: Keys to successfully executing a merger integration How banks and credit unions should use customer-level data alongside account data to plan for a successful customer experience Virtual clean-room compliant customer analysis techniques and approaches How an Infusion Opportunity Assessment applies in M&A situations Some of the key impacts in the customer experience that can make or break a deal meeting pro-forma The role “Super Onboarding” plays And … Rick’s surprising connection to Groundhog Day and advice to his younger self. Connect with Rick on LinkedIn Visit Infusion online to learn more about how an Opportunity Assessment can help facilitate your M&A initiatives.