Retail Banking’s
Steeper Climb

As coping tactics run their course, retail banks must reposition for a challenging new market.

Multi-channel M&A:
Where do Branches Fit?

Current Articles

Have Low Rates Ruined Treasury Management?

May 2012

Treasury management remains an important line of business for commercial banks, but players need to adapt to a changing market, particularly in liquidity management. Low rates seem to be the new normal. Not only has the Federal Reserve pledged to keep interest rates at historical lows through most of 2014, but the trend is further supported by downward pressure on rates in Canada and Europe.

Commercial Sales Productivity: Four Keys to Winning Market Share

April 2012

A concerted effort will be needed to strengthen the sales function in commercial banking, which is still overly reliant on the individual efforts of relationship managers. Margins remain weak in a low-rate environment, and fee-based businesses are mostly plodding along. How will players meet their profit goals for 2012–2013?

Novantas U.S. Multi-Channel Customer Research 2012

From CBA Live 2012:
The Rise of the Virtually Domiciled

March 2012

The second annual Novantas U.S. Multi-Channel Customer Survey shows that customer preferences, attitudes, and behaviors continue to shift away from branches into remote channels.

Novantas in the News

The Economist — Withering away

19th May 2012

Sherief Meleis of Novantas, another consultancy, reckons that thanks to low rates banks are about $60 billion a year worse off than in 2007 and that new rules are trimming their revenues by another $15 billion or so. With such a steep drop in income, about 15% of the current branch network tips over into unprofitability, he says.

Credit Union Times — Mobility Matters: Tracking the Mobile Banking Revolution in Credit Unions

14th May 2012

"The mobile corporate banking app is the senior exec's window into the institution"said Ledford, meaning this potentially is a way to deepen relationships with the decision makers.