360 View – The compelling argument on saving the troubled industry with the right tool!!

Why 360 View?  It is the most absolute and comprehensive design with yet an easy to use and understand relationship management tool -is designed for financial institutions to make them more profitable through the knowledge of their customers while also seeking and finding prospective new opportunities using embedded predictive processes!

How will this change my institutions abilities? Better yet – the question should be how will this enhance my employees habits into productive and material progress for the institution?  Everyone likes to win, so 360 creates a winning strategy for every user, although it may be unique to the other employees winning strategy, it is a winning strategy for them and ultimately their institution. 

Why Now?  Simple – there has never been a more involved time in the financial market space that accountability and productive efforts needed to be channeled, therefore 360 accomplishes both goals. I firmly believe a change in the accountability (some will resist) factor will make the industry stronger while helping the hard working & caring individuals excel in their ability to know about and complete important tasks.

Why not give it a try?  No Reason other than not wanting accountability and as I have learned, those that are accomplishing / desiring to grow / willing to learn will embrace 360 – because as previously stated, they will have a winning strategy at their fingertips!

Thanks for checking this out and in reality you have nothing to lose!

Kevin Anderson

kanderson@inbizservices.com

 

Economy and Banking: I believe!

Hello Friends;

Over the last few months we Americans have all been very conservative in spending as we cautiously have watched and listened to a couple candidates running for president.  As well, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac among other troubled institutions have captured many thoughts of WHY / WHO / and HOW. 

Why did this happen?

Who is responsible?

How do we overcome?

Folks, we can all debate the above questions – but there is something not debatable and that is American people are smart and resilient – and will bounce back quickly. 

Being industry specific: I can describe what banking vendors need and that is our clients and prospects to continue forging forward with acquiring the appropriate tools, such as our 360 View CRM because it helps all parties (the ultimate win / win).  Our company is debt free with 24 employees that wake up each day wanting to deliver the perfect solution in assisting our clients (currently financial institutions) in knowing more about about their clients, so they can make their clients more profitable – which is the same thing we are doing, making our institutions more profitable….

Keep the economy moving by investing and buying!

KA

Free Webinar – Is CRM your current LifeSaver?

Please click on this link to register for the free webinar on October 21st @ 1:00 CST. We are blessed to have Jason Tonioli sharing the 500% ROI they have experienced at Bank of Utah (in less than 18 months) since implementing 360 View.

I look forward to hearing from you eith via email, call, or having you attend a free webinar.

Have a very BLESSED day!!

Kevin Anderson
kanderson@inbizservices.com
615-242-0007 ext 222

Is now time to cut spending on Technology?

Hello Friends;

I have had the opportunity to speak to groups of bankers in the last month, with many concerned about existing budget plans for 2008 and setting new budget items for 2009.  Let me encourage all financial institutions not to overlook the correct spending in the next 12-18 months.  As well, I strongly encourage spending on the correct technology. 

So what is the correct technology?  If I may suggest the following guidelines:

1) Core Processing is a given:  Whether in-house or using a data center this is an absolute must have. Many times though banks are inappropraitely allocating conversion expenses because they want more from the Core Processing system (which I will address in summary).

2) Item Processing is a given:  The trend is to now move all capture to the initial point of opportunity, which I am a fan of doing if that end user presents the correct model for the institution.  Some points of capture (in my opinion) will never pay for itself so caution in this area is a must.

3) Sticky Products / Reward Programs / Overdraft Programs:  Sticky products are those product resources that tie each instituions customer closer to the longterm relationship, but some sticky products are used incorrectly and thus create a negative position with certain customers and the institution - so careful evaluation is necessary.. / Reward Programs are often seen as a way to encourage certain types of transactions with free checking and if setup properly work.. / OD Programs are similar to the rewards program whereas certain types of behavior are encouraged..  In summary of these three items, institutions must make the correct evaluations because each “somewhat” require participation costs to the vendor of choice - and I certainly suggest careful evaluation.

4) CRM / Marketing:  This is a subject that hits really close to home because our 360 View solution allows each institution to not only save money but will make you money and there isnt any participation fees associated.  I am personally covering many cost containment items and am blessed to have Jason Tonioli assisting me from the marketing angle in a free webinar – see more by clicking anywhere in the summary area.

In summary: Now isnt the time to put off technology, but yet time to embrace the correct technology! 360 View is absolutely a system that will help you avoid going through conversions for the wrong reasons because the things you are looking for are already in 360: Referal Management, Activities (past and future), Outlook Integration, Marketing, Delinquency Management, Pipelines (workflow), Incident Tracking, Goals and Incentive Management, and even more. Thus allowing you to create wins for each and every employee and your customers will be amazed at how you can better service their needs and building confidence they must have in this economy.

Have a blessed day!

KA

Life is full of curve balls

As we all transition ourselves through this blessing called life, we would all agree that encounters of the proverbial ”bumps in the road” occur.  I firmly believe we are personaly and sometimes corporately defined based on how we navigate these bumps. 

In baseball, the toughest pitch to hit is a well placed curve ball – no doubt about it.  The difference is by hitting the baseball curve 30% of the time you are a hero to many and in life if you miss it just once people (friends, family, and even others that just know you) get confused at why you missed. 

Admittedly, I have missed my own curve balls, fast balls, and sliders – but at the end of the day when realizing a missed opportunity to do the right thing has passed me by, I feel crappy. 

Right now I am thinking the presidential candidates are feeling pretty crappy – because they are missing the perfect opportunities to do the right things just so they MIGHT win an election.  I do know that a curve ball I am not willing to hit is someone that professes new taxes and uses a 5% number as the rule of thumb for these new taxes to touch - when in reality every tax touches 100% and no way is it less than 100%.

God Bless all!

 

KA

Fall Banking Meetings / Conferences

There are a couple blocks of time each year that requires much corporate participation – Spring and fall.  inBusiness Services is certainly honored to participate in these events and in reality would like to do more. 

What is the corporate goal when participating in these events?  Many would think signing as many clients as possible would be the number one goal for any company, but in reality for inBusiness we want to meet people, inform them about us so they can truly realize we care about them on a personal level and for them to understand our expectation is to become part of their team if choosing our product line of 360 View.  I firmly believe it is about relationship first and business second! 

Of course I am not naive and do realize new clients along with retaining existing is a must for continued growth and prosperity.  I will always stand by the notion though relationships last a lifetime and by putting this first the business aspect will take care of itself.  A good buddy of mine told me many many many years ago that it is certainly easier selling to your friends than the unknown – how correct!!

Have a blessed DAY

 

KA

Goals / Incentives Update (Webinar)

Hello Friends;

Close to 100 people signed up for our initial ICBA / inBusiness Services Webinar.  Many of those in attendance have followed up to gather additional information.

Why the importance of Goals / Incentive planning?  In today’s working environment, especially those compensated based on results, subliminally people accomplish more when treated to rewards.  Similar reason as to why customers shop around for better services, reward points, and lesser cost of similar goods – it becomes an activity of sorts with accomplishments to speak about.

Recognition is the ultimate form of encouragement, thus if you implement a plan that recognizes your staff (whatever the reward base), you will see improvements.  IOO (In our Opinion) - your rewards/recognition program must be understandable, fair and equitable based on opportunity, and track-able to reach the ultimate success.

360 View is our product line and it absolutely allows each financial institution flexibility – check us out!

Talk Soon,

Kevin A.

Email versus Phone

Just as a curiosity killed the cat (poor thing), I thought asking the question about how you would rather be touched might be important.  

Some people would much rather receive a call and others like email.  Those that like phone calls send a larger portion of them to voice mail and cull through the ones they desire to return before actually doing so – then the email folks do something similar by reading some and responding to some.

OK – so which are you?

KA

Incentive Plans (Free Webinar)

Hello Friends;

Does your institution include goals / incentives to enhance sales and growth? Have you considered implementing a program?

If yes to either question above, how do you or how will you manage the program? Let me suggest 360 View! To learn more about Goals and Incentives we are providing a free Webinar on August 19, 2008 @ 1:00 CST – click this link to register http://www.threesixtyview.com/webinar360.cfm.

Here are some specifics:

Set the Right Goals and Thresholds

• Analyze the top 15-20% of staff to identify appropriate goals for the majority of employees involved.
• Be careful of subjective criteria as disqualifiers (e.g. Mystery Shops, etc.).
• Consider team-based plans, individual plans or both.

Let Corporate Strategy Drive the Plan

• Ensure incentives match profitable products/lines of business and current goals.
• Define the focus of the annual plan. Does the incentive plan match the corporate strategy?

Provide Meaningful Rewards

• Remember cash or other incentives must be meaningful to employees.
• Ask yourself if the dollar amount is too low.
• Consider time off and recognition as ways to reward.
• Ask employees what types of incentives are meaningful to them.

Keep it Simple!

• Let employees know what they need to do to both meet and exceed expectations, AND what that means in terms of incentive.
• Remember that overcomplicated plans confuse employees and don’t help change behavior.

Once you have the right plan in place, you still have one final hurdle to jump–you must create an efficient means of tracking and reporting results so that employees can see their incentive rewards at any time. Waiting weeks or even months to determine if a referral sent has closed or resulted in new business is no longer acceptable. The latest breed of CRM solutions has finally made this process manageable. Other stand alone incentive systems with CRM “lite” features are also good, but often lack the overall tracking and integration of current CRMs.

 

The right incentive plan can drive your bank to the right results by growing core deposits, retaining your most profitable customers, promoting the cross-sell of the right services to the right customer, and creating team unity, but you must plan carefully and put the right tracking system in place to ensure your best laid plans don’t go awry.

KA

Who is Kevin?

Hello Friends;

I was talking with some banking friends recently and we were marveling at the progression of technology over the past 30 years. Then I realized most reading this blog isnt aware of my background, so let me catch you up:

I began my journey working for Third National Bank in June of 1982, starting with the fabulous trade of driving checks to and from Fed Nashville – Picking up and processing returns – running checks through the IBM sorter – then balancing on the CICS system.

Joined Williamson County Bank in 1984 and helped build their initial Data Processing department – then was promoted to DP Manager – while also managing the remote processing of ATM’s, Checks, and remote printing.

WCB was acquired in 1987 by Commerce Union Bank, where I transferred and began managing a shift in the transit department (very short stint).

Was hired by a multi-bank holding company to build their data processing services using the ITI core application in May 1988 – worked with current inBiz partner (Terry Bellenfant) to convert all the data from 2 unique core systems into inhouse ITI core system – acquisitions of other banks / branches required additional conversions over the next 4 years.

With a joint partnership in 1993, Terry and I started an ITI Core data processing company with the sole purpose of attracting other banks allowing us to become their data processing outsource provider – after signing and converting more than 20 institutions, hiring more than 20 employees it was time to move on to a less stressful opportunity in life.

In 2000, I began consulting with several institutions as an independent contractor in the arena of technology, disaster planning, operational controls, and of course conversion assistance – with many opportunities seen to build software solutions to bridge core processing system gaps – Woohoo – inBusiness Services was founded to do just that – March 2001 was the incorporation date and just the beginning of many great things – currently more than 100 product contracts on file and growing each week.

So – all this and I am only 29 years old??? Ok – maybe not:)

Over the next month or so, I will try and lay out the technology changes I have seen and still marvel at.

Have a very blessed day!

KA