Podcast
Bank Marketing Show
Hosted by Chris Bates & Dan Novalis · EN
The BANK MARKETING SHOW, the podcast that engages and informs you for success in today's marketplace. It's the show that will make you a better marketer with trends, tactics and inspirations from experts and industry leaders. If you're wanting to impact your personal success and position your company as the best choice in your market, then you're in the right place!
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep 107 - Bold with a Purpose - with Rich Jones of BankIn Minnesota
Mar 1100:51:08Tap to summarizeEvery bank says they want to stand out. But most don't go beyond tweaking a logo, or updating colors, and continue to rely on the number of years in business to build trust. That's important – but no longer enough to differentiate your bank against the thousands of others with a similar history. It's time to be bold. In this episode, Rich Jones, President & CEO of BankIn Minnesota, talks about what it actually looks like to be bold with a purpose — starting with culture, not a color palette. Rich talks about the association's approach to rebranding, and the lessons banks can learn from it. We discuss how the association's rebrand wasn't a marketing exercise — it was the result of a deeper conversation about who they are, who they serve, and what they actually stand for. And that's the lesson for every community bank thinking about brand: the boldness has to come from something real, or it doesn't land. In this episode, we cover: · Why being bold for the sake of being bold doesn't work, and what "bold with a purpose" actually means · How BankIn Minnesota's rebrand grew out of culture, not a creative brief · The difference between authority-first and relatability-first messaging · Why your people are your real brand differentiator, and how to show it · What associations and banks can learn from each other about growth mindset Resources mentioned: · Rich Jones: rich@minnesota.bank · BankIn Minnesota: minnesota.bank · The Bank Marketing Show: www.bankmarketingshow.com · The Bank Marketing Minute (Newsletter): www.bankmarketingminute.com · Contact: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
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Ep 106 - The We-Tried-That Problem
Mar 200:38:53Tap to summarizeThe "We Tried That" Problem Real quotes: "We tried Google Ads and they didn't work." "We did SEO for a couple months and nothing happened." "Direct mail was way too expensive for what we got out of it." If you've heard, or said, any of these – this episode is for you! We break down the real reasons bank marketing tactics fail, from our experience seeing these things play out at banks across the country. Spoiler: it's almost never the channel itself. Google Ads, SEO, and even direct mail DO work – but not if you only focus on the ad itself. In this episode: · Why banks often blame the channel · The "underdosing" trap – what happens when you run a digital ad with too little budget · How the platforms themselves are incentivized to get you to spend, not to strategize · How to match tactics to your audience instead of just copying what bigger banks do · A framework for evaluating the root cause of success or failure of a campaign Resources mentioned: · The Bank Marketing Show Website: bankmarketingshow.com · The Bank Marketing Minute Newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com · Get in touch: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
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Ep 105 - Amber Murphy - The Case for Industry Specialization in Bank Marketing
Feb 1600:40:55Tap to summarizeEvery community bank has checking accounts and loans. So the age-old question is, how do you stand out? First Financial Bank figured it out: they went deep in one niche, and then kept going, building many specialty lending divisions and driving massive growth. In this episode, Amber Murphy, VP and Marketing Director at First Financial Bank, shares how FFB's niching strategy transformed their marketing from generic to powerful, and why your bank doesn't need to be huge to do the same thing - something we espouse on this show all the time! In this episode, we cover: - How specializing actually expands your marketing opportunities (not limits them) - Why FFB runs 3-4 ads simultaneously for different audiences - Using blog and newsletter content to become the trusted advisor in their niches - Where community bank marketing trends need to go in the next 12-18 months Resources mentioned: - Book: Getting Things Done by David Allen - Contact Amber Murphy: amurphy@ffb1.com - First Financial Bank: www.ffb1.com - The Bank Marketing Show: www.bankmarketingshow.com - The Bank Marketing Minute (Newsletter): www.bankmarketingminute.com - Contact: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
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Ep 104 - Candie Simmons - Passion, Purpose & Communication in Community Banking
Feb 200:41:35Tap to summarizeChris and Dan sit down with Candie Simmons, founder of CL Simmons Consulting, to talk about the people problems that slow banks down: communication breakdowns, the gap between being a great producer and being a great manager, and why marketing and compliance don't have to be at each other's throats. Candie spent 16 years in banking (including leading marketing for a top 50 institution), now runs her own consultancy, and sits on the board of a community bank in Mississippi. She's seen these issues from every angle. What we cover: - The number one problem banks call her about (hint: communication!) and how it shows up everywhere - between departments, between generations, between leadership and staff. - How to tell the story of community banks' best built-in advantage: being small enough that employees see their impact, and customers can talk still to actual decision-makers. - How banks can use tools like Gallup StrengthsFinder to align people's responsibilities with what they're actually good at (instead of just assigning tasks to whoever's available), for better employee satisfaction, a stronger culture, and better outcomes for customers. Resources Mentioned: - Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment (~$30, available at gallup.com) - Books: The Kind Act; A Few Kind Words by Tracey WIllis Gates Connect with Candie: clsimmonsconsulting.com: Reach out for a free consultation.
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Ep 103 - Building the Next Generation of Community Banks with Rebeca Romero Rainey - CEO of ICBA
Jan 1900:51:29Tap to summarizeWhen it comes to advocating for the future of community banking, few voices carry more weight than Rebeca Romero Rainey. This week we had the privilege of sitting down with Rebeca, the President & CEO of the ICBA, for a candid and thoughtful conversation on where the industry is heading. Top of mind for us all is how community banks can stay strong amid competition from fintechs and non-bank players. Rebeca's vision is that the path forward isn't about becoming someone else, but about owning what makes community banking unique. Yep, Dan & I loved hearing her sing our song about that! She didn't hold back on the tough stuff either. We talked about regulatory clarity, the risks and rewards of adopting AI, and the challenge of attracting new talent to the industry. But through it all, Rebeca's optimism was clear: community banks are agile, trusted, and human, and that's their real superpower. Some of the key takeaways that we can all use: Embracing AI doesn't mean losing your human touch. We must embrace it but approach it responsibly. Speak to the real human differentiators that community banks have in an increasingly digital world. Succession planning and leadership development must evolve and be priorities. We need to make it easier (and less costly) to start new community banks. Some of the leadership principles that Rebeca relies on most are listening and taking action. Resources: BankMarketingShow.com When it comes to advocating for the future of community banking, few voices carry more weight than Rebeca Romero Rainey. This week we had the privilege of sitting down with Rebeca, the President & CEO of the ICBA, for a candid and thoughtful conversation on where the industry is heading. Top of mind for us all is how community banks can stay strong amid competition from fintechs and non-bank players. Rebeca's vision is that the path forward isn't about becoming someone else, but about owning what makes community banking unique. Yep, Dan & I loved hearing her sing our song about that! She didn't hold back on the tough stuff either. We talked about regulatory clarity, the risks and rewards of adopting AI, and the challenge of attracting new talent to the industry. But through it all, Rebeca's optimism was clear: community banks are agile, trusted, and human, and that's their real superpower. Some of the key takeaways that we can all use: Embracing AI doesn't mean losing your human touch. We must embrace it but approach it responsibly. Speak to the real human differentiators that community banks have in an increasingly digital world. Succession planning and leadership development must evolve and be priorities. We need to make it easier (and less costly) to start new community banks. Some of the leadership principles that Rebeca relies on most are listening and taking action. Resources: BankMarketingShow.com ICBA: https://www.icba.org/ Rebeca: https://www.icba.org/w/rebeca-romero-rainey LET (Leadership Effectiveness Training): https://www.gordontraining.com/leader-effectiveness-training-l-e-t/
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Ep 102 - IT for Today's Community Banks - Scott Stevens
Jan 500:38:54Tap to summarizeCybersecurity, AI, and IT modernization aren't just "IT problems" anymore — they directly impact how banks market, grow, and protect their brands. In this episode of The Bank Marketing Show, Chris and Dan sit down with Scott Stevens, Chief Information Security Officer at Integrity Technology Solutions, to break down what community should actually be thinking about when it comes to cloud infrastructure, AI usage, and cybersecurity. What We Cover Why "modernizing IT" doesn't always mean spending more — and often means simplifying How moving files to SharePoint and OneDrive unlocks safer AI use for marketing teams The importance of Microsoft Secure Score — and why 70%+ should be the baseline Why banning AI doesn't work (and what banks should do instead) How to create practical AI acceptable-use policies that employees will actually follow What Zero Trust architecture means for the next 5–10 years of banking technology Links & Resources Connect with Scott: sstevens@integrityts.com Integrity Technology Solutions: https://www.integrityts.com Book: The Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of Leadership, by Robert Hunter Website: https://www.bankmarketingshow.com Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.bankmarketingminute.com Contact Chris and Dan: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
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Ep 101 - Emily Schwartz - From Content to Education: Building Trust Through Financial Wellness
Dec 2200:45:44Tap to summarizeCommunity Banks produce a lot of "educational" content, but a lot of it is thinly disguised sales material, or sounds the same as 1,000 other "how to buy your first home" blogs. In this episode, we sit down with Emily Schwartz, Director of Financial Education at MidFirst Bank, about how her team helps build real trust in her bank, by focusing on education first. If you are tired of just checking the boxes with your content, and trying to avoid "AI slop" (as you should be!), this episode is a great way to reframe how you approach financial education – no matter the size of your bank. What we cover in this episode: · The difference between truly educating your customers and prospects, versus just creating blogs · Where to find the best education topics (hint: it's not keyword tools) · Why smaller banks don't need big teams to start doing this well · How education can support brand, loyalty, and community impact, without feeling salesy · The results that MidFirst has seen from their efforts Links & Resources · Connect with Emily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-schwartz-ph-d-372a7815/ · Book: Inspired by Matt Richtel · Website: https://bankmarketingshow.com · Sign up for our newsletter: https://bankmarketingminute.com · Contact Chris and Dan: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
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Ep 100 - 100th - Chris & Dan in the Hot Seat
Dec 801:01:49Tap to summarize100 episodes. Four seasons. Many dozens of conversations with bank leaders and innovators – and we're just getting started! In this milestone episode, Chris and Dan look back at what they've learned from these conversations, and where they think community bank marketing is headed next. They also turn the cameras on themselves – and put each other in the hot seat with surprise questions that dig into strategy, personal best practices, and how to navigate what's coming in 2025 and beyond. In this episode: The biggest shifts in bank marketing since the show began in early 2022 Lessons learned from dozens of interviews with industry experts What's working right now in brand, digital, and AI-driven marketing Key themes we expect to define the next year of bank marketing A special 100th episode Hot Seat session where Dan and Chris challenge each other with unrehearsed questions Links & Resources Bankmarketingshow.com Sign up for our newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com Contact Chris and Dan: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
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Ep 99 - The Future of AI Agents - How Community Banks Win SMB Relationships - with Jared Shulman and Jerry Shu
Nov 2400:55:23Tap to summarizeAI Agents are quickly becoming the biggest competitive edge for community banks to win and serve small business customers. Chris and Dan sat down with the co-founders of Daylit, Jared Shulman (CEO) and Jerry Shu (CTO), to break down what AI agents actually are, how they work, and why banks should be thinking about building an AI Agent portfolio to stand out in the highly competitive SMB market. Daylit (formerly Lendica) is the leading AI Agent for accounts receivable for SMBs, and they share deep insight into how businesses think, how they adopt new tools, and what they will expect from their financial partners in the next few years. If you've been hearing the buzz about AI agents, and thinking about how they fit into your bank's AI strategy, this is a must-listen. In this episode: What AI Agents really are, and what makes them different from just an LLM How AI Agents give SMBs enterprise-level financial intelligence, without the enterprise-level budget How community banks can use AI-enabled services to attract, retain, and grow SMB customers Why embedded fintechs and non-banks are quietly becoming competitors – and how to differentiate Practical ways banks can partner with AI technology vendors, without taking on additional regulatory or credit risk Links & Resources Launch Event! Daylit is releasing the newest version of their AI AR Agent on December 2, 2025 at 6pm ET. Register here: https://luma.com/me4l88i0 · Daylit: daylit.com · Follow Daylit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thedaylit/ · Follow Daylit on X: https://x.com/daylit_ai · Follow Daylit on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lendica · Book: Zero to One · Follow Jared on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shulman-jared/ · Follow Jerry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-shu-8502591b/ Connect with Chris & Dan · Website: bankmarketingshow.com · Email: contact@bankmarketingshow.com · Companion Newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com or https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bank-marketing-minute-7240439067794948098
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Ep 98 - Randy Dorn - Lessons from a Rebrand
Nov 1000:55:13Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a 120-year-old community bank decides to take a bold leap forward? Randy Dorn, President of My Kind of Bank (formerly First National Bank of Henning), joins Chris and Dan to share the story behind their rebrand — from internal debates to a powerful cultural transformation that united staff and energized customers. Randy reveals how a name change became more than a marketing move — it became a statement of purpose. This episode dives deep into how community banks can modernize without losing their soul, and how to turn a rebrand into a growth engine that drives engagement, loyalty, and pride. Main Topics Covered: • Why "doing nothing" is riskier than rebranding • How My Kind of Bank turned a marketing idea into a brand identity • The internal culture shift that made the brand stick • Turning employees into local heroes (and why it works better than celebrity ads) • Using digital marketing, SEO audits, and referral programs to turn a new brand into measurable growth • How to approach board conversations about risk, tradition, and change Resources & Links Mentioned: • Randy's email: randy.dorn@mykindofbank.com • My Kind of Bank: mykindofbank.com • Website: bankmarketingshow.com • Sign up for our newsletter: bankmarketingminute.com • Contact Chris and Dan: contact@bankmarketingshow.com
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