http://www.gonzobanker.comA collection of observations, ruminations, predictions and random thoughts on financial services from the team at Cornerstone Advisorsen-USQuintin Sykeshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=431Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PST431School might be out for summer for the kids, but that doesn’t mean CIOs are excused from learning some new skills or refining ones they already have.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=430Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PST430Our industry’s laser focus on the credit and capital issues of today cannot allow us to lose sight of the rising enemy that could jolt our world and the assumptions about the future. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=429Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 PST429What does the front line think customers value? What do they think customers are willing to pay for? How do you make a value proposition work? Ted Thameshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=428Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 PST428This year, we see that our Gonzo credit union counterparts are not immune to the damage that can be done by regulatory bureaucrats. There’s trouble in Camelot. Bob Rothhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=427Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 PST427The IT Steering Committee at a mid-size bank smack dab in the center of Gonzo land is set to kick off at 1PM on a sleepy Tuesday afternoon.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=426Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 PST426The Stress Test results are in, and it’s only going to take another $75 billion in capital for the regulators to feel comfy that the big banks have adequately planned for a rainy day. Michael Croalhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=425Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 PST425Considering there are 8,300 depository institutions insured by the FDIC, and only 577 institutions got TARP, this 7% sure is causing a lot of noise. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=424Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PST424As we sit here on a Monday, searching for glimmers of hope in a post-TARP world, does anyone think the banking industry has gained the wisdom and prowess necessary to avoid major financial crises in the future?Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=423Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PST423Great leaders have the ability to stay the course in the face of adversity AND inspire others to prepare for the opportunities that hard times will provide to those who can capitalize on them.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=422Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 PST422The news that Fidelity National Information Services had acquired Metavante for nearly $3 billion left a clear sense of uneasiness with the Gonzo team as we pondered the industry and the fate of our bank and credit union client base. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=421Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 PST421William Azaroff of Vancity is in the vanguard when it comes to envisaging the role social media and Web technologies can play in [re]defining the way financial institutions relate with their constituencies. Scott Sommerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=420Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 PST420Part of me is “cautiously” optimistic that America will emerge from this financial and economic crisis better and stronger than before. Another part of me says the way we’re addressing this crisis could set us back for many years.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=419Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 PST419Here are the results of Gonzo's rigorous, extensive, scientific, control group-based research project examining financial institution sales, service and CRM strategies.Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=418Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 PST418Nothing is off limits in 2009. In I.T., cost cuts are prompting changes in the way applications are selected, deployed and managed.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=417Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 PST417Marco Krapels creatively aligns the needs of California-based small and medium size food and agri-businesses with the clout of capital market products.Santiago Patiñohttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=416Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 PST416Consolidation, RIF, right-sizing, down-sizing, lay-offs, staff cuts, pink slips, restructuring - while the list of terms has grown over the years, they all mean one thing: people are losing their jobs. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=415Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 PST415Now is the time to march on Washington, on Wall Street, on Chicago, on Charlotte (!) to draw attention to the pillaging of community banking by the greed of big banks and the ridiculously misdirected response by our government.L. T. "Tom" Hallhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=414Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 PST414In 30 years of banking, I have seen that too many things don’t change, even when so much around us has changed. We should now recognize that at this point in our industry and our economy, the luxury of complacency is gone.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=413Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST413Simply put, Carmen Jordan demonstrates the guts to niche. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=412Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST412With the events of the past year, rest assured GonzoBankers, you ain’t seen nothing yet when it comes to new regulations. Quintin Sykeshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=411Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST411Given the condition of the economy and a demonstrated change in consumer behavior toward saving, the time is right to ensure Internet banking channels are up to the challenge of helping customers save.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=410Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 PST410As bankers plant the seeds of renewal in 2009, I’m hopeful we’ll grab the snow shovel and throw the dung our industry has built around the dogma of “sales culture” in the dumpster and get real about creating value for customers.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=408Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST408We’re all here, we’re all still kickin’, and we’re ready to knock 2009 on its sorry derriere. So before the Christmas rest and rejuvenation, enjoy our take on 2008. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=407Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 PST407The ability to package and customize Internet solutions based on a customer’s needs is exactly what we’re all trying to do with their overall relationship -- right?Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=406Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 PST406BAI nailed the theme of “Where innovation meets action” at this year's Retail Delivery Conference. However, a journey through the vendor expo told us the vendor community is not pulling its weight in the Innovation struggle.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=405Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 PST405Marc Schaefer of Truliant FCU gets a GonzoBanker shout out for employing a smart mix of communication, education and political activism to promote a financial dialogue that’s more about common sense and less about suspension of reality. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=403Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 PST403The demands of both existing customers and potential new ones are ever increasing, and the front line workforce must be able to meet these demands, especially when trying to steal customers from the big banks that have put some of these conveniences in place. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=402Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 PST402Boys, I’m hoping in all your high-profile C-SPAN hearings and hob knobbing with these new financial “celebrities” you remember that it’s the grass roots of our country that has and always will have the power to bring us out of bad times. Bob Rothhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=401Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PST401Negotiating opportunities abound in these inflationary times. Everything from maintenance fees, to core processing services, to EFT fees begs for better pricing. With this in mind, we thought GonzoBankers out there might be able to profit from some negotiating pointers. Michael Croalhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=399Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PST399Last month I found a job opening online for a business process engineer at a bank. It sounded fun so I gave it a shot. Scott Sommerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=398Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PST398If Henry Paulson can push this $700 billion (wink, wink) “rescue” package through the House, I’ll line up behind in support of building out our Pfandbriefe Market. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=397Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PST397When the situation is looking less than rosy, there are steps you can take to lessen the impact on your bottom line – and your sanity. And while it may sometimes be hard to see the bright side, THERE IS A BRIGHT SIDE, if you look for it. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=396Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PST396Faced with their biggest challenge since the depression, bankers have also been presented with a big opportunity to reinforce relationships with customers. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=395Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PST395For September, we laud Frank Trotter, President of EverBank Direct, for a devotion to sensible banking practices that has helped EverBank slide unscathed and with growth to boot past the credit crisis. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=394Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PST394Hoist up your red flags and wave them with pride because if you don’t, you may find your institution reluctantly waving a white one. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=393Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PST393It wasn’t fun hearing FDIC Director Sheila Bair report this week on the state of the banking industry. Going forward, only those community banks drafting a new playbook during today’s Dark Ages will have a shot at attending the next gen community banking conferences a decade from now. Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=392Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PST392Let’s face it – the state of vendor management in the banking industry is below par. With the increased regulatory pressures and a corresponding vendor management deficit, I think a Gonzo vendor management aptitude test is in order. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=391Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PST391This month, GonzoBanker salutes Andrew Young at Northwest Savings Bank for demonstrating that strong leadership, a carefully considered approach and a well mapped plan can turn technology early adopters into bona fide beneficiaries. Santiago Patiñohttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=390Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PST390In light of the impositions of regulatory requirements associated with privacy, disaster recovery and data security, organizations running core systems in-house are wondering if it’s really worth the trouble.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=389Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PST389Fat margins, sterling credit and great fee income are as likely to come back as dollar gas. We need to reduce capacity. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=388Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PST388Let this serve as the best and worst goings-on at the major core vendors right now. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=387Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PST387GonzoBanker is pleased to name Gene Blishen, General Manager of Mount Lehman Credit Union as our July GonzoBanker of the Month. We’re enthused about Gene’s holistic view of technology and his dedication to fine tuning it to serve the specific needs of individual credit union members. Ted Thameshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=386Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PST386At the Escher-Goldberg School of Service Process Design, we pride ourselves in helping students learn how to accept and embrace a world of confusing and redundant process. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=385Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PST385It has been a while since I engaged in a vigorous rant, so in the spirit of the 4th of July, it’s time to ignite a barrel full of roman candles, a carton of bottle rockets and possibly launch an array of cherry bombs. The target: ATM FEES. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=384Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST384Q2 2008 will be remembered as a time when the banking industry’s tenuous optimism about a light recession and mild credit issues turned into the worst environment in 30 years. Quintin Sykeshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=383Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PST383A banker told me some whippersnapper in Marketing said there might be something valuable hidden in the data mine. Can you believe it? he wanted to know. "I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t," I said. "Let’s head on into the mine."Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=382Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 PST382I’m sure Paul Simon would have approved of my lyrics changes had I actually submitted the papers. And you’re damn right, I wrote “Eat Peruvian bark, Mark.” You try finding a rhyming, seven syllable sentence all the way into the fourth chorus…http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=381Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 PST381While trawling the blogosphere, we unexpectedly ran across one of our Gonzo-tribe fulfilling his gossip and advice fetish. Some were not age-appropriate to reprint, and we’re not sure all of it is sound advice, but here is a sampling. Enjoy.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=380Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 PST380This month, GonzoBanker puts the spotlight on Jennifer Binkley of Auto Expert. Jennifer is an accomplished credit union exec who caught our eye for her “take no prisoners” efforts to raise the bar on marrying successful business operations with outstanding customer service.Bob Rothhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=379Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PST379Let’s not understate the challenge of a visit from a federal regulator. An exam can rock your world even if you are prepared for it.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=378Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 PST378There has never been less time for CIOs to go to seminars and schools to learn about everything new on the technology front. It has also never been more important to do so, and (ironically) it has never been harder. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=377Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST377Our industry definitely needs to be more innovative, but let’s focus on innovation within banking and leave the document storage business to someone else – at least for now.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=376Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST376This month, we honor Luke Mansour of Synovus Financial Corporation for his commitment to realizing the Gonzo potential of real-time sales reporting to support growth and contribute to a meaningful sales culture.Scott Sommerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=375Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST375By the numbers, the big banks are kicking tail even in the midst of their worst year in the past decade. But mid-size banks continue to flourish, grow and develop niches in the commercial world big banks can’t touch.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=374Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST374While an individual bank’s ROI will vary based on the type of institution and type of transactions it typically processes, imaging technologies present significant efficiencies. But it is important to do the right thing at the right time. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=373Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST373We now join the first psychiatric session of Wally Thornburger, a branch manager at the Wrongway National Bank, who was recently promoted to branch manager after his boss went on an unplanned “sabbatical.” Taking advantage of a new workplace benefit at Wrongway Bank, Wally is hopeful about the first meeting with his psychiatrist, “Sig”. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=372Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST372Many of our clients rationalize keeping an ill-fitting core system around too long. I say have the nards to convert – now – if an eventual breakup with your core provider is on the horizon. The pain gets exponentially worse over time, and millions of dollars are wasted along the way. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=371Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST371This month, GonzoBanker salutes Ami Kassar of Advanta, for his passionate dedication to expanding the potential synergies of business, entrepreneurialism and social networking through the social networking site ideablob.com. Santiago Patiñohttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=370Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST370For all the high levels of rocket-science and statistics deployed, it’s clear that lenders have been lulled into underwriting laziness by the FICO score.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=369Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST369Citizens of the hamlet of Gonzo, it's time to give some serious thought to how Internet/remote banking and IVR/call center channels will fit together and complement each other in the bank’s overall channel management strategy.Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=368Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST368Cost-cutting opportunities are out there for financial institutions with their vendors, but identifying the low hanging fruit is sometimes easier said than done. Here are some tricks of the trade to help you identify those opportunities. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=367Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST367This month Gonzo honors Doug True, SVP of Technovation at FORUM Credit Union and President of FORUM Solutions for his energetic dedication to promoting all things credit union, his spirited commitment to ensuring a top of the line member service experience, and his unwavering tenacity for customer-driven technology. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=366Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST366Banks whose online banking home pages don’t wow customers on first experience don’t really need to be concerned with multi-factor stuff and transactional capabilities – because the customers probably won’t make it that far.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=365Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST365Diggers are a rare breed, hard to find and retain, but there’s bound to be several kicking up dirt somewhere in your bank. It's time to enlist them more actively in the hunt for efficiency and innovation.Ted Thameshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=364Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST364Only those financial institutions that keep their eye on long-term strategy will come out of the current darkness as the growing, entrepreneurial leaders of our next prosperous times. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=363Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST363This month, we honor Mike Stanford, CEO of First Community Bank of New Mexico, for his pioneering efforts to bring “community” back to community banking. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=362Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST362I recently had a late night conversation with Ladies Man Steve, a longtime veteran of the mortgage industry. Ladies Man Steve has his own perspective, and he can be pretty full of it at times. But let’s not kid ourselves – bankers had a hand in this mess; we nudge-nudge, wink-winked our way into an epic problem. Quintin Sykeshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=361Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST361Employing and consistently executing sound processes, policies and tools for technology financial management can eliminate the need for cost-cutting fire drills. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=360Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST360This industry needs a Christmas break. We’re just not sure whether to use it to crawl to the corner like a scalded dog, sit in the lotus position and drone our mantra, or just hook an IV straight from the thrice-spiked punchbowl right into the left arm and hope aunt Gertie doesn’t catch us under the mistletoe.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=359Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST3592008 is the year to get creative, Gonzos! Unleash that pent up innovation! Who knows, some of you may even feel compelled to strap on a red, white and blue cape to evoke your inner daredevil.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=358Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST358With roughly 32 bowl games to be played in the next 30 days, we’re facing more college football than any honest man can traverse, but damn it all to the fiery depths of Hades, we also have the dreaded year end work crunch to trudge through.Michael Croalhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=357Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST357If organic growth is going to be as difficult in the future as we all expect, then the growth will come through acquisitions. What better way to drive the operating expense out of the merger target than to absorb the workload without increasing staff? http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=356Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST356The figure of scraggly Irish rocker Bob Geldof standing before several thousand bankers created quite a contrast at this week’s BAI Retail Delivery Conference. This contrast turned out to be the best metaphor for what bankers should take away from the 2007 show. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=355Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST355This month we recognize Jennifer Tescher for her powerhouse launch and subsequent cultivation of the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) and her seemingly tireless efforts to make a difference in the lives of the underbanked. Bob Rothhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=354Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST354With a real situation facing him, the IT Manager decides he really doesn’t have an actionable disaster recovery plan that is going to save his job if he has to activate it.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=353Fri, 26 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST353I was forwarded a leaked internal memo from the Gonzo National Bank penned by famed CEO Joe Takesnames. It seems Mr. Takesnames is a bit frustrated by the passivity of his commercial lending team and the corporate staff.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=352Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST352Merger success is not achieved with the benefit of hindsight. Smooth mergers are all about having a clear vision for the future and then taking steps up front to realize that visionScott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=351Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST351I immediately thought of Gonzo N.B. when I read the article about Radiohead. Pay what you think it’s worth. It’s up to you. Why not banking products – maybe a checking account – based on the same principle?Scott Sommerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=350Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 PST350As an industry that has the potential to have a tremendous impact on a greener future, banks have a duty to do what they can in promoting environmentally and socially responsible financial activities. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=349Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST349When he’s not carving up the water and snow, this GonzoBanker can be found stringing together the infrastructure for $11 billion dollar Whitney National Bank.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=348Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST348According to data collected for The Cornerstone Report 2007, the 64 new deposit accounts opened per branch each month were offset by the closing of 55. That’s a net growth in deposit accounts of nine per branch per month. We have to do better than that. Santiago Patiñohttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=347Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 PST347The old back office operations guy had built quite a reputation among his peers, back in the day when float was king. With the focus shifting from float to fraud, however, he knows his bragging days are over.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=346Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST346While the oft-ignored Human Resources department cannot be expected to solve the employee turnover issue, it certainly can be the coordinator and catalyst for going after the problem. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=345Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST345Holy Mother of Screaming Metavante, GonzoBankers, who’d have guessed Milwaukee would become the bill pay capital of the U.S.?! Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=344Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST344It’s time to get ready for whatever may transpire with customers and their cell phones. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=343Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:00:00 PST343I am all for improving the customer’s banking experience with Web 2.0 technologies; however, I strongly believe we must first enhance our employee’s work life experience. The more collaborative, engaged and empowered our employees are, the more satisfied our customers will be. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=342Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 PST342Nelson Tkatch, CIO of the band of trailblazers at Community Savings, is a swashbuckler when it comes to his passion for a highly integrated, digitally based operating environment that takes full advantage of state-of-the-art virtualization.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=341Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 PST341Through a secret time machine I built in my garage with an old DeLorean, I was able to get a backward-compatible PDF copy of an interesting college paper from a student 20 years into the future.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=339Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:00:00 PST339It’s that time of year again - the beginning of an action-packed season of strategic planning retreats! The big question is, do you help with that vision thang or blow out the pipes with your buddies at Bristol? http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=338Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 PST338For the past four years, Tim Owen of Heartland Bank and Trust Company has been one of the industry’s loudest evangelists for reinventing the commercial loan process with document imaging. Tim is leading an enterprise content management crusade that is well on its way to transforming Heartland into a true paperless organization. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=337Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST337Capital One and HSBC apparently want to take a 10-foot crowbar and separate debit transactions from customers' checking accounts. And they have a pretty good proposition.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=336Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST336Why do the “big boys” generate twice as much fee revenue on deposits as their smaller competitors? The reasons are numerous, but a change in viewpoint probably comes first: bankers sometimes overlook profit-making opportunities hidden deep in the bowels of their own bank—commonplace functions that have never before been considered “a profit center.” http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=335Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST335It’s 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 1st. The first day of post-core conversion operations has just transpired at the Wrongway National Bank, and a tired and punchy conversion team meets over cold coffee and stale pizza in the Command Center (a.k.a. East Training Room).Scott Sommerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=334Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST334With banks throughout the country being squeezed by an inverted yield curve, desperately searching for low cost deposits, one could reasonably argue that this might be an ideal time for a PE firm to have a run at a bank. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=333Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 PST333In the mother lode of all core conversions, Bob Roth and his team pretty much replaced everything except the branch carpet.Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=332Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 PST332With the world becoming more plugged in and bill pay adoption expanding, banks will need to look at alternatives to existing pricing and delivery to remain competitive.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=331Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 PST331Are we ready to learn a thing or two from the 20-somethings about this new round of personal financial management tools?Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=330Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 PST330It's a noble cause to pursue the quest for a paperless environment – as long as we understand there will always be limitations and likely some pretty big hurdles along the journey.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=329Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST329Ralph Marcuccilli’s Gonzo claim to fame is tied to the work he has done in eBanking, including home grown and delivered electronic bill pay and a wildly successful eStatement project.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=328Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST328Management reporting is not rocket science – it just takes the patience, tenacity and resources that many banks haven’t been willing to give. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=327Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST327The big message heard at the recent BAI Retail Delivery Conference & Expo was this: figure out your retail delivery model, stick to your model, train your model, pay for execution of your model, and keep working your model. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=326Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 PST326I’m hanging around on a Friday night, in the data center, playing games with the air cooling floor vent and my pants leg waiting for my 2003 server to finish rebooting for the umpteenth time. As the final services load and I blue screen again, the images of Darth Vader, Lord Voldemort and Sauron appear side by side telling me my network has been compromised. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=325Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST325Like practically all financial institutions facing a difficult yield curve, First Niagara is keenly interested in growing its noninterest income. Enter Dan Cantara, First Niagara’s EVP of Commercial Services, who is responsible for many of the bank’s fee income lines including insurance, cash management, merchant services, leasing and employee benefits. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=324Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST324It’s pretty understandable why CheckFree would want to have an Internet banking product in its arsenal. We can follow the logic of CheckFree seeking a front end for its recently expanded (via Carreker) payment capabilities. What is not immediately apparent is why CheckFree would pay a 50% premium for Corillian.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=323Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST323It’s pretty much unheard of today for a vendor to NOT have a user group—and that applies to everything from the major core system providers to minor ancillary system vendors. But there is a world of difference between vendors and the way their user groups work.Santiago Patiñohttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=322Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST322“Prepaid” isn’t a fad for banks to aimlessly pursue. Meaningful revenue will only come to banks that pursue the opportunity creatively while staying vigilant about the volume challenges, consumer acceptance challenges and compliance challenges that are sure to be part of the journey.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=321Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 PST321The time has come for the entire banking vendor community to recognize that interface products are simply part of core and should be priced as part of the bundle of products marketed as the core system.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=320Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST320For our second GonzoBanker interview, we’re changing time zones and charters, going from a bank in Oklahoma to a Credit Union in San Francisco. Hats off to John Shields at Patelco Credit Union. Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=319Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST319Faced with increased regulatory scrutiny, it is critical that banks devote some serious attention to vendor management. Even a basic vendor management strategy should help keep the regulators at bay. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=318Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST318With the maturity of volume-driven free checking competition, bank executives need to be more creative and analytic in how they position their “Payment” offerings, while ensuring this product becomes an anchor for meaningful cross-sell activity. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=317Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:00:00 PST317We are in the information age, where the serious criminals don’t wear stockings over their heads or carry guns. Okay, maybe they do wear stockings on their heads, but that’s an entirely different issue, and I’m sure some carry guns but my point is that the biggest threat doesn’t blast through the front door of the branch lobby. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=316Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:00:00 PST316For 2007, we’re kicking off a new monthly feature – one aimed at applauding the bankers in the trenches who are really making things happen. We head to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to meet our first GonzoBanker of the Month. Michael Croalhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=315Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 PST315Nothing looks worse than a bank that screams, “Nosotros Hablamos Espanol” but can’t deliver. Sure, there are severe and expensive challenges for community banks wanting to enter the Hispanic banking market. However, the benefits of meeting this consumer banking need could either be a market share windfall or a missed opportunity.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=314Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:00:00 PST314Once in a while you get an opportunity to make a technology investment where the payoff is pretty obvious and straightforward. If you spend the money on the investment, some other cost will go away. Any of these types of capture may be such an opportunity in 2007.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=313Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:00:00 PST313The acquisition of John H. Harland by M&F Worldwide is no nail biter like some of the others we’ve seen recently. But it could get interesting for Harland’s core customers having to endure yet another change in ownership. http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=312Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:00:00 PST3122006 was every bit the match of previous years. There were things that made us pump our fists, things that got us glassy-eyed, and things we still can’t believe and are trying to process. So kick back, and enjoy our take on the year’s bankers, vendors and the industry before you get back to over-celebrating the holidays.Michael Croalhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=311Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:00:00 PST311Most banks and credit unions don’t have a single vendor, single system, end-to-end, integrated loan delivery solution. Actually, no institution has one of these. What the heck is the holdup? It’s not like we started lending money yesterday! The need is more pressing now than ever, and this is one you have to do yourself. Paul Novotnyhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=309Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 PST309There is significant effort and discipline required to create a comprehensive software development lifecycle plan. If you can’t wait to learn more on the topic, then I can safely say that software development, and the competitive advantages that it can offer, may be for you.Terence Roche, Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=310Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST310Until next year, bankers will be going to the R&D lab and the customer experience center and (dare we say) the front-line employees to figure out new ways to service customers. There are promises to break away from the old mold, to be the rebels, mavericks, the sheer brain-popping non-conformists that can revolutionize financial services. As we lined up for taxis to the airport behind an orderly line of bankers in their dark-suit banker uniforms, we could only hope that this is possible. Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=308Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST308The goal of a service level agreement is to motivate the vendor to comply with agreed upon-service levels. The challenge is to negotiate penalties that are severe enough to concern the vendor. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=307Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:00:00 PST307There are just too many moving pieces to prognosticate on whether OSI will be able to convert long term thinking into real, tangible benefits for its existing clients. A lot of things will have to go right for that to happen.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=306Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:00:00 PST306The thought of pulling off a merger or a major acquisition is the pinnacle of many a bank CEO’s career. The mere notion gets the adrenaline pumping like you just chugged a six-pack of Red Bull. However, consuming massive quantities of Red Bull is a very small component of pulling off the merger of a lifetime. Santiago Patiñohttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=305Fri, 20 Oct 2006 00:00:00 PST305Bankers often applaud new technology for its ability to speed up, expand and enrich the way we all connect with each other. However, before we all get too drunk on the “Connectivity Kool-Aid,” we need measure what’s working for our customers and, more importantly, stop what’s not. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=304Fri, 13 Oct 2006 00:00:00 PST304There are economy of scale opportunities in banks. To get them, however, will take focus. The trick is knowing when and where the big ones are.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=303Fri, 06 Oct 2006 00:00:00 PST303I worry how much of a true partner banks really are for business customers. Do our commercial clients really view us as partners? Are we perceived to have the expertise that entrepreneurs need these days? Michael Croalhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=302Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:00:00 PST302How can you justify investing billions of dollars in capital, time, effort, development, testing, training and implementation for a volume of work that is declining ever more rapidly and is nearing the precipitous edge of the cliff?Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=301Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:00:00 PST301While bank service and product providers have been confidently selling “partnership” for years, they’ve been considerably less vocal when it comes to defining its meaning or pinpointing when it is actually achieved.Paul Novotnyhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=300Fri, 15 Sep 2006 00:00:00 PST300Throughout the summer, I have spent much of my time talking with embattled IT folks and frustrated line of business managers. A similar theme keeps recurring as I move from bank to credit union and back again. The ability to successfully deliver the myriad technology solutions needed to drive the business is just getting tougher. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=299Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:00:00 PST299If you just cut a six figure check for a double secret triple authentication software package only to get your knuckles crushed for having a shaky risk analysis, keep it together. It’s going to get better, and we’re all going to be better off over time. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=298Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 PST298In my translation of risk mitigation activities and all the other FFIEC documents I have read, it is never explicitly stated that a financial institution must purchase and implement a TECHNOLOGY solution by year-end 2006. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=297Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:00:00 PST297As we head into strategic planning season, it’s a sure bet there will be financial institutions that determine their current core system just won’t get them where they want to go.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=296Fri, 18 Aug 2006 00:00:00 PST296How much of the 2007 branch training budget is being spent on sales behavior, how much on systems, and how much on just explaining how things work in banking. Is the mix right? Think about it. The branch employees are your customer guides, after all. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=295Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:00:00 PST295This year, bankers seem to be talking a lot about the massively large and tragically hip Generation Y. We recently paid a return visit to the folks at Van de Lay Bank and Trust to attend this high-performer’s strategic planning retreat. We let our reality cams roll and now provide you with the actual best-practice transcripts from this groundbreaking meeting. Michael Croalhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=294Fri, 04 Aug 2006 00:00:00 PST294While it is always wise to have a formal Strategic Technology Plan and a Project Planning Methodology in place, are there times when a quick fix that has low risk, low complexity and immediately solves a problem will do the trick?http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=293Fri, 28 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PST293Rushing through my brain I’ve got laws and regs and rulings and interpretations that are really making me flip out, and my malachite crystals just aren’t healing me on their own. I have to unload some of this negative energy, so I thought I’d let my words fight the good fight for me.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=292Fri, 21 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PST292We've heard the buzz before -- but unlike the vaporware promises of the '90s, fiction has now become fact, and cell phones may become more important than wallets.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=291Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PST291Core system conversions are to be avoided like the plague, but the harsh reality is that the features/functionality available with an updated system will compel some organizations to take on this onerous task. If your bank is in the position of “when” and not “if” to make a change, remember that the name of the conversion game has changed, too. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=290Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PST290Banks that haven’t thought about debit trends and proactive efforts to increase usage should put it on the management agenda. Anything that increases customer satisfaction because of its convenience and creates revenue for the bank makes for one of the few “win win” opportunities out there.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=289Fri, 30 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST289In 2003, the Gartner Group concluded, “The CIO, as we know it, is a dying breed. We are seeing the role reinvented.” It is clear that this reinvention is well under way in banking. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=288Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST288Hancock Bank in Gulfport, MS, took a direct hit from Katrina, and the bank's beachfront corporate facilities were particularly devastated. John Hairston, EVP and COO of the $6B bank, relates the tantamount role the bank's team played in its recovery. Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=287Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST287Protecting the public from terrorism and other hazards should be a top priority, and I’m sure the intent of tighter compliance was not to put banks out of business by overloading them with hundreds of emails and thousands of pages of manuals to review. The concern I hear in banks is that the extra compliance is not producing any meaningful results. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=286Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST286GonzoBankers, there are numerous security solutions that will allegedly meet the FFIEC compliance guidelines, but just meeting the guidelines will not make the issue of security and electronic banking threats disappear. Here are a few solutions that got my attention.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=285Fri, 02 Jun 2006 00:00:00 PST285Organizations that use IT to develop and deliver business processes which in turn provide compelling value for customers and shareholders will achieve ongoing and long-term business value.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=284Fri, 26 May 2006 00:00:00 PST284Whatever the motivation, many banks have online deposit account opening on their minds, which puts it front and center for your telepathic, eager to please and willing-to-opine-on-anything-never-mind-the-topic Gonzo homeboys in Scottsdale. So, let’s take a look at the early entrant vendors in this area and the issues banks will need to address.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=283Fri, 19 May 2006 00:00:00 PST283About a year ago, I wrote a GonzoBanker column that lamented the lack of viable software tools to help streamline and automate the commercial lending process. Fifteen months later, I am pleased to say that the commercial loan software market is about to heat up BIG TIME. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=282Fri, 12 May 2006 00:00:00 PST282SFB and the other affiliated thrifts are not attracting the fear-based attention from their competitors that Wal-Mart is getting, but they probably should be. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the top five affiliated thrifts have quietly and quickly amassed more than $100 billion of our industry.Carl Faulkner, Paul Novotnyhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=281Fri, 05 May 2006 00:00:00 PST281COBOL and the cockroach share a similar characteristic; they will be around for a very long time. However, the cost to continue operating COBOL-based systems is rising and is expected to do so at increasing rates. The clock is ticking and the sound is getting louder each year, but what to do? Michael Beirdhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=280Fri, 28 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST280During the 1990s, many institutions rolled out elaborate sales incentive programs to tellers and operations staff with the goal of trying to identify new prospects and expand the relationships of existing customers. The reality for many institutions was a reduction in morale, increased turnover, unhappy customers, and few qualified leads. So why do banks believe today that trying to get inbound call center agents to sell will yield different results? Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=279Fri, 21 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST279Understanding that the PayPal system currently relies on funding from bank checking or credit card accounts, I don’t think PayPal will seriously hurt our bottom lines. However, with 100 million accounts, it is bound to make an impact on customer loyalty. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=278Fri, 14 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST278There is every reason why banks should have as their over-arching objective an environment where all non-customer facing loan activities are performed 100 percent off-site using images and not paper. It’s time for this aspect of credit administration to leave the Sputnik days behind!Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=277Fri, 07 Apr 2006 00:00:00 PST277One of the keys to superior service is integrated delivery – common sales, information and service systems that allow every employee in the bank to see the transaction and contact history of any customer from any delivery point. In the spirit of adding value in the banking arena, the Gonzo team has prepared a self-assessment test to see how your integrated customer delivery strategies rank. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=276Fri, 31 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST276No matter how many times you hear that the game is rigged to favor “the man” at the behemoth banks, remember to take a look at who’s really moving market share and who’s selling to who for big shareholder gains and glory. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=275Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST275Sure, banks should watch what happens with the Wal-Mart charter application and monitor how Wal-Mart operates IF it garners a charter. But let’s not lose track of the fact that Wal-Mart would be a competitor - a discount diaper dealer dipping its toe into banking. Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=274Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST274Here at GonzoLabs, we are big proponents of current, live, up and running deployments - whatever the technology may be. There has been a lot of buzz floating around the biometrics space lately, and I think a reality check is in order. Michael Beirdhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=272Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST272The opposing forces between commercial and retail bankers are probably as old as the industry itself and not likely to dissipate any time soon. Still, a few well-instituted process improvements can maximize bank profitability and customer service.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=271Fri, 03 Mar 2006 00:00:00 PST271There is a common understanding among bankers that as long as we are in compliance life is good. A passing grade is all we really want or need. Unfortunately, no one knows how we will be graded on the FFIEC mandate, at least not yet. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=270Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:00:00 PST270Architecture will have a major impact on your future capability and flexibility. Because banking systems usually remain in use far longer than planned, it’s important to “do it right” the first time! Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=269Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:00:00 PST269Having every platform employee and manager spend half a day per week on administrative paper shuffling helps nobody. Banks need to kill this bureaucracy.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=268Fri, 10 Feb 2006 00:00:00 PST268Most banks have replaced their focus on true C&I lending growth with a voracious love for commercial real estate. If bankers cannot find the strategic stomach to reverse this course, they will be relinquishing one of their prime sources of future franchise value – the trust and partnership of the business owner. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=267Fri, 03 Feb 2006 00:00:00 PST267The truth is, there are not yet enough hard core merchant capture success stories to prove the cost justification logic correct in all but the most obvious situations.Santiago Patiñohttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=266Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:00:00 PST266Check 21 has ushered in an era of the image cash letter and presents major marketing and re-engineering opportunities for banks of all sizes. Have the promises been fulfilled since the passage of Check 21 more than a year ago? Michael Beirdhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=265Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:00:00 PST265Most incentive plans begin with good intentions and reasonably defined behavioral performance goals. Unfortunately, by the time they make their way through the myriad of departments, managers and analysts, what remains often lacks the elements required to truly motivate and guide employee performance.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=264Fri, 13 Jan 2006 00:00:00 PST264Many bankers may think spending time on governance is a waste and will only add complexity. Trust me, the only way to ever make IT life less complex and day-to-day operations simpler is to implement some form of IT governance. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=262Fri, 06 Jan 2006 00:00:00 PST262How well do your vendors do when it comes to providing excellent customer service? We’ve decided to help them out with a few Gonzo New Year’s resolutions. (We’re sure these suggestions are just what the folks at Fiserv, Fidelity, OSI, Metavante, etc. have been waiting for!)http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=261Mon, 19 Dec 2005 00:00:00 PST261It's that time of year. The time when we recognize the best, the worst, and the downright unfathomable. Eric Weikarthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=260Fri, 09 Dec 2005 00:00:00 PST260I have a big problem with multi-page, incomprehensible vendor invoices. Here are some tips to help reduce some of your core spending costs, including ways to monitor your vendor and some useful financial modeling techniques. Michael Beirdhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=258Sat, 03 Dec 2005 00:00:00 PST258While even the best strategies cannot eliminate all risks associated with managing staff requirements, a comprehensive game plan can help managers stay a step ahead of their staffing needs.Steve Williams, Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=259Fri, 18 Nov 2005 00:00:00 PST259Several thousand bankers carrying the same blue tote bags, wearing the same name badges and lining up for the same uninteresting buffet lunch have just received a major kick in the groin from a variety of industry pundits: Stop the drone-like mimicking of each other, quit chasing industry fads and get yourself a damn strategy! Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=257Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 PST257Just a quick note of welcome to incoming Fiserv CEO Jeffery Yabuki from the terra stompers at GonzoBanker. Sure, we know you’ve been in the financial services industry for some time, but things are about to get a lot more interesting for you. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=256Fri, 04 Nov 2005 00:00:00 PST256I just don’t get it. How can running a system in a leveraged environment cost more than operating the exact same software in your own bank? Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=255Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST255I will be the first to admit that I would get worried if I didn’t meet my quota of 84 emails a day. However, the proliferation of email usage brings with it the inevitable increase in risks. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=254Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST254Unexpected events are an inevitable part of conducting business, but if the leadership of an organization doesn’t see the big picture and prepare for all the possible eventualities, who will? Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=253Fri, 14 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST253How does the “Gonzo” HR all-star ensure his or her rightful place in the inner sanctum of senior bank management teams? Here are some characteristics we have found that are indicative of successful HR managers.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=252Fri, 07 Oct 2005 00:00:00 PST252By opening the windows and letting the light shine on the building blocks of execution, CEOs can create operating cultures that are more focused, faster moving, better integrated and perceived as “fair” by every manager and employee.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=251Fri, 30 Sep 2005 00:00:00 PST251A stronger bank tech competitor is nothing but good for the industry, and OSI has made some serious strides in a relatively short period of time. But OSI has to clear some colossal financial, client management, technology and reputation hurdles to make the BISYS deal work.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=248Fri, 30 Sep 2005 00:00:00 PST248GonzoBanker is currently surveying bankers about their positive and negative experiences with bank sales cultures. We are trying to ascertain the current honest-to-goodness “truth” about bank sales cultures based upon confidential feedback from bankers in the field. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=250Fri, 23 Sep 2005 00:00:00 PST250Eventually, your institution will be the target of a phishing attack. Here are a few tips to help you be prepared. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=247Mon, 12 Sep 2005 00:00:00 PST247If you are currently having a hard time getting your desktop PC hooked up because your IT department can’t find the power outlet, please don’t attempt to bring online bill payment in-house. But for those who do have a stellar group of byte-heads, ask them to explore the alternatives to third party bill pay vendors. There’s no telling what they might discover. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=246Tue, 06 Sep 2005 00:00:00 PST246A lot of time is spent talking about “turning information into an asset.” Workflow technology is one tool that can actually accomplish that. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=74Fri, 26 Aug 2005 00:00:00 PST74The branch manager exists to lead all aspects of customer relationships delivered through the branch. The job is a combination of sales, coaching, training, delivery, fulfillment, analysis, and communications.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=238Fri, 19 Aug 2005 00:00:00 PST238For the past 10 years, big banks have snored and small banks have leaped in to steal share, but now the game is changing.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=233Fri, 12 Aug 2005 00:00:00 PST233Here at Gonzo Central, we Feel the need to help our readers find the eternal bliss and sunny warmth of matrimony. (That, or maybe you can just hook up and tell us all the good parts.) So, this week we introduce you to the GonzoBanker Online Dating Service.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=232Fri, 05 Aug 2005 00:00:00 PST232Cold molasses flows at warp speed compared to the pace of technology change in banking. C'mon, bankers, vendors and software providers - let's get together and make remote deposit happen. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=231Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 PST231There is no other store on the planet where you can enter the store at 7am and by the time you leave check off almost every item on your honey-do list. About the only thing Wal-Mart doesn’t have is a full-fledged bank. At least not yet. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=225Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:00:00 PST225Banking—once a bastion of job security—now has a definite Wild West “every man for himself” flavor to it. If you haven’t been bought, sold or traded more than once in your career, you are very lucky. So what to do, GonzoBankers? How about managing your organization as though it were a personal investment?Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=118Fri, 15 Jul 2005 00:00:00 PST118The folks at Cliché Bank and Trust have never met a slogan they didn’t like. They have embraced every trend and idea that man and banker have come up with through the years. And they are primed and pumped for the 2005 strategic panning meeting.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=249Fri, 08 Jul 2005 00:00:00 PST249It’s time to stop believing that management training is unaffordable and get more creative about how to hack these important programs together. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=67Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:00:00 PST67Eliot Spitzer announced that he is going to subpoena data on racial lending patterns and open his own investigation on some big name national bank members of the CHA. Oofdah, just what the OCC and those banks needed – big, burly Eliot Spitzer playing the civil rights card.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=151Fri, 24 Jun 2005 00:00:00 PST151It is my notion that names for new software products or releases in the banking industry should have some relationship to the product or release in development. When your core system vendor announces product update R0502, tell them to get with the program or pound sand.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=107Fri, 17 Jun 2005 00:00:00 PST107Attention customer: having made it through the treacherous IVR menu you now have two choices: hang up the phone or press “0” and wait a little longer.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=75Fri, 10 Jun 2005 00:00:00 PST75Here are some practical steps bankers can take to improve quality and, more importantly, establish an environment that fosters continuous quality improvement.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=12Fri, 03 Jun 2005 00:00:00 PST12There are precious few times a new opportunity market presents itself and allows banks to test their ability to actually do it.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=146Fri, 27 May 2005 00:00:00 PST146In this constant quarter-to-quarter hustle, banks can lose sight of developing meaningful long-term strategies. The question all bank management teams must ask themselves is, “Do we have the stomach and patience to do something different?” Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=53Fri, 20 May 2005 00:00:00 PST53If banks and credit unions are going to bear at least some responsibility to financially cover dim-witted users who cannot protect their own PCs and passwords, GonzoBankers simply must beef up their online banking applicant screening. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=227Fri, 13 May 2005 00:00:00 PST227Even with tightened security measures, banks continue to be exposed to increasingly sophisticated attempts to gain access to customer accounts. What can be done? Consider these damage-control best practice strategies.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=52Thu, 05 May 2005 00:00:00 PST52I have gained a newfound respect for this phenomenon called NASCAR, a prime example of just how powerful creativity, innovation, marketing and, most importantly, building customer loyalty can be.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=76Fri, 29 Apr 2005 00:00:00 PST76It's a simple fact of life. If something is functional, reliable and cost-effective with respect to maintenance, time isn’t particularly relevant. Ask my wife. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=150Fri, 22 Apr 2005 00:00:00 PST150What is on the branch to-do list and scorecard for the next two to three years? Expanded, deeper relationships. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=77Fri, 15 Apr 2005 00:00:00 PST77The millions spent on technology infrastructure and compliance in the past 24 months has put serious pressure on bank earnings. It’s now up to bank senior management to extract some semblance of business value from this series of unfortunate events.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=57Fri, 08 Apr 2005 00:00:00 PST57Tough BSA/money laundering enforcement is the next Big, Big Thing coming from Bank Cop Land. This is not going to be your garden variety Federal Checklist-a-thon. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=109Fri, 01 Apr 2005 00:00:00 PST109This week at GonzoLabs, $125 was approved to perform an in-depth review of multiple fingerprint technologies. Here are our findings.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=110Fri, 25 Mar 2005 00:00:00 PST110Unfortunately, security has no end state because the x-factor (i.e. the hacker) will never rest. Not to mention that we bankers will also never tire of telling the hackers exactly what we are doing. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=241Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:00:00 PST241Whether or not a bank has an ODP program in place, it will be important to thoroughly review every aspect of the existing overdraft program to ensure compliance with the new guidelines. The ODP era is here to stay.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=58Fri, 11 Mar 2005 00:00:00 PST58If everybody can put down the hockey sticks and swallow their pride for a few minutes, we at Cornerstone will share some ideas across charters. Here are a few best practice ideas from good banks and credit unions. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=59Fri, 04 Mar 2005 00:00:00 PST59While the mortgage loan industry moves steadily ahead in automating and integrating more technical standards and work flow technology, the commercial side of the bank still waits. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=141Fri, 25 Feb 2005 00:00:00 PST141At once, Hunter S. Thompson was pissed off and hilarious, obnoxious and charming, imperfect and dead-on, accuser and defender, sinner and saint. And we at GonzoBanker copied and admired him greatly.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=183Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:00:00 PST183It is complexity that has imperiled projects. Perhaps future technology will help manage the interaction of the pieces, but for today, we will have to live with the fact that these wonderful tools can be a real pain to get right.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=13Fri, 11 Feb 2005 00:00:00 PST13End users – whether tellers, back office administrators, I.T. employees, private bankers or branch managers – are the ones who should be driving change and increased functionality. If only the vendors would listen.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=68Fri, 04 Feb 2005 00:00:00 PST68We know of banks who have spent enough on power filing equipment to pay for a quality document imaging system several times over. Maybe it's time to look into some automation.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=162Fri, 28 Jan 2005 00:00:00 PST162We’re hearing a lot of buzz about balanced corporate scorecards and corporate performance management. Here are some Gonzoesque suggestions about how to make scorecards become strong, useful tools at your shop.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=243Fri, 21 Jan 2005 00:00:00 PST243There’s been a more fundamental shift that could gravely impact us all in the future: the thrift-focused mentality of our parents’ generation has been replaced by a rabid and seemingly unstoppable love of debt.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=14Fri, 14 Jan 2005 00:00:00 PST14Based on a bank or credit union’s profile, can you really predict whether it will convert to a new system at the end of a selection process?Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=142Fri, 07 Jan 2005 00:00:00 PST142In November 2004, The Wall Street Journal bestowed its “2004 Technology Innovation Awards.” How many went to the financial services industry? Nada, zilch, bupkus, zero!Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=113Fri, 17 Dec 2004 00:00:00 PST113We know that bankers and technologists around the world have been waiting in unbearable anticipation of this final GonzoBanker newsletter of 2004. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=170Fri, 10 Dec 2004 00:00:00 PST170The last thing anyone wants to think about during the holiday season is identity theft. Here are some tips to escape the lure of the phishers.Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=153Fri, 03 Dec 2004 00:00:00 PST153I’m tired of hearing all the broad generalities out there about VoIP. Lots of people say they’re doing it, but if you peel back the layers of the onion, you’ll find that VoIP is a lot like sex: people are talking about it more than they’re actually doing it.Terence Roche, Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=212Fri, 19 Nov 2004 00:00:00 PST212We were on approach at the edge of the desert, about a mile outside of Barstow when the caffeine began to take effect.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=15Fri, 12 Nov 2004 00:00:00 PST15If four months have passed since you endured the vendor demos and you still have not chosen The One, there's a good chance you're dragging your feet.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=79Fri, 05 Nov 2004 00:00:00 PST79We are hearing that senior management has a belief that there is a real opportunity to reduce costs if the entire information management effort can be improved. So what are we waiting for?Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=220Fri, 29 Oct 2004 00:00:00 PST220Somewhere in your inbox right now is probably a request for you to complete your budget for next year. Fear not -- the folks at GonzoBanker are here to share industry best practices. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=224Fri, 22 Oct 2004 00:00:00 PST224Many CIOs are struggling to effectively manage the unplanned staffing demand that occurs each year. Here are some tips to assist with the staffing discussions.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=178Fri, 15 Oct 2004 00:00:00 PST1787-Eleven is apparently hell-bent on proving that the ATM can be much more than a little black box dispensing greenbacks. Maybe banks just can’t compete with a 44-oz. Slurpee with edible straw. Bill McFarlandhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=60Fri, 08 Oct 2004 00:00:00 PST60Consumer advocates decry Check 21 as the end of civilization as we know it, but what does it really mean for most financial institutions?Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=181Fri, 01 Oct 2004 00:00:00 PST181The public wants and needs CAMELS 1 examiners; it just doesn’t want examiners concerned about being rated CAMELS 1.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=61Fri, 24 Sep 2004 00:00:00 PST61CRM systems are beginning to give banks real capabilities that now put the ball back in their court. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=62Fri, 17 Sep 2004 00:00:00 PST62Everywhere I turn, there is another financial institution chasing the lucrative small business market. The reason for the rush is clear: this is still one profitable segment of banking.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=16Fri, 10 Sep 2004 00:00:00 PST16Why would your incumbent core vendor make an aggressive financial proposal in the 11th hour of your selection process? Desperation is probably the least of the real reasons.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=158Fri, 03 Sep 2004 00:00:00 PST158Whenever a new software program or an upgrade comes out, you could bet your bottom dollar I would be one of the first in line at Office Depot. At least, that’s how it used to be – before Windows XP SP2 threw a cold blanket over my upgrade fervor. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=152Fri, 27 Aug 2004 00:00:00 PST152While banks look for the next big source of non-interest revenue, market forces are at work in the ever-burgeoning area of electronic banking and payment systems. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=244Fri, 20 Aug 2004 00:00:00 PST244Time to acknowledge the profitability that the Internet banking crowd has begun to enjoy, a success that many felt would not happen this soon or in such a widespread manner across the specialty vendors.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=192Fri, 13 Aug 2004 00:00:00 PST192Some mongo demographic shifts are occurring, and they need to be incorporated into a bank's strategic planning process.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=216Fri, 06 Aug 2004 00:00:00 PST216With viruses at the forefront of the news, we delve into the mind of a contributor and explore the fine art of virus writing.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=80Fri, 30 Jul 2004 00:00:00 PST80With a median training expenditure of $199 per employee, it’s no wonder some bank employees have no idea what their current systems can or cannot do; they have never been trained to use them properly. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=221Fri, 23 Jul 2004 00:00:00 PST221Scams, cons and rip-offs are a dime a dozen in these days of the anonymous, masquerading Internet. Here's a swindle that has been circulating among the bank IT community that is both frightening and laughable at once.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=179Fri, 16 Jul 2004 00:00:00 PST179Boys and girls, “trusted advisor” is our middle name. And so the Gonz doctor has hung the shingle on the door and is open for business. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=205Fri, 09 Jul 2004 00:00:00 PST205After my second Bloody Mary on a business flight, I began to dream of a “Million Banker March.” It’s time to shed cynicism and resolve once again that “we shall overcome.”Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=202Fri, 02 Jul 2004 00:00:00 PST202Spam has rapidly moved from minor irritant to nuisance to productivity killer. And it's costing your bank money.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=245Fri, 25 Jun 2004 00:00:00 PST245A lot of banks that are talking about new bells and whistles should be putting more focus on fixing some of the basics before they invest money in the next big widget.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=144Fri, 18 Jun 2004 00:00:00 PST144There is nothing inherently wrong with offbeat and risky. But for every mental innovator and intellectual maverick, a bank needs hundreds of hardheaded foot soldiers to make sure the Vision Thing gets some legs and actually materializes.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=17Fri, 11 Jun 2004 00:00:00 PST17If newer versions of vendors’ systems eliminate most of the functionality gaps versus the developed systems and their cost has come down, do you keep developing?Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=115Fri, 04 Jun 2004 00:00:00 PST115Most of the wisdom you need for this year’s strategic planning retreat has already been written – we’ve all just forgotten about it.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=147Fri, 28 May 2004 00:00:00 PST147Some real solutions to check fraud may be on the way, thanks to billions of technology dollars invested by the financial industry. Unfortunately, it may be a while before mainstream vendors join in the battle. Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=163Fri, 21 May 2004 00:00:00 PST163A relationship-driven compensation plan must find a way to motivate the sales and service personnel as well as the individuals required to fulfill and retain that relationship. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=81Fri, 14 May 2004 00:00:00 PST81Anyone who knows me knows I'm a slave to fashion, sushi, gangsta rap and all things en vogue and trendy. I just don't see the attraction to the new style bank branch. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=82Fri, 07 May 2004 00:00:00 PST82The right focus and the right tone can make the difference between an IT project planning process that has support and buy-in and one that doesn't. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=175Fri, 30 Apr 2004 00:00:00 PST175Mr. Kruger, CEO of Kramerica Bank & Trust in Queens, issued this memo to all his employees, outlining a fresh approach to customer relationship management.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=18Fri, 23 Apr 2004 00:00:00 PST18Banking specialty firms continue to be affected three years following the mega-merger of banking vendors BoMan and FiJack, and significant revenue decreases are being reported by Cornerstone Advisors, IBM and Unisys.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=203Fri, 16 Apr 2004 00:00:00 PST203There are a number of things your IT folks can do to prepare for a wireless network. First, in the words of Sun Tzu, "Know thy enemy."Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=19Fri, 09 Apr 2004 00:00:00 PST19Buying Internet banking is getting increasingly similar to buying sorghum and pork bellies. The challenge for the Internet specialists - either get more price competitive or deliver a stunning set of success stories.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=69Fri, 02 Apr 2004 00:00:00 PST69As multiple systems inevitably merge to one over the next few years, will the upstart Web application systems be able to displace their more established competitors in the race to become the turnkey mortgage system?Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=83Fri, 26 Mar 2004 00:00:00 PST83M&A fever is in the air, and banks are once again beginning to struggle with the challenges of “scaling up” their organizations.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=124Fri, 19 Mar 2004 00:00:00 PST124With the developing role of technology, all applications knowledge needn't - and shouldn't - reside in the IT department.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=204Fri, 12 Mar 2004 00:00:00 PST204There are many roads one can travel on the CRM highway, but arriving at your own definition of CRM should be the first step you take. I won't lie to you -- this can be the hardest part.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=197Wed, 03 Mar 2004 00:00:00 PST197An exclusive interview with the nearly famous Check #3279 - the last paper check ever to be processed through the Federal Reserve System. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=85Fri, 27 Feb 2004 00:00:00 PST85Most CIOs are as good as the knowledge they have accumulated in the last 12 months. We in the House of Gonz have some opinions on where CIOs should focus their education efforts.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=127Fri, 20 Feb 2004 00:00:00 PST127Banks have a lot of opportunity to help customers better manage their financial lives. However, our industry is revving up the consultative machine with several flawed assumptions.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=20Fri, 13 Feb 2004 00:00:00 PST20Fidelity's acquisition of Aurum elicits two big questions. Why did Fidelity want Aurum? What is to become of Aurum's five banking core system products?Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=196Fri, 06 Feb 2004 00:00:00 PST196You might find a quick fix to your sagging jaw line or your luscious love handles on TV, but there's not a network on Earth that will take on a bank's channel integration issues in 90 days.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=21Fri, 30 Jan 2004 00:00:00 PST21Let us pray for the FIS reps who have to make even a suggestion of an IMPACS to Sanchez migration. They will be met with mean-spirited, potentially violent CIOs nationwide.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=176Fri, 23 Jan 2004 00:00:00 PST176Before banks can really be successful at CRM, their CRM systems and fulfillment systems have to mesh and work together. To a large degree, they don't - yet. And banks and vendors haven't negotiated the tough details of how they will. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=148Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:00:00 PST148Online banking was once a “cutting edge” project that consumed a ton of a bank's time. Now, banks seem to be approaching Internet banking systems with all the passion and excitement of a VRU or ATM replacement.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=22Fri, 09 Jan 2004 00:00:00 PST22If total technology costs are not increasing, why should you commit to a technology contract that ensures your costs will increase over time?Carl Faulkner, Terence Roche, Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=177Fri, 19 Dec 2003 00:00:00 PST177It's been a weird year in banking, and down in the trenches with our financial clients and vendors, we found plenty of fodder for this year's awards.Tripp Johnsonhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=117Fri, 12 Dec 2003 00:00:00 PST117I have frequently been asked in one form or another, “Have you observed many differences between big banks and non-big banks?” Simply put, yes ... and no. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=23Fri, 05 Dec 2003 00:00:00 PST23I have nothing but respect for our clients who knowingly put themselves through the pain and suffering of a core conversion. They're some farsighted, tough folks. Then I read about a group of people who surely can give these hardy bankers a run for their money.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=219Fri, 21 Nov 2003 00:00:00 PST219This week marked the annual BAI RDS conference, one of the year's last great gathering events for financial institution employees, vendors, consultants, and manufacturers of giveaways that cost less than $2 each and break in less than a week.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=86Fri, 14 Nov 2003 00:00:00 PST86The wimpy days of the intranet are over. These days, bankers around the country are knee-deep in transforming their corporate intranets into souped-up, automated workflow platforms. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=24Fri, 07 Nov 2003 00:00:00 PST24In a gutsy move, Fiserv ITI announced it will modify its core system and ancillary products to run on the IBM iSeries computer. This should address one of the market's biggest gripes with the ITI solution - hardware pricing.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=25Fri, 31 Oct 2003 00:00:00 PST25Unless you initiate some hard-core communication with the vendors well in advance of their day in the spotlight, the well-rehearsed performances can be delivered like it's amateur night at the Sheboygan Improv.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=87Fri, 24 Oct 2003 00:00:00 PST87Training and learning are key to increasing the payoff from existing systems and maximizing new investments already made. Here are four suggested "Gonzo Training" ideas to put to use in the coming year's "learn as we go and go as we learn" environmentSteve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=70Fri, 17 Oct 2003 00:00:00 PST70Faced with a 47 percent drop in volumes, players in the mortgage game are going to need to run faster, throw more elbows, and follow the Gonzo 10-Step Mortgage Plan.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=137Fri, 10 Oct 2003 00:00:00 PST137The ability to carry on business, at least at some level, in the face of a debilitating event is critical to a bank's operations. But why does continuity cost so much?Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=132Fri, 03 Oct 2003 00:00:00 PST132We need to reconcile the disparity between what branches need and what system designers think they need. Here are six rules of design for building the next generation delivery system. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=165Fri, 26 Sep 2003 00:00:00 PST165Even more dated than Retail blaming IT for the lack of bank sales growth is the unending battle between loan officers and loan operations staff. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=126Fri, 19 Sep 2003 00:00:00 PST126I've walked the halls of enough banks to weigh in on what makes a great CEO. For this reason, I blatantly ripped off the "Cosmo Quiz" format to develop the classic Gonzo Quiz: Are You a Gonzo CEO?Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=190Fri, 12 Sep 2003 00:00:00 PST190True GonzoBankers will realize the benefits to be had from electronic check conversion - for their customers and for themselves - and make sure appropriate education is provided in advance of the technical rollout. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=26Fri, 05 Sep 2003 00:00:00 PST26If you're selecting a core system, it is critical that you invest the time and effort to really analyze the numbers the vendors put before you, because there's one thing you can be sure of - the initial numbers the vendors submit to you are not the numbers you will see on your bill.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=195Fri, 29 Aug 2003 00:00:00 PST195Most banks need a component in their strategic planning process that applies special focus to external factors that will influence the bank next year. Here are five trends I would suggest examining and factoring into planning/budgeting.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=194Fri, 22 Aug 2003 00:00:00 PST194In our industry's rabid enthusiasm to build more offices, we've all got to remember that additional branches don't necessarily produce better service or competitive advantage. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=88Fri, 15 Aug 2003 00:00:00 PST88Why spend the big bucks on systems to validate your employees' identities when for $250 per desktop you can scrap the ID cards, the passwords, and the hassle?Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=211Fri, 08 Aug 2003 00:00:00 PST211Many banks and credit unions are paying dearly for their own success, particularly those that have online banking delivered via ASP. But prices are on the way down due to pressure at contract renewal time from banks that are getting fired up.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=27Fri, 01 Aug 2003 00:00:00 PST27Hard to believe that with the announced sale of the credit union business to Fiserv, EDS has exited the credit union, community bank, and regional bank markets. Why did EDS get run out of Dodge?Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=133Fri, 25 Jul 2003 00:00:00 PST133Bankers are finding themselves desperately in need of talent to drive their banks into the future. But here's the problem: we're employing the old, tired concepts in fighting this new talent war. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=89Fri, 18 Jul 2003 00:00:00 PST89In most banks, the focus at the help desk is on resolving a caller's immediate problem. All too often the help desk manager is rewarded for answering an ever-growing number of calls. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I say reward the manager for reducing your staff's need to call the help desk.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=28Fri, 11 Jul 2003 00:00:00 PST28Core system selections have been boiling for a good 12 months now, and we're seeing a relatively slow year on the M&A front for our vendor comrades. No time for buying when you're doing all that selling, right?Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=29Fri, 27 Jun 2003 00:00:00 PST29Open systems, if leveraged, present a significant opportunity for banks to improve sales, service and efficiency. However, banks need to confirm that the openness is specific and real. How? Here are some tips to help you get the open systems design you need.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=186Fri, 20 Jun 2003 00:00:00 PST186As your bank goes into planning this summer, remember that the essence of strategy is not simply working harder, but doing things differently than your competitors.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=30Fri, 13 Jun 2003 00:00:00 PST30Leading core processing vendors that continue to play with the same old pricing model will simply drive banks to acquire less expensive, and often in-house, solutions.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=230Fri, 06 Jun 2003 00:00:00 PST230We can hide behind the "We're providing a much-needed service" shield if we want to, but believing our own BS is a losing game that will lead to the next regulatory hammering du jour. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=90Fri, 30 May 2003 00:00:00 PST90When the mercury tops 110 for the first time each summer in the Valley of the Sun, it can only mean one thing - time for some verse, baby. Today, we pay tribute to the brothers and sisters in operations.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=145Fri, 23 May 2003 00:00:00 PST145Great software is developed and stays alive when smart, ego-driven owners are leading the charge. If banks choose only the most established and "safest" vendors in the industry, we may kill the entrepreneurial model that helps us continually reinvent ourselves with technology. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=184Mon, 19 May 2003 00:00:00 PST184To make smart technology investment decisions today that won't limit your future choices, some important questions need to be asked.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=171Fri, 09 May 2003 00:00:00 PST171Non-Contract Negotiation, End-User Evaluation, Hotel Rating Service, and Self-Regulation are among Cornerstone's new services, according to this spoof by Scott Hodgins. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=91Fri, 02 May 2003 00:00:00 PST91An explosion of images will hit us in the next two to five years. Let's don't think about how to store and access them after it happens. It's time to start thinking "horizontally" about imaging systems.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=210Fri, 25 Apr 2003 00:00:00 PST210For the past three years, we have appropriately ignored the buzz of wireless, but now our attention may be turning to a real wireless Web. Bankers, it's time to examine how "Internet everywhere" can and will impact our delivery strategies.Jeff Wagnerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=92Fri, 18 Apr 2003 00:00:00 PST92In the bizarre world of the Finance Department, anyone that can add numbers is viewed as qualified to do more strategic tasks like planning, forecasting and analysis. This gets banks into a lot of trouble.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=31Fri, 11 Apr 2003 00:00:00 PST31Almost a year to the day since the news that Paul Bourke would replace Ray Maturi, Aurum Technologies's first CEO, Metavante announced that Frank Martire will take the helm from Joe Delgadillo. What impact will these executives have on their companies - and the industry?Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=32Fri, 04 Apr 2003 00:00:00 PST32In the vendor selection process, due diligence is dirty-fingernails detail work that simply must be done by the bankers themselves. My recommedation: go heavy on the phone calls and light on the plane trips, and you can rest easy knowing that your bank has done its homework.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=187Fri, 28 Mar 2003 00:00:00 PST187As banks look at efficiency and expenses and ask what all those people down in the technology dungeon are doing with their time, the conversation about technology staff levels once again raises its head.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=73Fri, 21 Mar 2003 00:00:00 PST73Banks are realizing that somewhere between a sleepy trust company and an annuity-loving investment group, they are missing a large opportunity: the mass affluent.Scott Hodgins, Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=33Fri, 14 Mar 2003 00:00:00 PST33Acme Bank is a $1.5 billion community bank focused on commercial and business banking but with a desire to also provide a complete range of financial services, resulting in retail, mortgage, investment, and Trust lines of business. Should Acme buy best of breed systems for each line of business from multiple vendors or a suite of products from one vendor?Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=157Fri, 07 Mar 2003 00:00:00 PST157With the convergence of voice and data technology upon us, you can count on it affecting your bank over the next few years. GonzoBankers, it is time to understand what this newfangled phone technology is all about.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=207Fri, 28 Feb 2003 00:00:00 PST207A longtime friend works for a gargantuan U.S. bank that has developed a remarkable sales and referral-tracking system at a cost that is downright stomachable. This simple program drives incentives for thousands of retail trench warriors - branch managers, new account reps, consumer lenders and tellers. Brad Northcrafthttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=71Fri, 21 Feb 2003 00:00:00 PST71The long-lasting refi boom has most mortgage lenders just too tired to think about the future, but bankers need to think about "big picture" economic and demographic trends that will create new mandates and opportunities for banks once the refi boom finally subsides.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=130Fri, 14 Feb 2003 00:00:00 PST130The banking industry has done a lot of things right over the past few years, yet banks are finding it more and more challenging to garner core earnings growth. I'm convinced we can find billions in additional profit improvement if we just have the right information on which to act.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=166Fri, 07 Feb 2003 00:00:00 PST166A new user interface is sweeping the banking industry. The browser, the up-and-coming "look and feel" of both new and old products, represents the perfect opportunity for vendors to "get it right" this time. Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=120Fri, 31 Jan 2003 00:00:00 PST120While we buy very little of Fidelity National Financial's synergy story and even less of ALLTEL's claim that the sale of its financial services division is about focus on telco, this acquisition could have been much, much worse, Chachi. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=63Fri, 17 Jan 2003 00:00:00 PST63For the past 40 years a bank's power base has been centered in the hands of commercial loan officers, but the winds have shifted - these days banking is about a lot more than credit.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=160Fri, 10 Jan 2003 00:00:00 PST160There is a lot of confusion over thin-client technology, in large part because it comes in two competing flavors - Citrix and browser. This article is intended to eliminate some of the mystery surrounding this technology and assist you in determining what technology is right for your bank. Carl Faulkner, Terence Roche, Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=182Fri, 20 Dec 2002 00:00:00 PST182Welcome to the 2002 GonzoBanker Awards, our second annual foray into recognizing those people and things that made us nod our heads in appreciation, shake our heads in disbelief, and head straight for the door in despair.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=159Fri, 13 Dec 2002 00:00:00 PST159'Twas the day of the demo, in the foyer aflutter, the salesmen were schmoozing, as smooth as peach butter.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=208Fri, 06 Dec 2002 00:00:00 PST208On paper, there is no argument against enterprise data management strategies and, ergo, systems, but qualifying their value via traditional ROI analysis is, at this point, very difficult.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=185Mon, 02 Dec 2002 00:00:00 PST185Since 1992, the banking industry has managed to push its efficiency ratio down from 65% to 55%. Revenue per employee has skyrocketed from $133,000 to $228,000 in the same time period. How in the world did we improve our margins so significantly? Two words: non-interest income.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=125Fri, 22 Nov 2002 00:00:00 PST125I have enjoyed watching the conception, birth, growth and maturation of the Internet banking vendors. But the word on the street is that some mid-size banks, dissatisfied with their providers, are developing their own Internet banking solutions.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=223Fri, 15 Nov 2002 00:00:00 PST223Making something more complex doesn’t mean there will be a demand for the new, improved product. “Better” is defined by the market, not the inventor. In my opinion, any attempt to make the ATM anything more than a box that gives consumers money and takes the odd after-hours deposit is destined to abject failure. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=134Fri, 08 Nov 2002 00:00:00 PST134The latest OS changes are forcing the last of the branch system holdouts still running DOS or Windows 95 to begin facing the inevitable move to 2000 or XP. So, what should we expect of the next generation of branch new accounts/sales systems? Here are some things to take into consideration when you go shopping.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=155Fri, 01 Nov 2002 00:00:00 PST155The industry is abuzz with talk of Web services, XML, SOAP, .Net, WSDL - all neat new ways of describing the perpetual lie in technology: "Someday soon, computer systems will integrate seamlessly with one another." If business areas and I.T. groups do not work together on designing a Web infrastructure, we all will get the technology environment we deserve.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=193Fri, 18 Oct 2002 00:00:00 PST193I know these tight times have rendered most of us fiscally incapable of attending both the World Series and BAI's Retail Delivery Conference. So let GonzoBanker's Tale of the Tape IV: Major League Baseball's World Series versus BAI's Retail Delivery Conference guide you in spending your hard earned entertainment dollars wisely.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=189Fri, 11 Oct 2002 00:00:00 PST1892003 doesn’t look to be a “leap of faith” year for technology investments. While tech spending is expected to increase 5%, much of that spending is slated for infrastructure, security, and other areas that don’t rise to the top of the strategic importance pile. Here’s our take on what's hot and not hot for 2003.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=135Fri, 27 Sep 2002 00:00:00 PST135If you’re exhausted by the effort of trying to decide whether your bank should upgrade its desktop computers to Windows XP, welcome to the club. Maybe a trip down memory lane will lend the perspective you need to help you make that decision.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=239Fri, 20 Sep 2002 00:00:00 PST239If there is a technology project that has been less successfully implemented than bank profitability analysis, I cannot name it. But there are some unmistakable consistencies among banks that have hit home runs in developing profitability systems that are accepted AND USED.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=161Fri, 13 Sep 2002 00:00:00 PST161Things are happening in your world of checks, and the bigger issue of settlement is going to start moving to center stage in 2003 planning. The initiative that may bear the most watching is Visa's POS Check Service. A win/win/win situation? I'm not so sure.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=173Fri, 06 Sep 2002 00:00:00 PST173The strategic talk about cash management is partially lip service. Helping businesses manage their money is the world's second oldest profession, but our industry struggles to fully respect and integrate cash management into our core business. if your bank has the stomach for a real cash management strategy, I offer this action plan.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=34Fri, 30 Aug 2002 00:00:00 PST34More than 600 banks will renew their core system contracts this year with little knowledge of competitive alternatives. While your board will likely approve an allocation of 5% of your total, non-interest spending for core systems, you can expect to have to answer some tough questions. Are you prepared?Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=35Fri, 23 Aug 2002 00:00:00 PST35In contrast to my usual mind-blowing insight and dazzling takes, here is a simple regurgitation of the issues I’m seeing with our core system selection clients. The single biggest issue is integration, followed closely by commercial/small business, financial strength, and price.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=93Fri, 16 Aug 2002 00:00:00 PST93If an outstanding service culture is part of your mission statement or strategic plan, your employees, top to bottom, should be able to consistently understand and articulate the specifics of what that culture means and how it’s measured. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=169Fri, 09 Aug 2002 00:00:00 PST169Our industry is obsessed with "relationship banking." Well, I have a confession to make: I am an un-bundler. At this moment, I have "relationships" with 14 financial service providers. And I share with everyone around me a common indifference to the notion of a "total financial solutions provider." From an industry standpoint, this concerns me because banks are pinning the industry's future on the expected success of relationship banking. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=94Fri, 02 Aug 2002 00:00:00 PST94As banks make more extensive use of IVR units and/or call centers, I think you could make good use of the lessons I learned from my recent experience with a telecommunications services provider.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=215Fri, 26 Jul 2002 00:00:00 PST215Ahhh, the Management Trainee Program – nine months in a rotation of departments across the bank and poof, you’re a banker! To prepare all you greenhorns for what lies ahead, here are some words of wisdom a la Dr. Seuss ("Oh, the Places You'll Go!").Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=95Fri, 19 Jul 2002 00:00:00 PST95We are not designing CRM from scratch. We are, in fact, interfacing and retrofitting many existing fulfillment and analysis systems into new CRM strategies. Now it's time for banks and vendors to open a dialogue that balances real business needs with the reality of system costs, technology limitations, and time to market. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=136Fri, 12 Jul 2002 00:00:00 PST136The slow pace of technical innovation in the banking industry has caused a classic "blame game" between bankers and vendors. To put it bluntly, banks think vendors are liars and vendors think banks are stupid. How do we break this stalemate?Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=119Fri, 28 Jun 2002 00:00:00 PST119What if best of breed system strategies, previously limited to large banks with large IT checkbooks, were now open to everyone? We have all heard the promise of this for years, but the "how to" has never before existed. It does now, and it is called XML.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=36Fri, 21 Jun 2002 00:00:00 PST36It's been over a year since we last looked at the Internet banking vendor community. What follows is an unscientific sample of the Internet banking vendors we see and hear about the most in the mid-sized bank market.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=96Fri, 14 Jun 2002 00:00:00 PST96Strong field leaders are a sign of any good sales organization. They make things uncomfortable and they make thing messy. And we need them back.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=174Fri, 07 Jun 2002 00:00:00 PST174It recently occurred to me that our industry does not have an official drinking song. After a successful merger, system conversion or some other hairy project, we need a hymn to belt out while sloshing the beer. Here's the first draft for your review.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=121Fri, 31 May 2002 00:00:00 PST121Keeping in mind that mid-sized banks typically have just .0266 percent of average assets to spend on NEW strategic initiatives each year, here are my Top 10 Rules for Determining Whether a New Technology Deserves Your Strategic Technology Dollars.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=37Fri, 24 May 2002 00:00:00 PST37We have been heavy on the mic regarding the importance of vendors having an interesting secondary/ancillary product story to tell. Given a baseline of minimum core functionality, ancillary systems continue to be the most hotly debated topic during a system selection.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=188Fri, 17 May 2002 00:00:00 PST188Many of you are starting the strategic planning process soon, and the technology planning/budgeting process will quickly follow. We write a lot of strategic technology plans with banks. Here are my suggestions for making a technology plan strategic.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=116Fri, 10 May 2002 00:00:00 PST116Sad to say, the annual strategic planning retreat is characterized by many bankers as a “boondoggle”. But with a little homework, it can be a worthwhile event. After facilitating these events for more than 10 years, here are my best practice tips.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=206Fri, 03 May 2002 00:00:00 PST206Just as we have witnessed a slow deterioration of road and bridge systems resulting from insufficient capital expenditure, banks have seen their technical infrastructures weaken to the point of near collapse because they have failed to make the investments necessary to prevent these infrastructures from becoming unreliable and obsolete.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=38Fri, 26 Apr 2002 00:00:00 PST38The NFL College Draft is where pro football teams lay out millions of dollars in hope that the wholly unproven college player they have chosen will perform as promised. Strike a chord with any of you bankers who have ever taxed your globes through a core processing system selection?Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=97Fri, 19 Apr 2002 00:00:00 PST97CIOs are dealing more and more with strategy, process and payoff, and their future success is going to depend as much on their planning, communications and management skills as on their technical skills.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=64Fri, 12 Apr 2002 00:00:00 PST64Commercial “lenders” are being ordered to morph into new, improved commercial “bankers.” This transition requires careful planning and humility, and the successful bank will be the organization where good commercial bankers love to work. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=214Fri, 05 Apr 2002 00:00:00 PST214I have had frequent opportunity to review and negotiate contracts between banks and their chosen outsourcing vendors. With such large expenditures at stake, why are so many banks signing these contracts with nothing more than a cursory glance?Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=213Fri, 29 Mar 2002 00:00:00 PST213I’ve talked to a lot of bankers who are as giddy as school girls now that the branchless bank threat is finally over. But not so fast, Chachi. Look at State Farm Bank.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=98Fri, 22 Mar 2002 00:00:00 PST98For most banks moving to a more aggressive sales and fulfillment culture, the benefits promised by contact management systems are enormously appealing. So how do we translate appeal and promise into action? Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=149Fri, 15 Mar 2002 00:00:00 PST149As we try to develop future payment systems, it’s important to take stock on the hits and misses of the past few years.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=39Fri, 08 Mar 2002 00:00:00 PST39The number of banks evaluating core system options has not materially changed since Y2K, but the probability of unseating the incumbent has done a flip-flop. Here's my take on why.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=99Fri, 11 Jan 2002 00:00:00 PST99To help you prepare for the next wave of technology and projects we know is right around the corner, here's a "to do" list for 2002 that doesn't translate to major new capital budgets.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=199Fri, 04 Jan 2002 00:00:00 PST199It's the first week of January 2002, and for bankers, the headlines aren't ringing in the new year on a high note. Time for bankers to be inspired by John Belushi's famous words in Animal House: "What's this lying around crap? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?Carl Faulkner, Scott Hodgins, Terence Roche, Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=168Fri, 21 Dec 2001 00:00:00 PST168Welcome to the first annual GonzoBanker Awards. These awards are based on what we saw that we loved, that made us want to hork up our lunches, and that had us scratching our sorry noggins in utter perplexity.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=114Fri, 14 Dec 2001 00:00:00 PST114Winfield Scrooge of Meager Systems is shown the error of his ways by the ghosts of technologies past, current and future.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=111Fri, 07 Dec 2001 00:00:00 PST1112001 was a quiet year for grandiose acquisitions in the bank data processing market, but there were a few gems that blipped on the Gonzo Radar. Here’s our take on some of this year’s more noteworthy acquisitions.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=40Mon, 26 Nov 2001 00:00:00 PST40Once upon a time in a small kingdom called CFI, a king and his subjects had a vision. The moneylenders have a strong business, they said, but their process is poor; we will create a system to make their lending faster and easier.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=72Fri, 16 Nov 2001 00:00:00 PST72Across the country, most banks are halfheartedly doing mortgages, eking out a minimal profit and wondering whether to stay in or bolt. But fear not, Gonzo readers. Banks can stay in the mortgage business -- if they begin to manage it with more discipline. Because it’s budgeting time, I'd like to offer some free advice on how to make money in the mortgage business.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=41Fri, 09 Nov 2001 00:00:00 PST41The era of the closed system approach is over, and a few remaining vendors are struggling to compete using outdated products. In your next serious discussion with your core system vendor, get answers to these questions regarding system integration.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=42Fri, 02 Nov 2001 00:00:00 PST42Today marks the next installment of our popular "Tale of the Tape" series. In observation of Halloween, we get to the bottom of two of life's spookiest events: the core processing vendor demonstration and the root canal.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=100Fri, 26 Oct 2001 00:00:00 PST100After reviewing job descriptions of mostly manager/office level positions at a client bank, it struck me that there was not one mention of technology in any of them. If technology is going to be a key component of your bank's success, it's time to formalize technology skill requirements for managers and employees. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=101Fri, 19 Oct 2001 00:00:00 PST101In politics, very few qualified individuals are willing to subject themselves to the "mud" that is constantly thrown at elected officials. And for much the same reason, fewer and fewer bankers are gutsy enough to initiate and lead projects.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=218Fri, 12 Oct 2001 00:00:00 PST218Following the events of September 11, I wonder about the adequacy of all those business continuation and disaster recovery plans which I've advised on and helped to create. Here are my tips for effectively re-evaluating your disaster recovery plans.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=43Fri, 05 Oct 2001 00:00:00 PST43Having sat mesmerized through countless vendor presentations in the past four years, I offer our fair readers 'GONZOBANKER'S DO'S AND DON'TS OF VENDOR DEMONSTRATIONS'Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=102Fri, 28 Sep 2001 00:00:00 PST102Whenever I work with a bank, I make it a point to spend a good part of my time in branches and loan offices, sitting shoulder to shoulder with new account representatives, teller and lenders. I've learned that the people on the line have a very different way of looking at things than the administrative employees and managers.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=103Fri, 21 Sep 2001 00:00:00 PST103In July 1990, management guru Michael Hammer sent an urgent message to corporate America: "Don't automate, obliterate!" This message sparked what became known as the reengineering revolution. More than a decade later, reengineering has petered out, but out in the trenches, banks appear ready to take another hard look at their processes and learn from the past.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=139Fri, 07 Sep 2001 00:00:00 PST139I've never been in a bank where the CEO tells me how wonderful information technology is performing at his institution. The problem is that the CEO and the CIO are unable and apparently unwilling to work out the level at which they can effectively communicate. Here are some tips on "jump starting" the communication breakdown.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=44Fri, 31 Aug 2001 00:00:00 PST44Incumbent core processing vendors are now winning 60 percent of the RFP deals. But what about the 40 percent of banks that are switching vendors at the end of their selection processes? How are vendors unseating bargain basement-priced incuments?Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=156Fri, 24 Aug 2001 00:00:00 PST156These days, in almost any bank holding company over $1 billion - and in many between $200 million and $1 billion - it is common to see non-bank subsidiaries. In most cases, the bank is the major sub and has the lion's share of the technology budget and staff, but what is the role of the bank's MIS group in managing technology across the entire holding company?Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=129Fri, 17 Aug 2001 00:00:00 PST129Most of the nation’s 10,000 banks and thrifts should aggressively begin efforts to help America's consumers kick their debt addiction. For most banks, the economic loss of not trying to pump more debt into plastic-bloated consumers will not be deadly and may be the best door opener for new investment and insurance services. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=201Fri, 10 Aug 2001 00:00:00 PST201Microsoft is once again openly flexing its muscles in the wake of a favorable court decision. The victim(s)? Everyone using any new Microsoft product that is subject to the new software licensing process being introduced this year. What this likely means for corporations is much larger fees for the use of the Windows operating systems and the Office suite of products.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=143Fri, 03 Aug 2001 00:00:00 PST143The American Banker regularly treats us to articles espousing how a consumer’s trip to the bank should be as warm and fuzzy as a visit to the local mom and pop diner, grocer or florist. Being an introspective, open-minded person, I have begun to notice countless examples of how the real world outshines the banking industry in delivering customer service.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=217Fri, 27 Jul 2001 00:00:00 PST217And so, Gonzo brethren, it is with teary eyes and heavy hearts that we bid a sad farewell to Wingspan. The noble experiment of the Internet-only bank, forever lost to us. But before we bid a final adieu to the noble experiment, let’s wander down memory lane and re-live the experience one more time, inspired by the words of the principals themselves.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=138Fri, 20 Jul 2001 00:00:00 PST138The FDIC's First Quarter 2001 report on the banking industry reveals an alarming issue: revenue growth is simply anemic. Certainly, the revenue pressures in the first quarter were due to the fact that the banking industry experienced its sixth straight decline in net interest margin and now stands at the lowest net interest margin levels in almost 15 yearsCarl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=154Fri, 13 Jul 2001 00:00:00 PST154Our friends in Redmond have created another desktop/server operating system called Windows XP. Apparently this stands for Windows eXPerience. I’m just hoping this experience is going to be better than the sum of all the prior experiences with Windows.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=45Fri, 29 Jun 2001 00:00:00 PST45GonzoBanker staffers recently noticed an interesting trend in our core system selection practice. In 1997 and 1998, the core system RFP process resulted in selection of the incumbent only 25% of the time. Now, the incumbent wins a full 60% of the time.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=104Fri, 22 Jun 2001 00:00:00 PST104Bank training budgets, based on our experience, jive pretty well with American Society of Training and Development 2001 study findings that the average spending budget per employee was $677. Even so, whenever we conduct a strategic or technology assessment with our clients, employees inevitably tell us the biggest obstacle they have in their jobs is “inadequate training.”Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=229Fri, 15 Jun 2001 00:00:00 PST229For bankers and bank technologists, it's important to put every number we hear into perspective. Statistics quoted in the "thousands" and "millions" tend to exaggerate the impact of a technology. Therefore, I have scoured the Net and research journals to provide Gonzo readers with a quick scan of how folks are really using new technology and delivery channels.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=222Fri, 08 Jun 2001 00:00:00 PST222I recently had my credit card compromised and, as a result, two vendors, my credit card company and I invested time and/or money. It's hard for me to believe that we continue to use plastic cards with magnetic stripes containing static information. With millions of cards in circulation, the potential for abuse is widespread, and it’s time to do something about the exposure.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=226Fri, 01 Jun 2001 00:00:00 PST226Better face it, rubes - to keep up with today’s locomotive-paced banking industry, you gotta grab the coattails of a Top Shelf Operator like myself and hold on for dear life. I’m connected and I’m hell-bent on laying the latest low-down on you. Don’t get caught in your next ABA buffet line without committing my “What’s Hot and What’s Not in Banking” to your long term.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=172Fri, 18 May 2001 00:00:00 PST172What if you could have a Marketing CRM system that gave you perfect information on a select group of customers? It would tell you the name and address of their FIs, where they borrow, where they invest, their exact net worth, age, sex, etc. And it would be delivered to you online, for free. Guess what? You already have it. It's called a loan origination system. Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=65Fri, 11 May 2001 00:00:00 PST65The April 2001 issue of the Federal Reserve Bulletin has an important study on the small business marketplace. Instead of reading a dry, analytic piece from the guys who think “Greenie” Greenspan is a party animal, let me give you the Gonzo abbreviated version.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=140Fri, 04 May 2001 00:00:00 PST140The technology winner will be the company that decides it is time to make a user device that is as inexpensive and as easy to use as the old dumb terminal (or the microwave oven, for that matter). Here is my dream list of what should be incorporated into this perfect unit. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=131Fri, 27 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST131Last week, M ONE hosted 10 CIOs in a two-day “CIO LINKS” conference in Las Vegas. We had the opportunity to listen to 10 people who are the point people for technology in banks with assets from $1 billion to $20 billion. Most have ops groups reporting to them as well as IT. Two are COOs. At least two are on track to being CEOs. They are where the rubber meets the road.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=46Tue, 24 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST46I recently teed off on Internet banking vendors’ financial problems and pointed out the smoke and mirrors and blue sky projections offered to soften the landing of free falling bottom lines. With this in mind, here are some practical strategies to protect your bank when trolling for the right online banking vendor.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=200Fri, 20 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST200With rumors flying around about American Express being pursued by acquirers like Citigroup, here's my proposed "hat trick" that puts the AMEX stock on steroids and creates the buyer of choice for well-performing, but slow-growing regional banks around the country.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=47Tue, 17 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST47EastPoint's core system technology seemed, at first, like it would blow away the legacy products and challenge the mid-range products for market share. OSI and Phoenix International 's competing products grabbed attention by making the same four promises. How many have been kept? Sadly, only one.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=105Fri, 13 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST105Over the last few years, centralization has been a major topic at banks, particularly as it pertains to branches. This is usually an effort to centralize operational tasks to be more efficient and focus branch employees on sales. Now, nobody likes efficiency more than I do, but I have begun to wonder – have we maybe gone just a little bit too far with this idea.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=128Tue, 10 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST128As you know, nothing goes together like the financial services industry and sticky, righteous verse, so here’s a little pecuniary poetry for the rhyming inept. It’s all about the art, man. Dig it.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=164Fri, 06 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST164Spinning last month's numbers? The typical bank today is filled with “performance” measurements that distort the truth rather than report useful information. Bankers often find themselves morphing into slick PR agents at month-end, sounding at times as if Don King has stepped out of the boxing ring to promote retail banking.Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=167Tue, 03 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST167I mourn the loss of my first IBM PC (circa 1982) along with the performance and reliability of its Visicalc product. Today’s multi gigahertz supercomputers caused me to surrender my desktop to the “geeky guys” in the IT Department. But with the advent of the Internet and browser functionality, I'm feeling, once again, empowered.http://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=122Sun, 01 Apr 2001 00:00:00 PST122This week we’re beginning our series of GonzoBanker interviews with key industry vendors. Our first interviewee is with FUBAR Technology, a long-time player in the banking market. We recently sat down with I.M. and Howie Fubar, brothers who co-founded the company.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=48Tue, 27 Mar 2001 00:00:00 PST48Here's our 'onion strip' tip for the week. Ask every vendor in every demo how many of your peers have installed and are running exactly the same solution they are proposing.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=209Fri, 23 Mar 2001 00:00:00 PST209I’m not about to say that Internet banking vendors are outright lying in their quarterly earnings press releases, but some are damn sure stretching the limits of decency here.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=191Tue, 20 Mar 2001 00:00:00 PST191The hottest tech stock in the financial services arena isn't any of the profitless Internet high flyers or the payment system trailblazers like CheckFree. It’s not even Fiserv or Jack Henry. No, no, no! The hottest financial tech stock is Concord EFS, an ATM and debit card processor that is the conglomeration of Star Systems, Honor, MAC and Cash Station. Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=55Fri, 16 Mar 2001 00:00:00 PST55What do CEOs want most from their branches? Low cost deposits, by a mile (and second, loans). Therefore, what should be the biggest focus in a plan? Low cost deposits, by a mile. So, to get them, here's my “Five-Minute Gonzo Branch Incentive Plan."Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=49Tue, 13 Mar 2001 00:00:00 PST49If your bank outsources core processing, the day the invoice arrives marks the beginning of the cumbersome process to 'prove' the bill's validity. Thank goodness a few vendors price and bill on a simplistic basis that does not require the work of preparing or proofing, but the rest continue the dreadful practice of pricing and billing with click charges for a multitude of items.Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=198Fri, 09 Mar 2001 00:00:00 PST198Do you hear a giant sucking sound around your teller line? It may be the brokerage industry taking the liquidity and lifeblood from the banking industry. Many bankers may not have seen the shocking statistics lately. Brokerage houses that own banks are having a field day with deposit growth, right at a time when traditional banks can't seem to buy a checking account.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=180Tue, 06 Mar 2001 00:00:00 PST180American Banker recently reported that Dime Bancorp of New York has jumped headfirst onto the commercial banking bandwagon. Along with every thrift and savings bank in the country, Dime is “reinventing itself as a commercial banking company” and expects to do it in three years. Dime’s near-overnight transition can happen. But not in three years. No way. Carl Faulknerhttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=66Fri, 02 Mar 2001 00:00:00 PST66Cash management products, the last bastion of personal computer-based banking software, have finally made the leap to the Internet. GonzoBanker had the opportunity to review five of the leading high-end products in today’s market.Terence Rochehttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=106Mon, 26 Feb 2001 00:00:00 PST106Almost all of our clients utilize a technology steering committee, ranging from formal groups of 8-10 to an ALCO subcommittee. Most have the same general goals - set a technology direction, prioritize major projects, resolve major issues/disputes. Good goals, but execution has been - ahem - mixed, to say the least. Here are the major things that we see make the difference.Scott Hodginshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=50Fri, 23 Feb 2001 00:00:00 PST50All the talk of 'vision,' 'partnerships' and 'customer-centric solutions' by core vendors can leave a guy jaded. But at long last, enter the Internet banking vendors - overconfident, overcommitted, chaotic – and a much-needed breath of fresh air. The battle between the two vendor styles is summarized in my 'Internet vs. Core Vendor Tale of the Tape.'Steve Williamshttp://www.gonzobanker.com/article.aspx?Article=228Thu, 01 Feb 2001 00:00:00 PST228No matter where you look today, the “road kill” from the New Economy is everywhere. Now, the belief in a gravity-free economy is gone, and making money is back in style. I’m happy the New Economy is dead, but I’m also sad as hell. There was so much I loved and hated about the past two years.