Since 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. [Read more]
The 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. [Read more]
The 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. [Read more]