Cheryl Winokur Munk

Cheryl Winokur Munk is a New Jersey-based business journalist who has been writing professionally for more than 20 years. She covers banking, personal finance, the financial advisory business, insurance, retirement planning, small business, human resources and other financial and business topics. Her work appears in a variety of national and international publications.

Articles by Cheryl Winokur Munk

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How Can Community Banks Best Manage Change?

During a merger or acquisition, success hinges on addressing employee concerns early. We asked bankers and consultants for their best tips for building trust and mitigating uncertainty among staff to achieve a seamless transition.

Customer Retention Strategies for Community Banks

Looking to improve customer retention? Here’s how community banks strengthen loyalty through appreciation events, feedback programs and community engagement strategies.

Adding a New Business Line? Key Bank Tips

Thinking of expanding your bank’s services? Explore expert advice on creating specialty lines, conducting due diligence and ensuring long-term profitability.

Does Your Community Bank Need an Advisory Board?

Distinct from a board of directors, advisory boards are dedicated to advocating for and offering insight into the needs and interests of the local population.

The Key to People-Focused Insurance Strategies

People make mistakes, but insurance can help ensure the bank doesn’t foot the bill for them.

Growth Goals: Navigating IPOs and OTC Trading

Is your community bank thinking about launching an initial public offering or over-the-counter trading of stocks to raise liquidity?

5 Tips for Handling Fintech Partnership Contracts

Go into fintech contract negotiations with clear intention to save your community bank from future conflict.

5 Ways to Make a Good Digital Impression on Your Bank Website

A website isn’t just for location, hours and product information. It’s often a prospective customer’s first view of your community bank.

6 Things to Consider Before Opening a New Branch

A new branch can present new opportunities for community banks—if you plan thoroughly and calculate the risk involved.

CFO Roundtable 2024: Preparation, Perspective, Diligence

This past year has been one of fluctuation for many community banks, amid inflation, rule changes and other uncertainties.

Law Firm Evaluation for Community Banks

Community banks need to maintain a healthy relationship with their legal representatives, especially when it’s through a third party.

How Community Banks Can Cut Down Data Privacy Threats

Education on how to keep data safe is important for both community bank employees and their customers. Community bankers and data privacy experts share their tips to help keep data safe

Leveling Up: How Community Banks Should Navigate Asset Size Growth Thresholds

As your bank grows in asset size, it’s vital to keep up with compliance regulations to meet the standards of each new threshold. By planning ahead and preparing your staff, the process can be seamless.

7 smart strategies during economic uncertainty

Community bank leaders and other industry professionals provide tips for proactively tightening up your community bank’s finances, increasing revenue streams and preparing customers for what's ahead in the face of a possible recession.

5 ways to shake up your lending strategy

A new approach to loan protocols is just one way for community banks to grow in new and different directions. Assessing best practices, rates, marketing efforts and more can position loan producers for future success in unpredictable market conditions.

7 ways community banks can boost profitability

A profitability strategy has a lot to factor in given today’s uncertain market. Here’s what community bankers need to know when planning their budgets for the next year.

CFOs reveal how they’re budgeting for change

In 2020, we spoke to community bank CFOs about how they were planning amid pandemic-related uncertainties. In 2021, we talked again to many of these executives to get their take on how things went and what’s ahead given the changing economic landscape.

A CRA partnership case study

How community banks serve immigrants

When people move to the U.S. from other countries, they often don’t have an American credit history, identification or other typical requirements of the account-opening or loan process.

CFOs on how to account for the year's uncertainty

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has required community banks to adjust business practices, roles, budgeting and projections. We spoke to several chief financial officers and other community bank executives about how they are handling the changes.

Banking at the Speed of Light: Instant Payments, FedNow, RTP & AI in Community Banking

Learn how community banks are modernizing for speed—from instant payments on FedNow Service and the RTP network to AI in banking for faster customer service and stronger fraud prevention banking. Explore real-world examples, key data, and how to balance speed vs safety.

Community Bank CFOs on Regulation and Cost Pressures

Six community bank CFOs share how they're navigating CECL, rising costs, rate shifts and deposit competition. Read their insights in our 2026 roundtable.

Succession Planning Essentials for Family Banks

Creating succession plans for family-owned community banks can be complicated in all sorts of ways.

Q&A: Growth-Related Challenges for the Evolving Community Bank

Whether growing organically or through M&A, even positive change can present challenges. We talked to two community bankers about considerations and issues they’ve noticed as their banks have grown.

Q&A: Amy Ledig on the EGRPRA Review Process

Independent Banker caught up with Amy Ledig, vice president of capital, accounting and finance policy at ICBA, to discuss the regulatory outlook.

Why Face-to-Face Lending Still Matters

Many people want face-to-face interaction when they’re on the cusp of a major financial decision.

Can Software Solve Your Bank's Board Management Woes?

From scheduling and information-sharing to bolstered security, board management software could smooth the bumps in the road that come with manual management processes.

Ease Reporting with Automation

Routine reporting can be time- and paper-intensive—but automation can take mundane tasks off your team’s plate and create all kinds of other efficiencies.

Compensation and Benefits for Community Banks' C-Suite

When selecting benefits for your executive employees, their wants and needs may differ depending on the state of the market, where they are in life and other factors. Learn how to tune into those needs and retain your top employees.

A Risk Management Clinic for Community Bankers

Risk management is as important a function of community banking as are loans and deposits. But are there better ways of keeping on top of risks that are constantly emerging and changing? Step into our office and find out.

General counsel strategies for community banks

Having general counsel is critical for community banks, but what’s the right balance between in-house and external counsel? Community bankers and legal experts weigh in on how to create the right strategy for your bank.