Judith Sears
Judith Sears's Articles
Fighting Fraud with Tech and Training
Community banks have to take a heavy hand when it comes to fraud. Amid both high-tech and check fraud, these banks are encouraging a watchful eye through technology and education.
How Community Banks Are Fighting AI-Powered Elder Fraud
Generative AI has made scamming vulnerable people alarmingly simple. Banks must raise awareness among their senior customers of the dangers and help build financial security.
Community Bank Tactics for Recruiting Tech Superstars
The battle for tech talent continues to be a difficult one for community banks. But with the right approach, bank leadership can appeal to a segment of tech-savvy individuals fit for the job.
What Is Behavioral Economics, and Could It Help Your Bank Grow?
Much of our financial decision-making is driven by cognitive biases and emotions—and behavioral economics is the science behind that. Learn more about this field and how it’s driving some community banks to introduce products and services that engage and attract customers to make better decisions.
How Santa Cruz County Bank's Technology Transforms the Customer Experience
Santa Cruz County Bank has maintained its top rank among local banks by balancing
high tech and high touch and elevating the customer above all.
From Vision to Reality: How CDFIs and MDIs Fund Their Important Efforts
Minority-owned banks are a lifeline to their communities—but their needs often outstrip deposits. From partnering with other banks, receiving ECIP funds and even working with the NFL, these MDIs are securing the capital and resources to LIFT UP their communities.
How Community Banks Target and Support Fast-Growing Cities
Surging population growth brings opportunities for community banks that are positioned to take advantage of it. We spoke to them to learn how they did it.
Tech Solutions That Can Help Stop Elder Fraud
Elder financial abuse is a rising crime across the country. Using technology, community bankers can help detect this type of fraud and protect their customers.
How Banks Can Combat Deposit Insurance Disruption
Following the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, community banks look to alternative deposit insurance options.
Community banks that weathered Hurricane Ian
Following the damage of Hurricane Ian last fall, Florida’s community banks rallied to help affected employees and customers, providing above-and-beyond service without missing a beat.
Entering the cannabis banking market
While the legal status of banking cannabis-related businesses remains fuzzy at the federal level, community banks in some states are finding that, with proper controls, they’re able to enter this niche market and offer banking services to these local businesses.
9 ways to manage credit risk
Effects of the pandemic and other factors creating unpredictability have changed how community banks approach their credit and lending operations. These experts share nine tips and credit risk best practices to offer stability in an ever-changing market.
Build your community bank's brand with swag
Promotional merchandise, or swag, has long been regarded as a no-brainer approach to business branding, but community banks are shedding those thrifty connotations with a new, mindful approach to company gifting that imparts value and purpose while bolstering bottom lines.
Southern Bancorp is building wealth for everyone
As CEO of Southern Bancorp, Darrin Williams wants to promote relationships between community banks and CDFIs to create more prosperous communities.
Passing banking to the next generation
For three decades, Cape Ann Savings Bank has operated a unique program where a branch operates within a local high school. It’s been a vehicle for multiple generations of students to learn banking basics and connect with the community bank.
Community banks in four corners of the country
There are community banks in every corner of the country—it’s one of the hallmarks of this industry. While each is unique, what unites them is their dedication to their customers and communities. We spoke with four banks near the four cardinal points of the U.S. to learn more about them and their communities.
Community First Bank’s PPP partnership
With little time to spare, Community First Bank prepared itself for a wave of Paycheck Protection Program applications by quickly implementing technology through a new fintech partner. Now, it’s doubling down on innovation.
The bank pioneering banking as a service
With the help of a fintech partnership, Coastal Community Bank has blazed a trail by providing banking as a service (BaaS).
Why banks are becoming B Corps
A number of community banks have joined a coalition of companies whose commitment to better business practices—from worker benefits to leadership structure—is certified by a third-party nonprofit. These B Corps, designated by the B Lab, are a growing force that count many financial institutions and household brands as members. Could being a B Corp benefit your community bank?
Site visits still matter. Here’s why
Site visits are the key to protecting your community bank’s commercial and industrial portfolio. Here’s why.
Ozark Bank Offers Custom Solutions for Nonprofit Partners
From lease-purchase solutions to crisis support, Ozark Bank shows how tailored financial services help local nonprofits and municipalities thrive.
Building Bright Futures with Financial Education
High school financial literacy courses are an opportunity for community banks to set local youth up for success. See how some community banks are making a difference in financial education today.
Community Banks Step Up After California Wildfire Devastation
In the wake of the wildfires that devastated areas of southern California, community banks stepped up to help locals recover and rebuild. Community bankers in the area tell us how they addressed and eased the tragedy for employees, customers and neighbors alike.
The Key to Winning Over SMBs With Merchant Services
Local businesses appreciate having resources that will give them the boost they need to succeed. With merchant services, community banks can offer those resources and stay competitive.
Tips for Winning the Retail Banking Game
Technology continues to evolve, and community banks must do the same. To cater to and better support young, tech-savvy customers, these local banks are partnering with fintechs to revamp their retail banking offerings.
Smart Org Changes That Could Boost Your Bank’s Trajectory
As community banks face increased competition, emerging roles and employees’ desire for advancement, it could be the right time for your community bank to assess its organizational structure to make sure it’s set up efficiently and in a way that brings the whole team together. We hear from five community banks that have reconfigured their org charts to hone overall operations, reinforce culture and create opportunities for employees to succeed.
Tips to Better Bank Vendor Management
The more services you add for customers, the more vendors you’re likely to work with. Managing what could be hundreds of relationships calls for organization and the personal touch.
Technology Is Revamping Equipment Financing
From 3D printers to robotic feeders, equipment has shifted toward tech-savvy solutions that require community banks’ equipment financing expertise.
Navigating Compliance in Cannabis Banking
With potential regulatory guidance for cannabis banking on the horizon, these community banks are positioning themselves strongly and safely within this growing industry.
Customers Bank's Dynamic AI Strategy
In response to the growing prominence of artificial intelligence in everyday bank operations, Customers Bank has embraced generative AI and developed an internal training program to educate its employees on how to use it.
Chippewa Valley Bank: Fueling Growth With Innovative Bank Stock Lending
Chippewa Valley Bank has pioneered an innovative bank stock lending program, providing community banks with an expedited and cost-efficient avenue to acquire capital and interest-earning assets.
Practical Tips for Community Bank Innovation
Innovation doesn’t just happen. It takes forethought, planning and follow-through. We spoke to community banks that have translated fresh ideas into a return on investment and asked them for their tips on building innovation into their normal operations.
How Important Are Brick-And-Mortar Branches?
Despite the growing use of online banking and mobile apps, the branch remains an important part of community banks' retail strategy. But how are these branches changing? From making space available for community groups and providing more self-service options for customers, these banks are pushing their branches to the next level.
How to Successfully Negotiate a Fintech Partnership
Partnering with one or more fintechs can help community banks keep up with the unrelenting pace of technological development. Community bankers and other experts give us their tips for finding the right fit.
How Technology Can Simplify Banks' Workflow
As compliance obligations mount, community bankers reveal the benefits regtech brings to their banks and offer tips for finding the right partners.
How Community Banks Can Better Protect Their ATMs
Branches aren’t the only bank properties that bad actors target. The number of ATM robberies is steadily increasing, and your security around them should, too.
Why community banks form charitable foundations
Supporting local causes and charities is a core differentiator of community banks. To that end, some community banks have elected to form foundations to be lasting stewards of their charitable contributions.
The banks serving active duty personnel
Community banks operate on a majority of the country’s military installations. Given their selfless service, active-duty personnel rely on community banks that understand their unique needs.
Community banks grow alongside their ag customers
The community bankers serving agricultural communities know how to roll up their sleeves and help with harvest, move cattle and work alongside their customers. Their commitment to keeping rural communities alive is unmatched in the banking industry. Here are some of the community banks sustaining rural America.