Banking Transformed with Jim Marous Evergreen Podcasts

At no time has the importance of innovation and the deployment of advanced technologies in banking been more evident than today. With more consumers embracing digital banking, banks are being challenged to replicate the level of engagement of bigtech and new tech organizations such as Amazon, Google, Netflix, Zoom and Alibaba.

One of the perennial global leaders in technological innovation for banking is CaixaBank, Spain's leading digital financial services provider. As a pioneer in digital transformation, the application of artificial intelligence, innovative product design, and hybrid cloud utilization, CaixaBank continues to be at the forefront of what banking can become.

We are joined today by Benjami Puigdevall, long time veteran at CaixaBank and current CEO of imagin, a digital lifestyle platform created and supported by CaixaBank. On today’s episode, Benjami discusses digital transformation at CaixaBank, the importance of an innovation culture and the development of imagin.

COVID-19 has had an immediate impact on loyalty and reward programs due to the unprecedented period of low travel and entertainment. As people stopped flying, staying in hotels, and eating out, loyalty programs had to respond quickly.

Organizations that can identify, communicate, and act upon a brand purpose that overlaps with the values of the consumer will be better positioned to thrive as we enter a new normal. In other words, loyalty that focuses much more closely on consumer preferences rather than merely shelling out points will win in the long run.

We are joined today by Mary Hines, chief marketing officer for the US Consumer Bank at Citi. On today's episode, Mary discusses the importance of turning loyalty program interactions from something that is occasional to something habitual.

Many fintech firms struggle to gain scale, funding and brand recognition in an increasingly crowded banking ecosystem. Leveraging the power of digital technology and over a century’s worth of brand expertise, Goldman Sachs introduced its consumer banking platform, Marcus in 2016.
 
Through acquisitions, partnerships with firms like Apple and Amazon, and significant organic growth, Marcus has grown into a multiproduct platform, with $80 billion in deposits across the US and UK, $7 billion in consumer loan and card balances and millions of customers — all without the traditional brick-and-mortar branch model.
 
We are joined today by Dustin Cohn, Head of Brand and Marketing over Consumer and Investment Management for Goldman Sachs and the Marcus brand. On today’s episode, Dustin discusses the building of a new digital banking brand within a legacy financial firm and the mission of creating a unique customer experience.

The banking industry had been warned for decades to become more innovative, transform to digital, embrace new technologies and become more aware of consumer and societal needs. Rather than moving forward, many organizations hesitated due to cost, the desire to stay the course, or even ‘intentional blindness’.
 
Unexpectedly, however, the world was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic that required digital engagement, and more recently a social pandemic centered on racial equality, diversity and inclusion. These events created four seismic shifts in awareness and behavior that are reshaping our understanding of business, society, technology and ourselves.
 
We are joined today by Nancy Giordano, strategic futurist, founder of PlayBig, Inc. and co-founder of the Femme Futurists Society. In the episode, Nancy discusses how the recent confluence of pandemics have impacted the future of work, our perspective on social inequities, changes in consumption and our understanding of ourselves.

The world is faced with uncertain times caused by the global pandemic combined with demands for increased equality, diversity and inclusion. Beyond empty posturing, the banking industry must make a meaningful difference locally and globally on important social issues.
 
This includes stronger leadership that looks beyond ethics to also include a moral compass for decisions. It also includes increased sustainable investing, greater employee involvement in social causes, and a change in hiring and advancement practices.
 
To better understand the challenges and opportunities faced by banks and credit unions, we are joined today by legendary basketball coach, author and inspirational speaker, Mike Jarvis. Using his 25 years as an NCAA coach as a guide, Mike shares his insights into what leaders and organizations must do today to meet the needs of the community.

In the past decade, the marketplace has seen the development of more banking competitors than in the previous hundred years. From solution specific fintech firms like Stripe and Robinhood to digital-first neo banks like Revolut and Monzo, the marketplace has been seen entries of all types and sizes.
 
But, with COVID-19 impacting the funding availability to fintech firms, is there room for new fintech solutions? More importantly, what will happen to those firms that do not yet have scale?
 
Today, we are joined by Anthony Thomson, serial entrepreneur and founder of three challenger banks … Metro Bank and Atom Bank in the U.K. and most recently, 86 400 in Australia. Rather than triple down on a single banking concept, each organization from Thomson has been an iteration that mirrors the evolution of consumer banking needs. In the show, Thomson discusses his journey, as well as how fintech firms can survive in a post COVID-19 world.