We have begun the 2nd half of this calendar year – and 2015 already feels like it is going to be one for the record books. As TrendHunter CEO Jeremy Gutsche often points out “chaos creates predictable opportunity.” Perhaps you’ll find opportunity in the chaos of this week’s wrap up from my Twitter feed. Have a great July 4th weekend.
Trending
- “The danger for banks is not digital, but not thinking” http://bit.ly/1NyZIHl | @Chris_Skinner
Mergers, Acquisition – Expansion, Consolidation
- Workers’ Credit Union opens branch in Westford, MA http://bit.ly/1f7ZADY
- OH’s Seven Seventeen to acquire Kent Credit Union http://bit.ly/1LJQD0Q
- On bank branch closure in Yakima County, WA, one customer doesn’t feel concerned saying “A bank’s a bank, I guess.” http://bit.ly/1dA3Vhv
- PA’s Riverview Financial includes branch closure and refile of merger application in restructuring plan http://bit.ly/1elOwlN
- Cadence Bank closes three Alabama branches http://bit.ly/1JzmYa7
- Wintrust completes the acquisition of North Bank in the River North and Streeterville neighborhoods of Chicago http://cnnmon.ie/1JA8rrO
- CA’s Plaza Bank completes merger w/Bank of Manhattan http://bit.ly/1LCQw6l
- PA’s Citizens Financial and The First National Bank of Fredericksburg sign definitive merger agreement http://prn.to/1NwFqyf
- ICYMI: @TDBank_US is expanding its ATM operations, pairing w/@Walgreens to offer banking at 143 locations across MA http://bit.ly/1LHDR2N
- MI’s Isabella Bank receives regulatory approval to purchase Midland branch from Independent Bank http://prn.to/1LFvvJ8
- SD’s Home Federal equates branch consolidation w/insulating customers from more fees http://bit.ly/1CFMZgh
- Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank will move into former Santander location http://bit.ly/1eXBX0T
- Muncie, IN-based First Merchants Corp. plans to acquire New Castle-based Ameriana Bank in a deal worth nearly $69M http://bit.ly/1U3twkq
- Gesa Credit Union looking to build at Yakima, WA’s Tahoma Square http://bit.ly/1FKahS5
- MN’s Clements Federal Credit Union to merge with SouthPoint Federal Credit Union http://bit.ly/1IFRWYh
- The merger of Ed Tech Federal Credit Union and Horizon Credit Union brings new technology to Butte, Montana http://bit.ly/1FK488g
Branch Evolution
- 85% of US banking transactions take place outside the branch http://on.mktw.net/1RSORsQ | @billgunderson for @MarketWatch
- In an effort to improve the customer banking experience, People’s United Bank recently unveiled refurbished branches http://bit.ly/1JsOcPB
- Drinking the digital Koolaid? @FinancialBrand reminds “the presence of branches is key to acquiring new customers” http://bit.ly/1IFQzJi
Marketing & Branding
- Lincoln, NE’s @UnionBankTrust has overhauled its branding http://bit.ly/1IUGZlV
- Consumers consider @facebook to be most trusted source of content created by brands/companies http://bit.ly/1UgAwdU
- NY’s @AmalgamatedBank makes a stand for the American Dream http://huff.to/1JzllJH
- “you can save today, for what’s important tomorrow” Dads with daughters will get this @PNCBank ad http://bit.ly/1NvvSnB
- CA’s Hanmi Bank unveils new corporate logo http://bit.ly/1NwENV9
- IL’s Credit Union 1 set to assist members furloughed due to state budget crisis http://bit.ly/1GNP4bJ | via @CookeonCUs
- “It’s time to dump existing marketing models built around single channels and delivery silos” | @Acxiom‘s Stephen Drees for @FinancialBrand
- Deal between @VICE, @Pinterest & @bankofamerica on “The Business of Life” marketing effort is shaking up ad industry http://bit.ly/1Ig2stu
- Community Bank Shares of Indiana Inc. has changed its name to Your Community Bankshares Inc. http://bit.ly/1GJN1nV
- ICYMI: authenticity, purpose and mobility are key if banks hope to market to #millennials http://bit.ly/1NaU3XF | via @adage
- Chase outranks other banks In social media prowess http://bit.ly/1HrTvP2 | via @MediaPost
Mobile & Digital Transformation
- In the UK, Barclays forgoes #ApplePay while boosting wearables-based contactless payments bit.ly/1IvgTu2
- #Fintech Explosion Has Banks In #Digital Firing Line Highlights of @wef Report http://bit.ly/1Huk6ZK
- UK’s @getmondo hopes to become the Google or Facebook of the digital banking sector http://bit.ly/1RPpW9z
- Convenience and mobile tech are driving this industry’s evolution – branches will be 50% smaller http://bit.ly/1Nu2JbT | @USNewsMoney
- Reminder: Paypal and Ebay set to split on July 20 http://bit.ly/1CE6Mwy
Industry News
- The GAO suggests 6 ways the banking industry could improve on cybersecurity http://on.mktw.net/1LHvrHN | @MarketWatch
- Pre-paid debit card use up 50% http://cnb.cx/1Kt4lF8 @pewtrusts asks “Do consumers need better rules for prepaid cards?” | @KKelleyHolland
- ICYMI: @TheNCUA still struggling to boost workforce diversity http://bit.ly/1LFpnjb | via @CUJournal
- Don’t miss @CookeonCUs‘ article on @WOCCU reflections on past 25 years http://bit.ly/1FNckEN
- Alabama One Credit Union files suit, says state abused authority in regulating credit union http://bit.ly/1BTwHVU
- The @FinancialBrand looks at @federalreserve‘s report on economic well-being of US households http://bit.ly/1GWzLj1
- 2015 @NAFCU-BFB Executive Compensation & Benefits Survey reveals credit union CEOs earn up to $846,600 http://bit.ly/1GKJgzw | @CookeonCUs
That’s all for this week. Please share this with your colleagues. If we missed an important story, drop me a note.