For those who may miss my daily Twitter posts, here’s a quick recap of the stories we’ve been following this week:
Mergers, Acquisitions – Expansion, Consolidation
- In NC’s “Triangle”, banks cut branches as technology sprouts – 103 branch closures since 2012 http://bit.ly/1rh9vXz
- In the first six months of 2014 @TheNCUA approved 123 credit union mergers http://bit.ly/1xaPsf2 via @CookeonCUs
- Baton Rouge, LA’s Business First, American Gateway to merge http://bit.ly/UrOT44
- Attorney Jeff Gerrish lays out the basics if you’re asking “Is it time to acquire?” in yesterday’s @ABABankingJourn http://bit.ly/1um53wn
- Bremer Financial to acquire MN’s Eastwood Bank of Rochester http://strib.mn/WGXGB1
- Codorus Valley Bancorp to buy Baltimore-area bank in $14.4 million deal http://bit.ly/1rOD8AU
- Security Service Federal Credit Union has broken ground on a new freestanding branch in San Antonio, TX http://bit.ly/1x5MLLR
- Dorchester, MA’s Meetinghouse Bank weighs option of possible expansion http://bit.ly/WIHZsT
- Sandpoint, ID’s Intermountain Community Bancorp merges with Tacoma, WA’s @ColumbiaBankNW http://bit.ly/1peDjSi
- 2 banks forged in crisis, CIT and OneWest, are set to merge, to a big payoff http://nyti.ms/1kTiRoK
- First Merchants acquires Noblesville, IN-based Community Bancshares Inc. http://bit.ly/WywXX3 Combined company = $5.7B assets, 107 offices
- CA’s Monterey Credit Union plans to change its charter to a mutual savings bank http://bit.ly/1A14NmH via @CookeonCUs
- Sierra Bancorp to acquire Santa Clara Valley Bank, N.A. of Santa Paula, CA http://bit.ly/1tuEtgv
- Community Bank N.A. is consolidating branches in Brushton and Tupper Lake, NY http://bit.ly/1r1F7jX
- In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, mBank announces plans to acquire Peninsula Bank http://bit.ly/1yPtscB
- Analysis by @CrainsChicago on who’s winning Chicago’s bank battle; midsized local banks http://bit.ly/1qWpM4d
Marketing & Branding
- Saw @WesternUnion‘s ad last night that uses @Rio_2Movie to target consumers who cross borders http://bit.ly/1jYZShq
- Fayetteville, AR’s First Security Bank features one of the city’s first community gardens http://bit.ly/1lCQ9sh
- Ikano Bank is offering a $$ prize to winner of a computer game that punishes players who waste money on pricey goods. http://bloom.bg/1rF5n7j
In April, @umpquabank rolled out new website. Notice emphasis on local events, volunteer opps. http://t.co/eVkioKe2JH pic.twitter.com/stmtCBcBRq
— Jim Perry (@mi_jim) July 24, 2014
- MI credit unions set date for “Lunch Local” cash mob campaign – encourage other states to join http://bit.ly/1x0hWs3
- Meet Earnest the Pig – @MyConsumersCU‘s new mascot http://trib.in/1uevaFs pic.twitter.com/oFsIymmc9L
- The @nytimes looks at The Unbanked: Offering Small Fees, Banks Cater to Low-Income Customers http://nyti.ms/1pchB3W
- A look at why Citizens Bank’s #brand simplification goes deeper, by @jenny_rooney in @Forbes http://onforb.es/1nPQOX3
Mobile & Digital Transformation
- iPhone 6 set to feature Apple’s mobile wallet? http://bit.ly/1nocRcc
- Strategic alliance between IBM and Monitise could help financial institutions deploy new mobile banking solutions http://on.mktw.net/1lySjcq
- CT’s Savings Bank of Danbury opens 14th branch http://bit.ly/1z6YX1G but “tech-savvy” design still has teller lines? pic.twitter.com/b3Qabft9ke
- Take a look at @mstrange1234‘s (CTO w/@miteksystems) mid-year mobile banking update in the @FinancialBrand http://bit.ly/1peGJV6
- Visterra Credit Union rolls out interactive teller machines in Southern California http://bit.ly/Unz7Hy
- Wells Fargo lets customers reserve one-on-one time w/bankers using bank’s website or mobile app http://bit.ly/1neBNmt via @BankTechNews
- In case you missed this: @Starbucks Has Bigger Plans in Mobile Payments Than Most People Realize http://on.recode.net/1oNNSLG
- The @FinancialBrand‘s @JimMarous cites @brettking, @Chris_Skinner & @BainAlerts: FIs unprepared for digital future http://bit.ly/1p6UCY5
Industry News
- Hackers find way to outwit tough security at banking sites in Austria, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland http://nyti.ms/1t2XqcD
- US Rep. Richmond (D-LA) proposes bill to allow post offices to offer banking services http://bit.ly/1om6Sor
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That’s all for this week. If we missed an important story, drop me a note. And click the quote below for our CEO’s article “Rethinking Customer Engagement in Banking” in this week’s @FinancialBrand
