BID® Daily Newsletter Archives

April 2025

As many small business owners near retirement, they’re likely pondering their business’ next chapter. We discuss common options for business owners, succession planning necessities, and your CFI’s role.
With unpredictable interest rates and a changing financial market, loan-level hedging can help your CFI’s portfolio. We discuss how hedging benefits your portfolio and steps for finding the right hedging partner.
As federal payments shift to faster digital methods, CFIs can support SMB clients by modernizing payment tools, encouraging digital adoption, and delivering real-time capabilities that meet evolving business expectations.
For Community Banking Month, we’re sharing community banks’ stories. Our second article of this year’s Community Banking Month series showcases strategies banks have implemented to enhance the customer experience.
The SBA’s recently launched Made in America Manufacturing Initiative aims to boost business and hiring among US small manufacturers. We detail how the initiative can help your small manufacturing customers access capital.
We review March 2025 economic data and indicators, highlighting trends in consumer activity, employment, inflation, housing, and Fed policy — offering a snapshot of current financial and market conditions.
The “Great Wealth Transfer” presents significant opportunities for CFIs offering digital wealth management solutions that cater to tech-savvy, financially engaged millennials and Gen Zers.
Every April, we celebrate Community Banking Month by spotlighting community banks’ stories. Our first article of this year’s Community Banking Month series showcases giving back through charitable efforts.
Behavioral biometrics, which tracks how users interact with their devices, could help CFIs seamlessly enhance their cybersecurity. We explore how it works, how it can help CFIs, and implementation challenges.
With over 1K participating institutions, CFIs can use FedNow instant payments to enhance liquidity, reduce costs, and compete effectively in the evolving payments landscape.

March 2025

03/31/2025 - Should Incentive Plans Be Aligned With Overall Profitability?
As regulators seek to rein in unnecessary risks within the banking industry they are looking to overhaul the rules regarding incentive-based compensation.
03/27/2025 - M&A Moves: CFI Growth Through Community-Focused Consolidation
As regulations ease, banking sector M&A is gaining steam. CFIs can use strategic deals to access new markets, technology, and capital — without losing sight of their core identity.
03/26/2025 - Consumer Spending Troubles Ahead & How To Build Resilience
In the current economic uncertainty, consumer confidence is falling and spending is expected to slow. We look at how this impacts SMBs and how CFIs can support them.
03/25/2025 - The Evolving Deposit Landscape: What CFIs Need to Know
Digital banking and fintech innovation have transformed depositor behavior, creating challenges for CFIs. Learn strategies to optimize deposit management, control funding costs, and build sustainable, relationship-based financial practices.
03/24/2025 - Employees Also Love Automated Customer Onboarding
With digitalization continually expanding, automated customer onboarding can alleviate a pain point for both customers and staff. We compare manual versus automated processes so you can see for yourself the stark differences for employees.
03/20/2025 - The Growing Appeal of Embedded Compliance
Amidst heightened risks of money laundering and fraud, embedded compliance promises an additional layer of risk control that the banking industry has begun to embrace — including central banks.
03/19/2025 - What CFIs Need to Know About the Evolving Swift System
Swift has been implementing significant changes that are designed to enhance the speed, transparency, and reliability of cross-border payments. These include Swift GPI, ISO 20022, and Swift Go. By embracing these changes, CFIs can enhance their international offerings in a rapidly shifting financial landscape.
03/18/2025 - Why SMBs Change Banks and What You Can Do About It
Around 35% of SMBs are considering changing banking relationships. Before you court them, your acquisition strategy should consider their reasons for switching and ensure you don’t repeat the mistakes of their previous financial institution.
03/17/2025 - Avoid Common Misconceptions About Working with a Recruiter
Many businesses, including CFIs, use recruiters to help find potential hires. We discuss common preconceived notions about working with recruiters and how to work with them to bridge the talent gap.
03/13/2025 - Emerging Capabilities of Agentic AI
Agentic AI holds promises from increased efficiency and a way to supplement insufficient expertise to an enhanced experience for customers. We discuss benefits that embracing this new technology could ultimately open organizations up to.
03/12/2025 - Cashing Out on Managing Physical Cash
Because CFIs handle cash, they must maintain counting machines, vaults, trained staff, and security — expensive requirements given the dwindling use of cash. How can CFIs minimize the costs of handling cash?
03/11/2025 - Navigating Tariff Developments: Key Considerations for CFIs
New tariffs on imports are reshaping trade dynamics, with recent exemptions easing some pressures. CFIs must assess risk exposure, adjust lending strategies, and support affected businesses. We discuss ways to help navigate these evolving policies while maintaining financial stability.
03/10/2025 - New Bank Formation May Get a Boost from Congress
A bill to boost new bank formation could help communities that have seen gaps in banking services arise as a result of the shrinking number of community banks.
03/06/2025 - CRE Lending Pt. 2 — Strategies To Compete with Nonbank Lenders
With private lenders expanding their role, CFIs have an opportunity to stand out by leveraging relationship-based lending, faster decision-making, and targeted expertise. We discuss four strategies to help.
03/05/2025 - CRE Lending Pt. 1 — Nonbanks Fill Gaps, Not Expectations
Private lenders are filling the CRE financing gap thanks to looser underwriting, more reliability in rates, and growing investor confidence. We discuss nonbank lenders’ strengths and areas where they miss the mark.
03/04/2025 - Meeting Boomer Women’s Financial Needs: The $40T Wealth Transfer
Baby boomer women are in line to gain trillions through a massive wealth transfer. Is your CFI prepared to serve this demographic?
03/03/2025 - Overcoming Barriers to Offering FX Forward Contracts
There are clear benefits to CFIs adopting FX forward contracts to serve clients with international exposure, while managing their own FX risk. However, many CFIs are cautious about entering this space. We explore some of the strategies that can help them overcome key challenges.

February 2025

02/27/2025 - The Rising Cost of Small Business Borrowing: How CFIs Can Help
With the Federal Reserve holding rates steady, SMBs continue to face high borrowing costs and tight lending standards that limit access to traditional financing. We discuss how CFIs can offer tailored solutions.
02/26/2025 - The CRO’s Critical Role and How It’s Evolving
CFIs continue to face new and emerging risks, making the role of the CRO more important than ever. We outline critical skills for an effective CRO.
02/25/2025 - The Rising Stakes of Elder Financial Fraud
Elder financial fraud is on the rise and hit record numbers in 2023. With losses totaling billions of dollars, regulators and individual states are stepping up their efforts to curb elder fraud.
02/24/2025 - Tech Solutions for Stronger Loan Monitoring
Monitoring an overall loan portfolio is an essential, ongoing part of any CFI’s lending program. Technology can help financial institutions track loan portfolio performance and pinpoint difficulties.
02/20/2025 - ISO® 20022 Transition Extended: How to Take Advantage
The Federal Reserve has extended the ISO® 20022 implementation deadline for the Fedwire® Funds Service to July 14, 2025, giving CFIs more time to prepare. Benefits include enhanced payment efficiency, stronger fraud detection, and improved interoperability. With the deadline approaching, we explore how CFIs can use this extension to refine systems, train staff, and support business customers.
02/19/2025 - How Credit Stress Testing Can Help Build Resilience
Stress testing is vital for CFIs to assess their resilience, manage risks, and prepare for economic shocks in today’s uncertain market. We discuss scenarios to test for and approaches to stress testing.
02/18/2025 - Harnessing Green Fintech for a Sustainable Future
Consumer demand for sustainable products and commitments continues to grow. We detail examples of how CFIs can incorporate green fintech into their solutions to position themselves for long-term success.
02/13/2025 - It’s Time To Create the Branch of the Future
By modernizing physical spaces, creating community hubs, and blending digital tools with personalized service, CFIs can ensure their branches are vital, customer-centric destinations now and in the future.
02/12/2025 - A Strong Start? January’s Economics Offer Optimism and Caution
We take a look at January’s economic data, where job growth slowed, trade concerns persisted, and consumer spending remained strong — key trends shaping the outlook for CFIs.
02/11/2025 - Five Ways To Navigate Profitability Challenges
Ongoing economic and operating pressures are squeezing margins, requiring CFIs to find new and innovative ways to remain profitable. We explore some of the ways that CFIs can navigate these profitability challenges while continuing to provide a high-quality service.
02/10/2025 - How To Leverage Payment Solutions To Fuel SMB Relationships
As the payments space rapidly evolves, CFIs have a significant opportunity to strengthen their relationships with SMB customers by offering integrated, secure, and cost-effective payment solutions that go beyond basic processing.
02/06/2025 - How To Help SMBs Struggling with Rising Credit Card Debt
Struggling small businesses are increasingly turning to credit cards to help pay operating costs. CFIs can help by offering debt counseling and innovative small business lending products. We discuss strategies.
02/05/2025 - Reimagining Resilience: How CFIs Are Adapting for 2025
CFIs are prioritizing digital transformation to boost efficiency and meet expectations, per BNY’s 2024 Voice of Community Banks Survey.
02/04/2025 - Finding the Right Chatbot-Human Balance for Customer Service
Using chatbots for customer service can increase efficiency for CFI personnel, but sometimes customers really need to interact with a person. We provide best practices for balancing chatbots with the human touch.
02/03/2025 - Consider a Potential Revenue Source with EV Charging Stations
As electric vehicles gain popularity, CFI branches can benefit from offering charging stations to customers. We outline stats and discuss how charging stations can please customers and attract new business.

January 2025

01/30/2025 - Does Your Board of Directors Need Its Own Software Platform?
More CFIs are adopting board management software in an effort to increase security and efficiency for board meetings. We discuss the benefits and provide tips for finding the right software.
01/29/2025 - Unbanked in the US: Pt. 2 of 2 — Finding & Helping the Unbanked
Yesterday’s article discussed who the nation’s unbanked and underbanked are. Today, we’re providing tips on finding and servicing this group to attract new long-term customers while also boosting your brand.
01/28/2025 - Unbanked in the US: Pt. 1 of 2 — Who They Are and Why It Matters
Despite a decline in the number of unbanked and underbanked Americans, millions still fall within these groups, according to the FDIC. We discuss disproportionately unbanked and underbanked demographics and persisting barriers.
01/27/2025 - What’s in a Name? When It Comes to Malware, a Lot.
Malware and other cyber threats seem to have unconventional names. We examine the origins of malware names and how understanding them can help you prepare for cybersecurity threats.
01/23/2025 - Overseeing Third-Party Vendors’ Cybersecurity
A recent survey of financial institution executives revealed due diligence and oversight for third-party vendor cybersecurity is inadequate. We highlight key findings and provide strategies to strengthen vendor cybersecurity.
01/22/2025 - Signature Solutions for a Post-Cursive Generation
The disappearance of cursive writing instruction in most states means many Gen Z consumers can’t read or write in script. We discuss the implications for CFI branding and what constitutes a legal signature.
01/21/2025 - ‘Twas the Season for Consumer and Business Spending
From Fed funds rate projections to housing trends, we provide insights on the recent economy using standard indicators for businesses and consumers and share the latest projections for 2025.
01/16/2025 - Putting Employee Mental Health Front and Center
Statistics show employees are increasingly struggling with mental health issues, leading to leaves of absence. We share how employers can help, including the enhancement of workplace wellness programs.
01/15/2025 - Building Stronger Bonds in Small Business Lending
The FDIC’s 2024 Small Business Lending Survey reaffirms the importance of relationship-driven lending for CFIs.
01/14/2025 - BSA and AML Compliance Risk Should Be Top of Mind
Experts believe that CFIs have a heightened risk in the areas of BSA and AML compliance. We review these risks and how to identify them and suggest strategies CFIs can adopt to mitigate them.
01/13/2025 - FDIC Q3 Data: Good Times for Small Banks, but Will They Last?
Community banks notched favorable financial results in Q3’2024 as the small bank sector headed toward an upbeat end of the year. Things appear poised for a strong start to 2025.
01/09/2025 - The Evolution of Open Banking Data Standards
As open banking becomes more popular, the CFPB is working to establish standards for data sharing, assisted by FDX. CFIs should actively watch how things play out.
01/08/2025 - Step Up Your Recruitment and Retention Strategies
It’s challenging to find new employees in today’s job market. We delve into creative strategies you can use to hire the right talent and increase retention rates.
01/07/2025 - How Your Institution Can Capitalize on the Urban Migration Trend
After fleeing cities during the pandemic, many are eager to recapture the benefits of urban living. We discuss drivers of the reurbanization trend and how your institution can benefit from it.
01/06/2025 - Five Tips for Making Cybersecurity Part of Company Culture
Cybersecurity is becoming a top strategic priority for CFIs given the risk of cybercrime. We look at 5 ways to effectively combat cyber threats by embedding a strong cybersecurity culture and good cybersecurity practices.
01/03/2025 - New Virtual Currency Scam Targets CFIs and Their Customers
We've finally reached the last article in our series of most popular BIDs of 2024. Now that 2025 has arrived, we're revisiting a cyber fraud topic that went from zero to sixty very quickly. Federal authorities have issued an alert about a financial scam called “pig butchering", in which victims are lured into investing in phony schemes, often involving crypto currency. The losses can be significant. We provide tips on how to identify these scammers, if they contact you.
01/02/2025 - What Do Small Businesses Really Want From Their FI?
Following tradition, we're taking a look back at your favorite articles from this year as we BID adieu to 2024. In one of our final articles in this series, we reflect on the financial services small businesses value. BAI surveyed 600 small business owners to find out their banking preferences and what they want most from their financial institutions. Take these insights to heart to attract and retain more of them.

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