A New Way of Banking

 

Say goodbye to teller lines, drive-thrus, and bankers behind desks. A slow growing trend on the east coast will tell you that kind of banking is out of touch with high tech consumers.

Ascend Federal Credit Union in Nashville, TN feels more like a GAP than a bank when you first walk in. A greeter at the front desk can help direct you to the person you need or they can sell you an Ascend T-shirt or coffee mug.

Even the most loyal customer, one who even likes a bank’s logo, might wonder why they want to give money to the bank for a coffee mug. Well Ascend uses all the money sold from their merchandise to help charities. After learning that you might take two cups!

With floor to ceiling windows and all the bankers sharing the same identical offices this bank feels like the customer’s building where everyone is on even footing.

In other areas the retail trend takes a different shape. Instead of looking like a GAP your next bank could look and smell like a Starbucks! But you will get out a lot cheaper as the banks are giving away the coffee and scones in exchange for your business. These latte looking lounges also have computer terminals where one can check their on-line banking or pay bills on-line.

Banks like any other business are always evolving to try to attract new customers as well as be the best they can be for their existing clients. Will this new trend fit that bill? I think if you see this new retail style of banking in your neighborhood the answer is yes.

 

Check out some pictures of new age banks at

http://www.newground.com/casestudies.html

Get Some Green by Going Green

With all of the talk about “Going Green” lately, it’s time to remind people of any easy way they can help the environment; E-Statements.  Here are a few of the numerous E-Statement benefits…

o FAST – You’ll receive your E-Statement two or three days earlier than you normally receive your paper statement.
o EASY – A monthly e-mail lets you know your new statement is available online, and you can access it from anywhere. You’ll have up to 12 months of statement history to print or file anytime.
o SECURE – You’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing your statements are delivered to you securely via e-mail and encrypted for your protection.
o ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY – Receiving your bank statement via e-mail reduces the usage of natural resources. You will no longer receive a paper statement, so you can easily store your E-Statement to a file on your hard drive.

Not only will you save trees, you’ll earn money as well.  If you sign up to receive E-Statements on your Central National Bank checking, savings, or money market account between now and January 31st, CNB will deposit $10 into each account you enroll in.

• Take note that the $10 credits will be deposited to all of the customers’ accounts on the last day of the month (Dec. 31, and Jan. 31) – the deposits will not happen immediately upon enrollment.