Bankadelic: The colorful side of finance

Often, the gap between consumers who need assistance and the financial institutions that serve them can seem insurmountable. What’s more, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised the stakes on every side, and threatened to make the gulf even wider. Rochelle Nawrocki Gorey, the CEO and co-founder of SpringFour, walks us through how her award-winning fintech has made it possible for financially challenged individuals to connect with the resources that can provide urgently needed help.

Yes, COVID-19 has set forth a digital technology acceleration like no other. But is it moving so fast that customers who crave community and connection are getting left behind? The results are mixed. But banks that deliver on the promise of acclimating customers to new tools, and that facilitate connection, are making amazing progress. Corey Gross of Sensibill (left, in an encore visit) and Doug Brown of NCR share their observations of what’s come to the fore—and what’s moving the ball forward during The New Abnormal.

Looking back, it’s impossible to imagine that COVID-19 would cause a tectonic shift in banking, and life itself, worthy of an earthquake. A forecast of 200,000 dead in the U.S. would’ve seemed laughable then, and financial institutions perhaps ready to dig in for a few weeks or months must now deal with a “New Abnormal” of indefinite length. On this special episode, 12 thought leaders address topics across the spectrum: business adaptation, relationships, customer experience, the acceleration of digital technology and student loan forgiveness among them.

Traditional bankers, including those on the community banking level, often get confused by the roles technology, talent and culture should play in their success. Often the result adds up to a lack of vitality, vision and courage. Patrick Sells, the Chief Innovation Officer at Quontic Bank, has created something entirely different.On this episode walks up through the four principles the have made Quontic a forerunner in cracking—and rewriting—the banking/culture/technology Sells was named Digital Banker of the Year 2020 by American Banker and Quonitc is a proud sponsor of Bankadelic.

Millennials are set to inherit record wealth; the generations to follow already have questions and curiosities about how markets work. Trouble is, sales-obsessed traditional banks haven’t stepped up to show them the ropes. Kelly Lannan, Vice President, Young Investors at Fidelity Investments, explains how to change that and talks about the new Fidelity Spire app, focused on helping young adults save, plan and invest for short- and long-term goals.

Go ahead: Call the young fintech hotshots disruptors, revolutionaries, future stars. But don’t say they have a track record, experience or even a cursory knowledge of financial services. With some 75 years of combined experience, Chris Doner (left) and Mark Allen (right) of Access Softek have been fintech pioneers since before the term “fintech” existed. What keeps them going and why do they still win awards for their work? The answers will unlock your own keys to understanding the banking industry and the constants that fuel progressive change.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, financial assistance via the Paycheck Protection Program has been tough to sort out for … just about everyone. Now, imagine what it’s like to be a fintech, working with community banks, that’s trying to solve the PPP mystery and find a wealth of opportunity. Joe Ehrhardt, founder and CEO of Teslar Software, takes us through what he’s learned, what he’s learning and how this historic program’s effects will be felt long after the last dollar is lent out.

It’s amazing to think that in our sophisticated age, some banks still mail out paper statements: a costly and not-so-environmentally-friendly practice. Yet may institutions have faced hurdles, some self imposed, in adopting digital statement technology. This week, Griffin McGahey of HC3 discusses not just the many advantages of digital statements for banks, but also how vendors on his end of the business can do a better job connecting and communicating.

We’re all taught to read and write. But how many people know how to read the numbers? Financial services organizations can’t afford to take financial literacy for granted—not now—but they also have a big role to play, especially at this critical juncture in history. Back for an encore appearance, Kathleen Craig, Founder and President of HT Mobile Apps, shares her wisdom and experience in bringing solid financial principles to those who need them most.

If 2019's most talked-about subject in banking was customer experience, this year it's been the coronavirus, far and away. Todd Robertson, ARGO's Senior Vice President of Business Development, explains how the last few months of explosive digital growth have created more opportunities than ever to enhance physical customer experiences that aren't available as they once were.