Carpe Diem

Carpe diem. Seize the day.

Today is an historic day. Not just in American history but in the world of banking. With all of the buyouts, mergers, acquisitions and failures making the news today, your customers are scared. They are scared because they don't understand.

Again, carpe diem! You have the opportunity to help your customers not only understand that you aren't going anywhere but that you can help them get ahead of the curve.

Many of you are reading this blog from small-town America. A place where when your neighbors say they are going to "the bank," everyone knows they mean you. Sure you have competition, but you also have loyal customers. Customers who don't say it out loud, but are secretly worried that their bank will be gobbled up "just like the rest of them have." What they aren't understanding is that you are here to stay. You didn't dabble with sub-prime lending. You haven't over extended credit. You are safe and sound.

Now is your chance to put your customers' minds at ease. Don't do it in a letter or a statement stuffer. Talk to them. Write an article for your local newspaper. Do something charitable that will say to everyone "We are here to stay. You are our family and we love you and we aren't going anywhere."

You have a tremendous opportunity in front of you. Not only for maximizing existing relationships but for capturing new customers. Those customers of the bank down the road who haven't been told that the doors will still be opened tomorrow and they will not be selling out in the foreseeable future.

When you communicate your safety and soundness, your community will listen...and respond.

Carpe diem,

Jenna