Investing in Your Customers

Technology has revolutionized the way we do just about everything. From smart irrigation systems in agriculture, to self-driving cars, to consumer investment resources, our lives have been impacted.

In the not so distant past, an average person hired an account manager to invest their extra income. The knowledge and time commitment needed to successfully manage a portfolio was generally out of reach for non-experts. Then came the revolution of the smartphone. Applications started rolling in, allowing a user to check Facebook, send an email, and regularly check on their finances.

Nowadays, an individual can be as involved in their portfolio as desired. There are hundreds of companies using applications that allow their customers to be active or passive investors. A portfolio manager is no longer required for the person looking for simple investment opportunities, all they need is a bank account and a smartphone.

63% of smartphone owners have one or more financial app. Let’s take a look at an average user (me). I have five different financial apps on my phone, two for person to person payments, my banking app (primarily used to deposit checks), an investment app, and lastly, a personal financial management app. I would classify myself as a passive investor. I don’t have the drive it takes to research individual companies or funds, handpicking when to buy or sell on a day-to-day basis. I want the convenience of entering in my financial goals, how aggressive I want to be, and then checking for updates on the rise or fall of my account, as a computer automatically adjusts my portfolio for me.

What about that last app on my phone, personal financial management? This app allows me to check in on all of my accounts, credit cards, loans, bank accounts, and investments. It shows me my credit score, recent transactions, sets financial goals, and even offers advice on new accounts to explore. Why did I download this app? It fills in all of the gaps that I wish my banking app did.

Take a look at your institution’s mobile banking applications. What functionality are you giving your customers? Chances are, if your app is limited to basic options such as viewing account balances and transactions, your customers are going elsewhere in search of a complete package. Think about all of the opportunities to interact with your customers through their mobile devices that you are missing out on. The more useful features your app has, the more time your customers will spend on it, and the more opportunities you’ll have to market your bank’s services.

Perhaps you are running an investment seminar for your customers and want to advertise it over multiple channels. A great place to start is through a mobile app. If you give them the ability to check on their investment accounts through your banking app, you’re guaranteeing they are checking in on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. This enables you to send out a news bulletin within your mobile banking app, ensuring it grabs their attention based on their use of your app.

As you decide what to put your money into this year, don’t forget about your most important investment: your customers. Make 2019 the year you hone in on your customers’ needs. View your institution and the services you offer through their eyes and fill in the gaps you find.

About Automated Systems, Inc.

Since 1981, Automated Systems, Inc. has been a leader in providing innovative core banking, digital banking, and data processing solutions to community banks nationwide.  An array of integrated applications provide partnered banks with tailored, cost-effective, competitive choices.  ASI delivers industry-leading technology backed by unparalleled in-house conversion, training and support teams; paving the way for progressive, top-notch customer service.  ASI corporate headquarters are located at 1201 Libra Drive, Lincoln, NE 68512, 1.800.279.7312.  For more information about banking solutions from ASI, visit www.asiweb.com .

About Insite Data Services

IDS data application hosting services combines secure and cost-effective core banking applications, enterprise-class servers and storage, and proven virtualization technology.  IDS hosts all of the bank’s servers in secure data centers that use state of the art security systems including identity verification and biometric scanning.  Insite Data Services also offers IDS On-Time, a full-service solution dedicated to back-office bank processing.  These operations experts allow partnered banks to focus on their most important asset, their customers.  For more information visit www.insitedataservices.com.