Looking forward to Finance 2.0.

The Finance 2.0 SummitA few months ago I was put in touch with Kristin Rodriguez at Financial Research Associates who was starting to put together a conference about social media and finance. She was calling it Finance 2.0, but beyond that she was simply seeking advice and support to put on a great conference.

Over the next few weeks, we spoke a lot, and she caught on extremely quickly, talking to many of the best and the brightest in the online world of banking innovation. The result is that I’m on the advisory board of what should be an amazing conference at the intersection of community engagement and banking.

Some of the highlights I’m completely looking forward to are (and no offence at all to the people on the agenda I’m overlooking):

  • Trey Reeme – Are You a Spider or a Fly? Defining Your Relationship with the Web
  • Ron Shevlin – Why Are We Talking About Finance 2.0 When We Haven’t Figured Out Finance 1.0?
  • Tim McAlpine – Young & Free Alberta: Integrating Marketing & Social Media to Connect with Consumers
  • Ed Terpening – Crashing the Party: Are Financial Institutions Welcomed on the Social Media Scene?
  • Shari Storm – Best Practices in Blogging: How to Maximize the Benefits of This New Medium
  • Morriss Partee – Perfecting Your Palette: Recipes for a Successful Social Marketing Campaign
  • Jeffry Pilcher – Results 2.0: Using Web 2.0 Tools to Achieve Real Business Objectives

I’ve heard many of these speakers before, and I’m looking forward to hearing from them again

My session is called Using Social Media to Connect With Your Community: It Really Does Change Everything. I’m excited and honoured to be sharing the stage with these amazing thinkers and experts.

I am particularly excited to finally meet the amazing Ed Terpening in person. He will be chairing the whole event, and his take on things should prove illuminating and insightful.

I’m also really excited to hear from Jeffry Pilcher. After meeting him this weekend at BarCampBankBC, and catching his energy and enthusiasm, plus after reading Gene Blishen’s review of a recent presentation, I imagine he will close out the two-day conference with a bang.

If you’re looking for a conference on the future of financial services marketing and engagement, check out The Finance 2.0 Summit – Channeling the convergence of social media and finance: Practical marketing strategies to connect with your customer. Coming to New York January 26-27th, 2009.

Let me know if I’ll see you there!

BCBBC08: Some final thoughts.

BarCampBankBCI am elated that BarCampBankBC was pulled off so wonderfully. It was a true pleasure to plan it and host it. But most of all, it was amazing to attend.

I must thank my two incredible partners in crime, Tim McAlpine and Gene Blishen. It was a great experience planning the event with these two. I also want to thank the incredible Brent Dixon who ensured as much of the event was webcast as possible and Morriss Partee for his truly hysterical and humbling Pecha Kucha.

I’ve updated the wiki with all the blogs and photos from the event I can think of. If I missed any, please add them.

In the end, it’s less about any particular thing that was discussed than the nature of the conversations, the quality of discussion, the collaboration, the learning and advising. Two trends that emerged, I think were the future of banking and the ethical nature of banking. I was surprised that the session on social finance was completely full, almost everyone came and it was a lively discussion.

I’m tired, and I may post again as the dust settles for me, but I wanted to get a post out before the day ended. I am grateful to all the people whom I got to see again, all the new people I was fortunate enough to meet and all the people who engaged in the conversation. You make my life a better place.

Thank you to all who attended and contributed. It was a real high!

BCBBC08: Can FIs Have a Heart?

BarCampBankBCWhat value is there in community activities, and where should we be focusing our efforts?

Should people trust a CU more than a bank just because its community oriented? We answer to members not stockholders. We’re a co-operative. Banks have shareholders that have to derive a profit.

Does that message get across to our members?

People can love their bank. The attitude and heart people put into their jobs translate into customer engagement.

First Direct is the most referred bank in the world, and it comes from great customer service. The people make the experience. If your employee experience is excellent, customer service will be good and customers will be happy and loyal.

In theory, CUs are a step closer to their customers/owners than banks. In reality, it doesn’t always translate.

Banking is a commodity.

Banks throw more money at the community thaqn CUs can, but the perception is that CUs are more engaged in the issues.

Can an FI increase relevance with specific segments? Are we one size fits all with segmented marketing programs. If we were starting a bank today, we would model the brand on some segment specifically, and choose a market niche.