The Banker Next Door

Episode 331: Is data the key to enhancing customer relationships?

This episode examines a recent article from Independent Banker magazine titled “Is data the key to enhancing bank customer relationships?” How successful are banks at personalization, outreach, and differentiation? Certain types of data such as conversation data from social media, websites, and marketing platforms may help to answer this question. What other forms of data could also play a significant role in shaping your bank’s marketing strategy? A link to the article is included below.
Link:  Is Data the Key to Enhancing Bank Customer Relationships?

Episode 330: Is your bank ready for the ISO 20022 transition?

This episode examines two articles related to ISO 20022. The first is an article from ICBA titled “Countdown to ISO 20022: Key steps for community banks to ensure a smooth Fedwire transition.” The second is a blog from PCBB titled “ISO 20022 Transition Extended: How to Take Advantage.” Both articles review what ISO 20022 is, why banks need to adapt and upgrade their systems, and what the timeline is for implementation. ISO 20022 is a global messaging standard designed to improve payment efficiency, regulatory compliance, and data transparency. Links to both articles are included below.
Link: ISO® 20022 Transition Extended: How to Take Advantage
Link: Countdown to ISO 20022: Key Steps for Community Banks to Ensure a Smooth Fedwire Transition

Episode 329: Review of Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey for January 2025

This episode examines the Federal Reserve Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS) for 2025. The SLOOS is done to provide qualitative and quantitative information on credit availability and demand, as well as on evolving developments and lending practices in the U.S. loan market. How is loan demand? What is going on in the current lending market? A link to the report is included below.  
Link: The Fed - The January 2025 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices

Episode 328: Let's talk about the stigma of the discount window!

This episode examines a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York titled “Can Discount Window Stigma Be Cured? An Experimental Investigation.” This paper was originally released in May 2024. The researchers conducted an experiment to see if forced regular use of the Fed’s discount window by banks would eliminate the ‘stigma’ of banks utilizing a line of credit from the lender of last resort. Does the theory work? Why is there even a ‘stigma’ to using a line of credit from the Fed? Links to the report and to Episode 216 on the discount window are included below.
Link: sr1103.pdf
Link: Episode 216: What is the discount window and how do banks get access?Podbean - https://joeberq.podbean.com/e/episode-216-what-is-the-discount-window-and-how-do-banks-get-access/?token=97c4d48bcb7971b7ea951603225d2e1b
 

Episode 327: Coinbase, Robinhood, and meme coins oh my! (Crypto Series Part XVI)

This is part 16 of the crypto series. In this episode we review recent crypto related stories included another meme coin disaster in Argentina, Robinhood making big profits off crypto trading, are stablecoins friend of foe for banks, and Coinbase made some accounting changes and had a legal case dropped by the SEC. Links to several of the related articles are included below.  
Link: Stablecoins: Friend or Foe to the Banking Industry? | Bank Director
Link: Robinhood Stock Hits All-Time High as Soaring Crypto Trading Powers Q4 Profit
Link: Coinbase says the SEC has agreed to end 'bogus' enforcement case against crypto exchange

BND: Strategy Room 2-22-2025

The Banker Next Door (BND) weekly live stream show. Strategy Room provides financial news, commentary, top stories in the business world, economic indicators, and all things banking for the week.

Episode 326: Are people in their 50's and 60's better entrepreneurs?

This episode examines a recent article from The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) titled “The Investor Betting on People in Their 50s and 60s-Because Older is Better.” We often think about the ideal entrepreneur being a young 20 something with tons of energy. Are your 20’s really the best time in your life to start a business? One investor has built a strategy around betting on older entrepreneurs in their 50’s and 60’s. The reasons are obvious as age has its benefits. You have a network, you have personal funds, you have experience, and you know the ins and outs of running a company. This article makes a great case for older is better when it comes to entrepreneurs. A link to the article is included below.
Link: The Investor Betting on People In Their 50s and 60s—Because Older Is Better - WSJ

Episode 325: That art collection is nice! Now about the costs....

This episode examines a recent article from The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) titled “The Hidden Costs of Being a Collector.” Many people seek to become collectors of art, wine, and precious metals, to name a few, either as a hobby or as part of building personal wealth. At the same time, most collectors don’t understand the full costs associated with building a collection. Costs can include security, storage, and insurance. As a collector, you want to understand what you are getting into because the cost might be higher than you think. A link to the article is included below. 
Link: The Hidden Costs of Collecting: Beyond the Price Tag of Wine, Art, & More - WSJ

Episode 324: Should you consider investing in TIPS?

This episode examines a recent article from The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) titled “Inflation isn’t going away? Some tips on how to buy TIPS.” TIPS stands for Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities. TIPS can be a great investment if you are worried about keeping up with inflation. TIPS can be particularly useful, as an investment, if you are approaching retirement. We also examine the Treasury Direct website and look at various products on the website including Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes, Treasury Bonds, and Savings Bonds. Links to The Wall Street Journal article and the Treasury Direct website are included below.  
Link: Inflation Isn’t Going Away? Some Tips on How to Buy TIPS - WSJ
Link: Home — TreasuryDirect

Episode 323: How does the US Treasury feel about AI in financial services?

This episode examines a report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury titled “Artificial Intelligence in Financial Services.” The report highlights uses, opportunities, and risks of AI in the financial services sector. Some of the potential risks highlighted include data privacy, security, quality standards, bias, explainability, hallucinations, impact on consumers, concentration-related risks, third-party risks, and illicit finance risks. The report also provides recommendations on how the financial services industry should proceed with AI in the future. A link to the report is included below.   
Link: Artificial-Intelligence-in-Financial-Services.pdf