Banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions (FIs) are increasingly feeling the effects of the sea change caused by innovations in information technology that have been rocking other industries. Close examination of how these changes are influencing customer expectations reveals the need to alter FI operations to engage with consumers who expect highly individualized service interactions customized to their needs and preferences. The good news is that this approach can be mutually beneficial to the customer and the FI.

Mercator Advisory Group’s latest research, FI Delivery Channel Ecosystem: Crafting a Customer Experience, provides a framework for analysis and insight on the complex and intersecting avenues for customer interaction in today’s banks and credit unions, which is the focus of Mercator’s new Customer Interaction Advisory Service. This service will undertake research to provide actionable insights on how best to help customers set objectives and achieve agreed outcomes. By reorienting the business to view each and every touchpoint as an influential contribution to the relationship between the two parties, FIs will be better able to perpetuate customer relationships and drive profitability. This shift represents an opportunity for consumers and financial institutions alike.

“The role FIs play in a consumer’s day-to-day life is undergoing a profound reimagining as fintech and personal access to information become ubiquitous,” commented Joseph Walent, Associate Director, Customer Interaction Advisory Service and author of the research note. “In times of such change, it is worthwhile to stop to evaluate the landscape and establish a common language to promote the clear and efficient communication of ideas. This research note is a step in that direction.”

This research note contains 8 pages and 2 exhibits.