Published Articles

As a data-driven consulting and marketing firm, Haberfeld has partnered with hundreds of community financial institutions across the nation. Today, we analyze over 15 million data points per month spanning the financial institution landscape.

This uniquely enables us to identify and take advantage of interesting trends, and it’s why our subject matter experts can share current insights, expertise, and data on various challenges and opportunities confronting banks and credit unions today.

The Elephant in the Lobby; What Your Customers Aren’t Telling You

Great reviews are nice—but retention comes from understanding the silent majority. To keep them, we must see what they see and adapt accordingly.
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Scarcity or Prosperity: The Efficiency Ratio Under Attack

The best way to improve your efficiency ratio is to cut expenses, but what if you’ve already cut expenses to the bone? The more sensible approach is to focus on the other side of the equation by increasing revenue.
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Give Them a Reason to Stay: The Importance of Managing Attrition

Between 2010 and 2022, consumer attrition—consumers leaving or switching financial institutions—was on the decline. While it was easier to retain relationships during this era, it also meant fewer opportunities to earn new accounts.
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What Might Banking Look Like in 2033?

Ten years ago, community banks could succeed by: (1) putting their customers’ needs first; (2) matching loan terms to the life of the assets supporting them; and (3) hiring and training good people. Today’s banking is much more complicated.
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Unlocking Growth: A Practical Guide to Leveraging Your Bank’s Data

In our rapidly evolving world of banking, data has become more crucial than ever to FI growth. What’s more, FIs are sitting on a goldmine of data—often more than they know what to do with.
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Driving Low-cost Deposits Through Customer Acquisition

Recent studies confirme what we already knew: Our industry’s #1 priority is growing core deposits, and competition is growing fiercer by the day. To emerge victorious, your institution must grow its core checking relationships.
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Leveling the Playing Field

In our ever-changing industry, many community bankers fall into the trap of trying to grow market share by following the lead of their competitors: the “big banks.” Many of them are finding it just doesn’t work.
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The Changing Face of Leadership

A leader is someone others want to follow. What this actually looks like, is changing all the time. Leaders who adapt will thrive and give their banks a competitive edge; those who don’t are bound to see increased frustration and decreased results.
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