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“Silos of expertise.” “Working in silos.” Given how often we use “silo,” most of us should be walking around with hayseeds perpetually stuck in our teeth. For banks and credit unions, however, silos are disappearing fast. Technology and changing customer demands drive financial institutions to address the isolation that lies at the heart of “silo” culture with new solutions. The “universal banker,” also known as a “universal teller,” has emerged in recent years as a critical linchpin to help financial institutions connect a customer’s mobile, online and in-branch banking experience.

Most banks and financial institutions have realized the cost reduction benefits of digital transformation. But for 2018, new technologies must go beyond achieving greater efficiencies and focus instead on creating more authentic customer engagement. That’s the consensus of over 100 global financial services leaders, who were asked by The Financial Brand for their thoughts on 2018 trends and predictions for the industry .

Remember how disruptive the first automated teller machines were for banks? Neither do we. Whether we recall it or not, the arrival of ATMs did set off a kind of brand disruption for financial institutions, and point toward a list of branding dos and don’ts that remain relevant today.

When it comes to keeping track of current and potential customers, many banks and credit unions have yet to consider a CRM solution. That runs counter to the predicted trajectory of the industry. A PWC report reveals that while 61 percent of bankers consider a customer-centric business model to be very important, less than 20 percent are very prepared for it. Bankers must proactively seek out new tools to build the industry’s more customer-focused business model.

In today’s financial market, growth is your top priority — and your biggest challenge. Often a company’s first instinct is to build more products or offer more services that can generate revenue. However, if those efforts are not born out of serving a real customer need, they will be in vain.

Your customers are searching for financial institutions that don’t just satisfy their product and service needs, but prove that they truly understand them, their personal motivations and needs.  In other words, your customers want to feel known. If you are a community bank or credit union, that is probably one of the major reasons they chose to open an account with you (as opposed to a larger bank) in the first place.