Welcome to The Top 5 Percenter™ Blog
Dive in for concise, powerful insights on elevating community banking. Discover strategies and success stories for superior performance, from boosting financial margins to cultivating a dynamic culture. These posts literally contain the secrets of the Top 5 Percenters™. Sign up to the newsletter so that you don’t miss a single post.
The Real #1 Motivator at Work (It’s Not Pay)
Most executives assume pay motivates employees most. Research shows the real driver is daily progress—and leaders who define it unlock higher performance.
Stop the To-Do List Madness: Use Behavioral Economics to Drive Bank Profitability
Most banks reward activity. High-performing banks reward profitable activity. Discover how behavioral economics reshapes execution and margin.
Accountabilibuddies: The Missing Link to Real Bank Performance
Most banks say they want accountability. Few build it. Discover how to create mutual accountability that strengthens culture and improves performance.
Profit connect: Tie every team member to measurable bank profitability
Most bank employees believe they’re top performers. Discover how to align every role to measurable profitability and eliminate hidden performance drag.
Why Culture Cannot Be Delegated
Most banks pretend that culture can be delegated. Wrong. Elite banks weaponize culture as their profit engine. Here’s the system CEOs can’t ignore.
Why Your Team Can’t Charge Premium Pricing—And How It’s Killing Your Legacy [VIDEO]
Premium pricing isn’t a tactic—it’s a mindset. When belief is missing, margin and legacy are at risk.
News Flash—Markets Don’t Dictate Premium Pricing [VIDEO]
Banks don’t lose margin because of the market. They lose it because of belief systems that keep them competing on price.
Higher Net Interest Margin With Less Risk – Fact or Fiction? [VIDEO]
Most banks chase NIM by matching rates. Top banks raise pricing by changing positioning. Here’s how they do it.
Rate Risk is a Big Risk—Play Smart [VIDEO]
Guessing interest rates is not a strategy. Here’s how top community banks remove rate risk and stay profitable.
Why Community Banking Matters—Especially at Christmas [VIDEO]
A Christmas reflection on why community banking matters—and why your leadership impact extends far beyond transactions.
Life in the World of Over-Regulation [VIDEO]
Top banks don’t complain about regulation—they execute around it. Here’s how the elite outperform anyway.
Why Is It So Important to Hold On to Low Cost Deposits [VIDEO]
Low-cost deposits are the ultimate margin advantage. Discover how top 5% performers attract them consistently—and why most banks fail to compete.