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.
Welcome to the Top 5 Percenter™ Blog
Does Your Strategic Plan Have THIS?
I’ve had the opportunity to review hundreds (maybe thousands at this point) of strategic plans from community banks.
Sadly, most don’t have even ONE strategy in them.
They have goals, visions, and purpose.
But no strategy.
Strategy is the “how we’re going to get it done” that you need once you leave the retreat.
Without it, you’ve got another binder for the office shelf, but nothing more.
In today’s video, you’ll discover the key to differentiating your bank. A concept author Seth Godin calls “The Purple Cow.”
By the end of this short video, you’ll understand what it means to be a “purple cow” and how to put purple cow strategies into your strategic plan.
I know it’s strategic planning season, and you’re probably already working on your plan. Let me help. We’ve put together a complete blueprint for planning. Here’s what you’ll get:
The three ways the regulators will dissect your plan, and how to know now if your plan will measure up…
How to “diagnose” your current plan, and what to do to fix it, to ensure completion of all plan elements next year.
And, what to do when your progress stalls. (Note: This little secret could be what saves your year next year.)
More From The Blog
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.
Can Strategic Thinking Be Taught or Nurtured [VIDEO]
Banks don’t fail from a talent shortage—they fail from a thinking shortage. Discover how critical-thinking systems like the SIR Formula build your future executives now.
A State of Gratitude [VIDEO]
A powerful Thanksgiving message on how gratitude shifts leadership presence, reframes pressure, and strengthens your bank’s performance culture.
How to Tie Everyone to Profit [VIDEO]
Most employees believe they’re top performers but can’t show how they drive profit. This episode shows how to tie every role to the bottom line, boost profit per FTE, and build a high‑performance culture in your community bank.
The Dangers of False-Attempt Sales Training [VIDEO]
Traditional sales training fails because it focuses on tactics, not transformation. Discover how to shift from sales training to sales culture and achieve lasting growth.
Master the Four Levels of USPs [VIDEO]
Escape commodity pricing. This episode shows how Level-4 USPs—proprietary, client-valued processes—let community banks command +150–200 bps and keep deposits loyal.