Bank channel

A growing number of community banks are experimenting with traveling employees and student part-timers to cut branch expenses.

The Cape May, N.J.-based community bank has a investment services program that would make most rivals envious. And it has a rapidly expanding assets under management to prove it.

Think referrals and cross-selling are tough at your bank? Read how wealth management advisor and financial planner Heidi Schmidt handles them at Internet bank USAA Federal Savings.

Smaller banks cannot afford to support high-density branch networks as economic challenges persist.

Fewer investors across all age groups are using traditional advisors as their primary provider of financial guidance, according to research group Cerulli Associates.

Since 2008, U.S. Bank has recruited talent from rival firms to lead various regional units of its business. The investment seems to be paying off, as revenues have inched up over the last year.

Success in business often comes down to strategy. But based on the responses we received to our Top 50 ranking last year, I'm afraid that too many advisors don't know what that means. For the last question, we asked for a brief explanation of what sets them apart from the competition. It was a chance to boast a bit, but it essentially asked for their "elevator pitch"-or what exactly makes them valuable to clients. I cannot tell you how many responses we got saying the same thing: Listen to their needs and goals; devise a personalized plan that accounts for their risk tolerance; use all the tools and solutions offered by my bank; educate my clients and return all phone calls promptly.

We asked the experts to help present the concepts of behavioral finance in a practical way. See how their insights can help you in your practice.

Why banks focus more and more on affluent clients — and why they may miss mom and pop investors more than they think.

Karen Wimbish, head of retail retirement at Wells Fargo discusses her 16 years in the securities business.

David Mook, a 29-year veteran of JP Morgan Chase, will lead U.S. Bank’s private banking services, focusing on the needs of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients and family-owned businesses.

Julie Castle will succeed George Feiger as CEO of Contango Capital Advisors, Zions’ wealth management subsidiary.

Banks earned $5.47 billion in insurance brokerage fee income in the first three quarters of 2012, down 7.1% from the year before.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s Quarterly Banking Profile described an industry gaining health, but it still faces several key challenges to maintaining growth.

Banks and thrifts earned $34.7 billion in the fourth quarter to close out 2012 with the second biggest full-year profit ever, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Tuesday.

U.S. Bank wants to take the business of serving the ultra-wealthy to a higher, “experiential level.”

Big banks are struggling to find the best way to compensate their chief executive officers, said Sallie L. Krawcheck, former head of wealth management for Bank of America Corp.

KeyCorp's decision to sell Victory Management puzzled some, who asked why jettison a fee-based business and whether it might buy or sell some branches.

In 2012, almost seven in ten advisors (69%) operated in a team-oriented structure, up from 61% in 2011.

KeyCorp will sell its investment management arm, Victory Capital Management and its broker dealer affiliate, Victory Capital Advisers, to a group led by Victory’s senior management.