Think like a Brand, Not a Bank: 5 Practical Strategies to Unlock Innovation, Connect with Customers, and Grow

by Allison Netzer, Liz High

Harnessing brand power within financial services demands a new way of thinking. It's not quick. It's not easy. But it's a shift that any financial institution can adopt and it's worth the investment because great brands all speak the same returns. Great brands get great returns every time.

Cutting expenses and hoping for the best feel like safe solutions when business is unstable. But to be relevant today and ensure growth tomorrow, financial institutions should take a cue from consumer brands.

It's time to connect with customers and create meaningful experiences.

In Think like a Brand, Not a Bank, Allison Netzer and Liz High of Nymbus show banks and credit unions how to embrace their brand and reap the benefits. By introducing their five principles for growth, you'll learn how to shift your mindset, apply each principle, and utilize branding strategies for sustainable growth. With data-rich insight and real-life examples, Think like a Brand, Not a Bank is a compelling look at how financial institutions can build value now and create a roadmap for the future.

149 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2022

About the author

I started my career at Dell, working across a range of cross-industry sales and marketing roles in the United States, India, and Japan. Over the past two decades, I have worked with brands like the Dallas Cowboys, Cisco, Southwest Airlines, and Aetna.

Reviews

[Michelle Prohaska · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book promises 5 practical strategies and delivers these in a way that can be applied well beyond the traditional sense. This is not a book for marketing teams or brand experts - it is truly a book for the banking and financial industry writ large. Real-life examples and key takeaways help convey the message in concise items that anyone can walk away with.

Absolutely worth the read.

[Tanh Chomphooteep · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a branding book specifically for the banking and finance industry. It's not difficult to read and includes quite a few case studies. The main focus is on shifting the mindset of those in the banking sector, encouraging them to think outside the traditional banking box. It acknowledges the challenges but also highlights the possibilities.

The book delves into the specific challenges of this industry, with many of the case studies coming from financial companies. It outlines various methods and provides accompanying case studies. The tone is largely narrative, which makes it easy to read.

However, I think the book could have been strengthened by including more theory or hard facts to support its points. Additionally, the case studies lean heavily towards local banks and financial businesses, names that aren't widely known.

I would have appreciated more emphasis on well-known global banks and financial brands, analyzing their strategies for achieving worldwide success.

Nevertheless, if you work in branding or marketing within the financial industry, this book is beneficial and offers valuable insights.

[Robin Early]

Great Book!


I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I underlined a lot of great points. Will definitely be referring to this book's insights often.

[Carlo Martinello · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is good, but I somehow would have expected more theory and more consistent exposition.
There is a statement, then many examples and at the end the principles (which I liked a lot).
Unfortunately, due to this structure, at the end you just copy the principles because the exposition loses too much on showing why the best in class are the best in class in applying these principles.