This program was the first of its kind in the industry and remains the only dedicated banking school exclusively focused on digital banking and transformation, bringing together hundreds of banks and their bankers from various roles across their institutions. With sessions running every Tuesday and Thursday throughout March, we dive deep into the strategies that are reshaping banking in the digital world.

My session focused on how community banks can leverage digital, social, and AI strategies to build awareness, strengthen relationships, and enhance their brand presence in the communities they serve. Whether you were in the room with me or missed out, here are some of the big takeaways that every community bank should be thinking about right now.

1. Your Website Is Your Digital Branch—Treat It Like One

The days of your bank’s website being a digital brochure or simply a place for customers to log in to online banking are long gone. Today, your bank’s website is just as critical as your physical branch—if not more. Most customers' first interaction with your bank happens online, so ask yourself: Is my website welcoming, easy to navigate, and designed to serve customers efficiently?

Some key things to consider:

• User Experience Matters: Navigation should be intuitive, load times should be fast, and information should be easy to find.
• Mobile Optimization Is Non-Negotiable: More than half of web traffic comes from mobile devices—if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re missing out.
• Analytics Can Guide Your Strategy: Tools like Crazy Egg and Feng-GUI (which we offer through WSI Digital) help you understand where users are clicking, what’s grabbing their attention, and where improvements can be made.

2. Personal Branding: The Power of Your People

Your bank’s brand isn’t just about the institution—it’s about the people who represent it. Customers don’t just want to do business with a bank; they want to know and trust the people behind the bank.

• Lenders, relationship managers, and executives should be active on LinkedIn—engaging with their networks, sharing insights, and positioning themselves as thought leaders.
• Human connections drive loyalty. Customers bank with people, not just institutions.
• Banks should encourage employees to be brand ambassadors online by providing guidance on LinkedIn profile optimization and engagement strategies.

3. AI Is Changing the Rules—And Banks Need to Adapt

Artificial Intelligence isn’t coming—it’s already here, and it’s transforming the way banks interact with customers and manage operations. AI can help banks:

• Automate customer interactions through AI-powered chatbots and digital assistants.
• Personalize customer experiences at scale—delivering the right messages to the right customers at the right time.
• Streamline content creation and marketing with AI tools that help generate and optimize content quickly and efficiently.

That said, AI needs a human touch—it should enhance your bank’s authenticity, not replace it. AI-generated content and interactions should always align with your bank’s brand voice and values.

4. Digital Advertising: Amplify Your Bank’s Visibility

In today’s crowded digital space, organic reach alone isn’t enough. Paid digital advertising allows banks to target the right audience, at the right time, with the right message—but it needs to be strategic.

• Know Your Audience: Leverage demographic, behavioral, and geographic data to refine targeting.
• Set Clear Goals & Budgets: Define whether you’re driving awareness, generating leads, or increasing conversions.
• Measure & Optimize: Use analytics to track ROI, tweak messaging, and improve results over time.
• Remarketing Matters: Retarget users who have engaged with your website but haven’t converted, keeping your bank top of mind.

Banks that embrace paid advertising see a significant increase in online visibility, website traffic, and customer engagement—all crucial for growth in a digital-first world.

5. Content Strategies in the Age of AI: Educate and Convert

Content is king, but AI is reshaping how content is created, distributed, and consumed. Banks must develop a content strategy that balances automation with authenticity.

• Educate Your Audience: AI-powered tools can help generate blogs, emails, and social media posts quickly, but banks must ensure they maintain a human voice.
• AI-Assisted Content Personalization: AI can help segment audiences and deliver the right content at the right time based on customer behavior.
• SEO & Long-Term Value: Content optimized for AI-powered search engines (like ChatGPT and Perplexity) will play a crucial role in future online visibility.

A well-executed content strategy positions your bank as a trusted resource, builds credibility, and keeps customers engaged—helping turn website visitors into loyal banking customers.

The Bottom Line: Digital Strategy Is No Longer Optional

For community banks, the path forward is clear: embracing digital isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s a necessity. Whether it’s refining your website, empowering your team’s personal brands, leveraging AI, amplifying visibility through paid advertising, or crafting high-value content, the time to act is now.

If this sounds like a lot to tackle, you’re not alone. That’s where WSI Digital comes in. We help banks navigate the digital landscape, optimize their websites, enhance their social presence, and implement AI in ways that actually move the needle.

Let’s talk about how we can help your bank thrive in today’s digital-first world. Get in touch and let’s start building your bank’s digital future today!