Mountain America Credit Union recently hosted its third consecutive open house for business members. I'm impressed. In a day when many credit unions are looking for ways to minimize human contact with members, here is a credit union actually working to bring members in to meet the people behind the products and services they use on a daily basis.
To be sure, I love the convenience of technology and the speed with which it allows me to conduct my financial business, both personally and for the company. I would just as soon hit the ATM to post a deposit than get out of the car and walk in to see a teller. However, institutions that work to merge the convenience of technology with a human touch are ones I think will survive the current competitive landscape.
Technology, at least the technology that we are apt to use in delivering our financial service offering to members, is a "leveler" of the playing field. People are what tip the balance in favor of one institution or another. If you have a good team, maybe you should take a page from the Mountain America playbook. Bring the members in, and in the process let them get to know the great professional team they have at their disposal - that is, if you have one.
