HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Umpqua Bank and UniCredit will be among the 35 speakers to share their thoughts on what branch banking means to them at the Branch Transformation 2018 conference in London later this year

If branches are no longer transaction centres, what are they?

It is now commonly accepted that transaction volumes in branches are in decline in many parts of the world, and banks are having to rethink their branch strategies in the light of this new paradigm.

The branch of the future is not a place where customers come to deposit cheques; it is a place where they get to know their bankers and receive advice on important, life-changing financial decisions, such as mortgages, life insurance and small business loans. The experience customers receive in branches is critical to the relationship they go on to forge with the bank; in today’s environment, the key purpose of the branch is to build human connections to attract, and retain, customers.

November event is leading conference and expo dedicated to branch strategy

Branch Transformation 2018, being held in London on 27^th and 28^th November 2018, is a unique annual forum which brings together banks from around the world to discuss ways to make the most of their branches. The two-day speaker agenda provides inspiration and practical solutions through bank case studies and thought leadership presentations from the industry’s key strategists, while extended networking breaks and an exhibition hall allow delegates to explore the latest branch-enhancing technology*.

Commenting on the importance of RBR’s Branch Transformation conferences, Managing Director, Dominic Hirsch, said: “The branch is still an incredibly valuable channel, but the challenge for banks is to ensure they develop revenue streams and manage costs within the branch, while all the time keeping a sharp eye on delivering superior customer service”.

Interest in branch transformation continues to grow year-on-year

Branch Transformation has grown each year since its inception, and 2018 promises to be the largest edition yet. With 35 speakers across 25 sessions, record numbers of delegates – over 550 – and representation from 150 companies and 40 countries, there is no better place to immerse yourself in the latest thinking on branch strategy. There is still time to get involved, as a speaker, sponsor or delegate; further information, including a full speaker agenda, can be found at www.rbrlondon.com/branchtransformation.

Branch transformation: key talking points

If the purpose of branch transformation is to maximise customer experience, what are best ways to do that? How can banks also ensure their branches are efficient and profitable? Here are just a few of the key themes to be discussed at this year’s Branch Transformation 2018 conference:

• Merging physical with digital: Ensuring a seamless transition between online, mobile and branch experience is vital, as customers expect to be able to bank how they want, where they want. Incorporating digital services in the branch and integrating channels is one of the most talked-about topics in the world of branch transformation.
• Behavioural analytics: Banks have a vast amount of customer data at their fingertips, and this can be leveraged to better understand their preferences. From a personalised greeting when they enter the branch (enabled by facial recognition) to targeted sales based on previous transaction history, data analytics holds huge potential.
• Empowered, engaged staff: A good branch model is built upwards from its people. Branch staff are the face of the bank, and they need to feel empowered and engaged with the bank’s culture to properly convey it to customers. What’s more, in the light of declining transaction volumes and rising automation, they should adopt a role that no machine can perform.
• Design and aesthetics: Branches should be places customers actually want to visit, rather than places they have to visit. From small aesthetic changes to large structural refits, banks should not underestimate the power of design.