---
title: Plansmith Blog (12)
description: (12)
---

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# Plansmith Blog

## [Your budget is NOT your Strategic Plan](https://blog.plansmith.com/your-budget-is-not-your-strategic-plan)

 Posted by [Mike Bilyeu](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/mike-bilyeu) on 6/12/18, 9:40 AM

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[![marketing](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/marketing.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/your-budget-is-not-your-strategic-plan)

We’ve heard these questions hundreds of times. “Why do we need a strategic plan? We already have a budget.”

Instead of developing a plan for their organization, many banks and credit unions operate using their budget. The budgeting process is already in place, line items are easily moved from one year to the next with minor changes based on anticipated revenues and initiatives.

So why isn’t this a good idea?

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/your-budget-is-not-your-strategic-plan)

## [Why Regulators Care About Surge Deposits (And You Should, Too!)](https://blog.plansmith.com/surge-deposits)

 Posted by [Dave Wicklund](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/dave-wicklund) on 5/17/18, 8:40 AM

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[![business-925900_960_720-2](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/business-925900_960_720-2.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/surge-deposits)

So why do we keep hearing about “surge” deposits and how important it is to know if you’re holding any? Well, it might be because in the past 10 years, CD balances in FDIC insured institutions have fallen by $880 Billion; yes, that’s Billion with a capital “B.” And while that may be the bad news, the good news is that over the same time period, non-maturity deposits (DDAs, NOWs, Savings, and MMDAs) have grown by $5.9 Trillion (with a capital “T”).

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/surge-deposits)

## [Bipartisan Banking: It's About Time](https://blog.plansmith.com/bipartisan-banking-its-about-time)

 Posted by [Sue West](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/sue-west) on 4/25/18, 12:05 PM

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[![bipartisan](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/bipartisan.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/bipartisan-banking-its-about-time)

I have been in the banking industry since 1979, and on March 22, 2018 I received a copy of something that I never thought I would see that made me say out loud, “It’s about time!”

It was a letter to Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation. The content of that **[letter](https://www.ilbanker.com/Portals/1/Advocacy/Letters/Joint_Letter_of_Support_for_S2155.pdf?utm_content=69528326&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter)**was to express strong support for bill S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act. What surprised me was that it was signed by the presidents and CEOs of 4 financial trade associations, comprised of both banks and credit unions.

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/bipartisan-banking-its-about-time)

## [Bankers: Are You Considering a New Branch Location?](https://blog.plansmith.com/bankers-are-you-considering-a-new-branch-location)

 Posted by [Kevin Stang](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/kevin-stang) on 4/18/18, 2:42 PM

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[![doorway-3293341_1280](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/doorway-3293341_1280.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/bankers-are-you-considering-a-new-branch-location)

So, you decided to open a new branch? This comes after you’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on new electronic delivery technologies. It also comes after we just hit a record for financial institution branch closures. And let’s also add the fact that lobby traffic has reduced by 10 times the rate of those branch closures. Given these facts, how can you know if you’re making the right decision?  

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/bankers-are-you-considering-a-new-branch-location)

## [Change Isn't What It Used To Be](https://blog.plansmith.com/change-isnt-what-it-used-to-be)

 Posted by [Craig Hartman](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/craig-hartman) on 3/7/18, 2:15 PM

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[![clock-3179167_1280](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/clock-3179167_1280.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/change-isnt-what-it-used-to-be)

Since the mid-1960s change has been a constant. The only real change is the rate of change. For years there have been predictions of shrinkage in the number of banks – the prediction is finally coming true. There has been a big change in the number of institutions (over 16,000 in 1972 to about 5,000 today). The environments they serve and the ways in which they serve has changed. Competition, consumer attitudes, market demographics, regulations, products, and technology have all had their impact.

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/change-isnt-what-it-used-to-be)

## [5 Things Your Strategic Plan is Probably Missing](https://blog.plansmith.com/5-things-your-strategic-plan-is-probably-missing)

 Posted by [Megan Plis](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/megan-plis) on 2/23/18, 3:17 PM

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[![business-3167295_1280](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/business-3167295_1280.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/5-things-your-strategic-plan-is-probably-missing)

The saddest thing I see with banks and credit unions is probably not what you'd think.

It's not a lack of passion for people, or even a disparate set of products that fail to match up with customer needs. In fact, banks and credit unions excel at both of these and they play a big role in creating a unique customer experience.

I could continue to list things, but you still wouldn't guess. Why? Because it's something we don't even think about it's so foreign to us.

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/5-things-your-strategic-plan-is-probably-missing)

## [3 Reasons Outsourcing Your IRR is the Smart Choice](https://blog.plansmith.com/3-reasons-outsourcing-your-irr-is-the-smart-choice)

 Posted by [Megan Plis](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/megan-plis) on 1/17/18, 2:55 PM

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[![computer-767776_1280](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/computer-767776_1280.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/3-reasons-outsourcing-your-irr-is-the-smart-choice)

Smart choice - that's a bold statement. But believe me, I wouldn't use those words if it weren't the truth.

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/3-reasons-outsourcing-your-irr-is-the-smart-choice)

## [The Top 3 Lunch 'n Learns to Review for 2018](https://blog.plansmith.com/the-top-3-lunch-n-learns-to-review-for-2018)

 Posted by [Jennifer Mello](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/jennifer-mello) on 1/3/18, 1:53 PM

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[![lunchnlearns.jpg](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/Blog_Pictures/lunchnlearns.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/the-top-3-lunch-n-learns-to-review-for-2018)

The New Year is a great time to prep and review. That's why I've picked the top 3 Lunch 'n Learns you should review before diving into 2018.

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/the-top-3-lunch-n-learns-to-review-for-2018)

## [There is No Secret Sauce](https://blog.plansmith.com/there-is-no-secret-sauce)

 Posted by [Sue West](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/sue-west) on 12/27/17, 10:32 AM

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[![DSC_0058](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/DSC_0058.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/there-is-no-secret-sauce)

We all like to start the new year with aspirations to renew, realign, and regain control of our world.

I don’t know about you, but those words just get me pumped.

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/there-is-no-secret-sauce)

## [Strategy Lessons From a Chess Grandmaster](https://blog.plansmith.com/strategy-lessons-from-a-chess-grandmaster)

 Posted by [Tom Parsons](https://blog.plansmith.com/author/tom-parsons) on 12/20/17, 3:12 PM

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[![chess.jpg](https://blog.plansmith.com/hubfs/Blog_Pictures/chess.jpg)](https://blog.plansmith.com/strategy-lessons-from-a-chess-grandmaster)

Garry Kasparov. You might only know him as a former world chess champion; perhaps the greatest of all time.

[Read More](https://blog.plansmith.com/strategy-lessons-from-a-chess-grandmaster)

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