Trends & Research
6 Things Every Credit Union Should Be Doing to Turn Workspace Into Its Biggest Competitive Advantage
5/23/2011 – CUinsight.com, by Michael Downs, Momentum
Our work with executive leadership teams all over the country consistently reveals that virtually every Credit Union faces some type of challenge related to its workspace. Whether it is overcrowding of employees, disparately located operations functions, or missed opportunities to access new markets, all are intrinsically linked to the strategic use of space. Simply stated, workspace impacts every facet of a Credit Union’s business. In spite of this fact, there is still research, such as that performed by Bell and Joroff in The Agile Workplace indicating that a very small percentage of U.S. corporations use space as a strategic tool1.
The convergence of spatial, social, informational, and economic trends has generated greater demand for workplaces that can support different types of collaboration, resulting in greater efficiencies. In today’s work environment collaboration is nearly constant, and it weaves itself throughout the entire workday. It occurs in a variety of places all over the organization including hallways, meeting rooms, team spaces, break rooms, and it is most often spontaneous and informal discussions that lead to fresh ideas. By developing workspace strategies that fully support team-oriented work and improved learning, more innovative and rapid decision-making can result.
Click here for full article
2011 US Retail Bank New Account Study
3/1/2011 – JD Powers, by JD Powers
JD Powers released a very interesting study last week. Here is the link:
http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2011020
"According to Clancy, the most common reason for switching banks is a change in life circumstances, although customers also switch because of fees and rates, unmet expectations and poor service. For customers evaluating and ultimately selecting a new bank, the most important factors driving their decision are advertising; branch convenience; products and services; promotional offers; and direct and indirect customer experience (including past personal interactions, recommendations and bank reputation.) However, pricing—fees and interest rates—carries relatively little weight in influencing customer purchase decisions, despite recent heavy media coverage of changes to fees for bank accounts and credit cards."
Press Release: HAPO Selects Momentum
11/5/2010 – CUInsight.com, by Greg Barrett
HAPO Community Credit Union selects Momentum for 47,000 square foot headquarters rejuvenation. See press release here.
Green Banking Facilities and the new ECOnomy
6/2010 – Bankerstuff.com, by Bob Saunders, LEED AP & Mark Alguard, LEED AP
With community awareness increasing every day, Green branches and buildings are becoming the baseline for savvy financial institutions across the country.
Recently, Bob Saunders and Mark Alguard, gave an hour long webinar on Green Design for Financial Institutions. You've heard the phrase "Green is the new black" right? It's true! If you'd like a free copy of the webinar, contact Greg Barrett at GBarrett@momentumbuilds.com.
Steps You Should Be Taking Before Buying, Leasing New Facility
5/2010 – Credit Union Journal, by Jim Haack
This article, written by Jim Haack, CEO of Momentum, focuses on necessary steps you should be taking before buying or leasing a new facility. Contact us for more information.
Facility Solutions: Who to hire?
5/2010 – Credit Union Management, by Paul Seibert, CMC
Many options, local and national, exist when building. What is best? Paul Seibert, CMC, tackles the timely issue of who to hire when building headquarters and brances, in the May online Facility Solutions section.
Disaster Planning for Financial Institutions
2/2010 – Bankerstuff.com, by Bob Saunders & Dave Mistick
We teamed up with Strategic Consultant, David Mistick of Circumspex, to discuss disaster planning for financial institutions: beyond IT and business continuity.
Buyer Beware!
12/2009 – Bankerstuff.com, by Jim Haack, Robert Saunders, Craig Walker
Jim Haack and Bob Saunders, teamed up with Craig Walker, Attorney-at-law, and gave an hour-long webinar on what to ask BEFORE you buy or lease a site for your financial institution. Included in this webinar are 10 things you must know before making such a large decision. Interested in hearing more? Contact us here
Facilities Solutions: Buy or Lease?
1/2010 – CUES Magazine, by Paul Seibert, CMC
Momentum Principal Paul Seibert authors a monthly article for CUES focusing on facilty issues. This month's article focuses on buying or leasing a site.
Check it out here
Running Out of Space?
8/2009 – Bankerstuff.com, by Jim Haack and Paul Seibert
Momentum President, Jim Haack, teamed up with Paul Seibert of EHS Design and gave an hour-long webinar on headquarters planning. The webinar sheds light on trends, real estate strategies, ensuring development and occupancy success, and 10 of the biggest mistakes to avoid.
Interested in hearing more? Contact us here
Build Now? CUs Are Building
8/2009 – Credit Union Business, by Laura Gater
Jim Haack offers expert advice to credit unions considering building. Look for us in the featured section "Advice from Momentum." "Investments in communities through member outreach and building projects now, while prices are lower, will position CUs with a long-term vision to take advantage of the next business cycle upturn."
CUES Complete Guide to Credit Union Facilities
8/2009 – CUES, by Paul Seibert, Jim Haack
Jim Haack contributed a chapter in the new CUES CU Facilities Manual fully authored by our own Strategic Partner, Paul Seibert. The book contains up-to-date and forward-looking information on branch and operations planning and covers such topics as strategic branch and occupancy analysis, branch business modeling and prototypes, building headquarters, market analysis, growth planning, branding, and mergers.
The book is available through CUES® at www.cues.org/completeguidetocufacilities
2009 Strategic Brand Challenges Survey
6/2009 – TheFinancialBrand.com, by Jeffry Pilcher
Momentum teamed with The Financial Brand to creata survey about strategic challenges facing financial institutions today. We asked financial institution executives to fill out the survey and give us their honest and current answers. The results are compiled in the article along with contributions from Jim Haack. Check out the results here .
SafeCatch: An Educational Partnership Offering More Customer Development and Less Crime
4/2009 – Police Chief Magazine, by Paul Seibert
Paul Seibert authors this article discussing the benefits of including SafeCatch© planning in Financial Institution design. He gives real-life accounts of thwarted robbery attempts, S.A.F.E steps to follow, and how to integrate SafeCatch© design into any Financial Institution. Click here for the article.
Got Branch Planning?
12/2008 – Credit Union Management, by Ron Jooss
Paul Seibert discusses the importance of strategic branch planning and branch-level accounting.
Before You Build: Location, Demographics, Costs
8/2008 – Credit Union Journal, by Matt Blumenfeld
Bob Saunders contributes to this article discussing ways Design-Build firms are using Geographic Interface Systems to identify the best possible sites to help clients with visibility, market penetration, and cost savings. "If we can identify costs very quickly...if you can show what the building is going to look like-you've gotten rid of most of the client's nervousness."
Great Customer Development - Less Crime
8/2008 – California Banker, by Paul Seibert
Paul Seibert describes how SafeCatch Training and SafeCatch Architecture can be applied to successfully reduce robbery and fraud while actually enhancing customer service and development.
Increasing Interest in ‘Green’ Facilities
6/2008 – Credit Union Journal
Greg Barrett is quoted in this publication which discusses the importance of identifying trends and catching them on the way up.
High Five
6/2008 – Credit Union Management, by Paul Seibert
Paul Seibert writes about the five big questions you should ask before investing in a headquarters facility.
Business Partners' Outlook 2008
1/2008 – Credit Union Strategy and Performance, by Paul Seibert
Paul Seibert describes EHS Design's outlook for the credit union industry in the next year and key ways credit unions can stay on top.
New Branch Prototype on Horizon for GTE FCU
1/29/2008 – CU Times, by Myriam DiGiovanni
Momentum has been selected to design a new branch prototype for one of Florida's largest credit unions, GTE FCU. This article, which includes quotes from GTE's VP of Marketing, Traci Germain, and Momentum's President, Jim Haack, discusses the upcoming project.
Science of Growth
6/1/2007 – CU Management Magazine, by Paul Seibert, Mark Weber, and Glenn Christensen
Paul Seibert of Momentum, contributes to this article which discusses that good old fashioned strategic plans are no longer enough to help credit unions be successful. Many factors are involved in creating success including branding and market research studies.
Expressing Identity
8/13/2006 – ABA Banking Journal
This article explores how to make universal brand play in the world of particulars. Paul offers his insight on branded branches.
Secure and Satisfied
02/01/2006 – Credit Union Management, by Paul Seibert
With branch security being a top concern, Paul recently met with an FBI agent, who works with the bureau's bank robbery prevention program, to discuss security issues and solutions. Through these conversations, they coined a Hi! Security solution that Paul writes about along with key design and employee training solutions to maintain high member satisfaction.
Gearing up for Facilities
01/01/2006 – Credit Union Management
Paul contributes information in this article that explores how branches are more than brick and mortar; they're an expression of lifestyle.
Quiet Zones Can Help Offer Unique CU Experiences for Members, Employees Alike
3/02/2005 – Credit Union Times
Seibert discusses making the credit union environment a more relaxing, inviting experience that engages the five senses; he illustrates a few unique examples of how EHS Design has done this.
Relationships Count in Building Facilities, Brands in Hawaii
1/26/2005 – Credit Union Times
Mark Weber and Paul Seibert talk about the unique aspects of working with financial facilities in Hawaii and the facility and brand work being done for Honolulu City and Employees Federal Credit Union.
Designed for Success
9/01/2004 – Independent Banker
Making a business statement with the look and feel of physical space... Seibert explains the importance of a physical brand and creating a hierarchy of how the branch will feel - plus the importance of a business model rather than just pasting architectural concepts into a branch.
Urge to Merge
7/01/2004 – Credit Union Management, by Glenn Christensen, Paul Seibert, and Mark Weber
Building a consensus and defining the process are key along with market considerations, financial considerations, and the cultural/political aspects involved with creating a successful merger.
Who's On Call
6/01/2004 – Credit Union Management
Members' expectations for round-the-clock access to financial services and the branch growth of many credit unions have made staffing operations for emergencies a 24/7 concern... Seibert contributes sage advice about developing emergency contact lists and risk management employees/consultants.
Special Report: Facilities – Looking for True Branch Success? Then Don't View Branches as an Aggregate
5/19/2004 – Credit Union Times
When it comes to measuring branch performance individuality counts... Paul discusses the importance of individual branch tracking performance.
Stretching Out with Shared Branching
5/01/2004 – Credit Union Management
Shared branching expands and continues to help credit unions extend their service reach. Seibert discusses operations and design issues to consider with shared networks.
Special Report: Facilities – Pretty Not Enough Anymore
4/26/2004 – The Credit Union Journal
The Key in Developing a Branch? Developing the payback. Branch designers aren't all about the pretty stuff. They know spending money on a branch is an investment-one on which credit unions expect a return...
Shhh, Voices Carry: Branch Privacy
4/01/2004 – Credit Union Management
Do your branches protect members' private data from being overheard or seen by others? Seibert offers insight from his years of branch auditing experience and solutions.
Special Report: Facilities – Trading Stuffy for Creative Efficient Spaces in Credit Union Boardrooms
4/23/2003 – Credit Union Times
Forget about the big bulky desk and slide projector - more credit unions are busy revamping and redefining what boardrooms will be...
Got Branch Planning?
12/2008 – Credit Union Management, by Ron Jooss
Branching Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
8/01/2002 – Credit Union Management, by Paul Seibert
The diagram of a credit union's branches 25 years ago looked more like a straight line-or a road with a few forks-than the intricate web of technical, traditional and partnered extensions that credit unions find themselves managing today...
Branching Out
12/01/2002 – Washington CEO
EHS Design designed HomeStreet Bank branch is pictured in this article about new "touchy-feely" banks.
Special Report: Facilities – What a Difference a New Design Makes
12/2008 – Credit Union Management, by Ron Jooss
A renovated facilities spread picturing EHS Design designed Spokane Teachers Credit Union's Nora Branch and Wood Products Credit Union.
Well Oiled – Shared Branching Works Best when CUs Have Their Own Machines Running Smoothly
9/01/2002 – Credit Union Management
Shared branching is now just another service delivery channel to manage for a growing number of credit unions. Like any delivery channel, how seamless and convenient the personal service your credit union's members receive at an electronically linked shared branch depends on how well your credit union plans and operates...
Not Just Kids' Play - Playing up to kids in branches can give credit unions an edge
8/21/2002 – Credit Union Times
Seibert shares his insight into today's importance of kids' areas and specific considerations that need to be taken when designing.