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Jim Marous
Co-Publisher at The Financial Brand
Cleveland, United States
Named as one of the most influential people in banking and a Top Fintech Influencer to Follow, Jim Marous is an internationally recognized financial industry strategist, co-publisher of The Financial Brand, host of the podcast Banking Transformed, and the owner and publisher of the Digital Banking Report. Marous advises on innovation, portfolio growth, customer experience, marketing strategies, channel shift, payments, and digital transformation within the financial services industry.
As a sought after keynote speaker, author and recognized authority on disruption in the financial services industry, Marous has been featured by CNBC and CNN, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Financial Times, The Economist, The American Banker, Accenture and the Irish Tech News and has spoken to audiences worldwide. Jim has also advised the White House on banking policy and is a regular contributor and guest host for the Breaking Banks broadcast hosted by Brett King.
Available For: Advising, Authoring, Influencing, Speaking Travels From: Cleveland, Ohio
Speaking Topics: future of banking and finance, digital transformation, banking innovation, AI
Jim Marous
Points
Academic
0
Author
1480
Influencer
2582
Speaker
61
Entrepreneur
40
Total
4163
Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.
How Will The Coronavirus Impact The Banking Ecosystem?
The Financial Brand
March 12, 2020
Here's how the entire financial ecosystem is being rocked as banks and credit unions around the world deal with the impact of COVID-19, and why it's more important than ever to make significant adjustments to your business model in light of the new competitive landscape.
Innovation in Banking Demands Supportive Culture from Top Down
The Financial Brand
October 08, 2018
Digital transformation requires an innovation structure and foundation or it will not occur. You can't run a good hackathon just to impress the investment public. Successful innovation projects depend on high-level corporate support, enthusiasm at the company's grassroots, and a culture that ensures that deserving innovations will move from concept to reality. Otherwise financial creativity will wither.
Are Your Prepared to Embrace Change, Take Risks and Disrupt Yourself?
The Financial Brand
May 13, 2018
The banking industry is changing at a pace never before seen. Digital transformation has become an imperative for financial institutions of all sizes. The transformation goes beyond technology, however, requiring people and organizations to embrace change, take risks and disrupt themselves. Who is up for this challenge?
Tags: Digital Transformation, FinTech, Change Management
Consumers Prefer Digital Banking Capabilities Over Branch Proximity
LinkedIn
August 23, 2017
Banks have historically expanded branch networks to drive market exposure, increase customer acquisition and support deposit growth. With a bank on every corner, storefront signage drove consideration and influenced purchase decisions, with consumers going from branch to branch collecting product brochures and asking questions
Banking Industry Fails to Meet Personalization Expectations
LinkedIn
August 23, 2017
Consumers expect their financial institution to understand their needs and deliver personalized solutions similar to what they receive from Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple.
Voice Payments Take Center Stage as Google and Walmart Partner to Compete with Amazon
LinkedIn
August 23, 2017
It is becoming clear that the next battle in the tech world will be around voice-driven digital assistants, such as the Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Microsoft Cortana, Google Assistant/Now and Samsung Bixby/Viv.
Get the Latest in Retail Banking Research
LinkedIn
August 08, 2017
Each report includes proprietary global research, analysis and insights that can help you build winning strategies. We break all of the research down by size and type of organization, so that you can compare your digital banking capabilities against your peers.
The Future of Banking Depends On Open Banking APIs
LinkedIn
August 08, 2017
Open banking enables third parties to develop new products and services through use of APIs. By working together and taking advantage of APIs, banks and fintech firms can leverage their complementary strengths, enhancing the customer experience much more than either entity could do on its own.
Will Augmented and Virtual Reality Replace the Bank Branch?
LinkedIn
August 08, 2017
The traditional bank branch network is in a massive state of transition. Offices are shrinking or closing altogether, with digital tools being introduced to support both transactional and advisory roles. But, while more than 8,000 U.S. bank branches have closed over the past decade, and as many as 90% of transactions taking place online, the number of bank employees has remained relatively stable.
Digital Payments Approaching Universal Acceptance
LinkedIn
August 07, 2017
In the world of payments, consumers want transactions to work securely and seamlessly within their daily lives. This is true with bill pay, person-to-person (P2P) payments and even with checks.
The Rise of the Digital-Only Banking Customer
LinkedIn
August 07, 2017
Are banks and credit unions keeping up with consumer demands when it comes to digital banking offerings? With 46% of consumers using only digital channels for their banking, expectations are outpacing experiences at most organizations.
Banking Must Move From Mobile-First to AI-First
LinkedIn
June 21, 2017
While there are many important technological trends impacting the banking industry, none may be more important that artificial intelligence (AI) and the ability to use data, advanced analytics and digital technology to deliver a better customer experience.
Not All Mobile Banking Apps Are Created Equal
LinkedIn
June 21, 2017
While retail banking customers now prefer the mobile channel to all other channels for interaction, not all mobile banking apps are created equal, according to a study from J.D. Power.
The Future of Banking Depends On Open Banking APIs
LinkedIn
June 21, 2017
Open Banking enables third parties to develop new products and services through use of APIs. By working together and taking advantage of APIs, banks and fintech firms can leverage their complementary strengths, enhancing the customer experience much more than either entity could do on its own.
The Rise of the Digital-Only Banking Customer
LinkedIn
June 13, 2017
Are banks and credit unions keeping up with consumer demands when it comes to digital banking offerings? With 46% of consumers using only digital channels for their banking, expectations are outpacing experiences at most organizations.
Will Augmented and Virtual Reality Replace the Bank Branch?
LinkedIn
June 13, 2017
Despite the rise in digital banking, an advantage of branch banking continues to be the value of personal interaction. But, could the benefits of face-to-face interaction be incorporated into augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) solutions?
While there are many important technological trends impacting the banking industry, none may be more important that artificial intelligence (AI) and the ability to use data, advanced analytics and digital technology to deliver a better customer experience.
Top #Fintech Influencer Interview with Jax Finance
LinkedIn
May 06, 2017
In a top 20 #Fintech Influencer interview with Jax Finance, I share what the future of finance is going to look like, how investement strategies in FinTech are going to change and what the biggest trends right now are.
Banking Industry Still Taking Small Steps with Big Data
LinkedIn
March 10, 2017
The vast majority of banking and financial firms globally believe that the use of insight and analytics creates a competitive advantage. The industry also realizes that they are sitting on a vast reservoir of data and insight that can be leveraged for product development, personalized marketing and advisory benefits.
Predictive Analytics is the Future of Financial Marketing
LinkedIn
March 06, 2017
Analytics has been at the core of retail bank marketing for decades. But despite the proliferation of data, the ability to effectively leverage insights for a personalized customer experience and enhanced profitability has remained elusive.
Closing the Digital Divide Between Banks and Customers
LinkedIn
March 03, 2017
There has never been a time where the focus on the customer experience has been greater. The banking industry needs to re-imagine how they deliver and measure customer satisfaction to be able to meet growing consumer expectations.
Lemonade: The Mobile-Based, AI-Fueled Insurance Industry Disruptor
LinkedIn
March 02, 2017
Lemonade, the mobile-based, peer-to-peer insurance startup has been been dubbed, “The Uber of insurance”. Providing consumers with policies at a fraction of the cost of what competitors offer, can this start-up disrupt a major category of financial services?
Needs Identification and Transparency Results in Sales Success
LinkedIn
March 01, 2017
Recent disclosures around deceptive sales practices at Wells Fargo has forced banks and credit unions to review their own procedures. A study by JD Power provides insight into ways the industry can improve sales results while regaining the trust of consumers.
Marketers Unprepared for Data-Driven Future
LinkedIn
February 27, 2017
New technologies and advanced analytics have the potential to create an exceptional customer experience. Unfortunately, most banking organizations continue to use the same outdated, siloed processes.
Named one of the most influential people in banking.
Partner with an energetic and compelling presenter who earns the highest ratings at industry events. Reward your audiences with one of the world’s most recognized financial services experts.
Jim Marous is consistently rated as one of the top 5 most influential people in banking and one of the most sought after keynote speakers for industry and corporate events. Known for his understanding of the disruption in the banking industry, Marous is the co-publisher of The Financial Brand, and owner and publisher of the Digital Banking Report. Jim speaks on innovation, digital transformation, customer experience, marketing strategies, channel distribution, payments and change management.
Jim has been featured on CNBC, CNN, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Financial Times, The Economist, The American Banker, Fintech Finance and Accenture and has spoken to audiences worldwide.
Marous has also advised the White House on banking policy and is a contributor for Forbes and the Breaking Banks radio show.
DIGiTAL BANKING REPORT
Digital Banking Report
February 01, 1994
Recognized as one of the most influential people in banking and a top 5 global influencer, Jim Marous is the owner and publisher of the Digital Banking Report and co-publisher of The Financial Brand.
The subscriber-based Digital Banking Report (previously the Online Banking Report), focuses on key digital challenges and opportunities in the financial services industry. Published 9 times a year, the Digital Banking Report provides in-depth analysis to financial institution executives globally.
Jim Marous – Keynote Speaker Promo Sizzle Reel
Jim Marous
June 14, 2018
One of the most influential people in banking, and a top 5 Fintech influencer, Jim Marous is the co-publisher of The Financial Brand, and owner and publisher of the Digital Banking Report. Marous speaks on innovation, customer experience, marketing strategies, channel distribution, payments and digital transformation.
Jim has been featured by CNBC, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Financial Times, The Economist, The American Banker, Accenture, Fox News and Forbes and has spoken to audiences worldwide.
Marous has also advised the White House on banking policy and is a regular contributor and guest host for the Breaking Banks radio show.
Your business needs to embrace these tech trends to dominate
TCNTV
September 03, 2020
September 2020 - Jim Marous is an internationally recognised financial industry expert and a banking advisor to the White House. Jim speaks with The Capital Network’s Executive Director Lelde Smits about the next big technology trends of this century.
“In the future, the [banking] interface will not be a branch, a computer, or even a phone”
Kantox
February 22, 2017
Similar to many financial and non-financial industries, retail banking is directly affected by new innovations and developments such as AI, machine learning, contextual design or the cloud. The way these will impact the current market players and the opportunities they open to newcomers is something still to be seen.
The influencer interview: Jim Marous, publisher of the Digital Banking Report and co-publisher of The Financial Brand
Bobs Guide
February 20, 2017
Jim Marous is a regular keynote speaker with a wealth of experience in banking, financial services innovation and consumer trends. When he's not speaking at conferences, he regularly writes for the The Financial Brand, a media outlet and website for financial marketers and executives. He is also the owner and publisher of the Digital Banking report.
Bank Marketing: Dump Data Scientists -- Try Marketing By Walking Around
Forbes
March 09, 2016
The “2016 Guide to Financial Marketing” published by the Digital Banking Report doesn’t actually say banks should give up on marketing analytics, but in showing how bad they are at it, the report inadvertently makes a pretty strong case for dumping sophisticated customer data analysis and trying something else.
Jim Marous Interview: 2016 Banking Trends Recap
MONEY SUMMIT
March 07, 2016
This week we interviewed Jim Marous, owner and publisher of the Digital Banking Report and co-publisher of The Financial Brand. Marous recently released the 2016 Retail Banking Trends and Predictions report, where he and his team present highlights from their panel of nearly 100 financial industry global influencers. The report is worth downloading in full, which you can do
FINTECH, CX & LESSONS FROM INNOVATORS
Accenture
January 01, 2016
Named as one of the most influential people in banking and a top 5 Fintech Influencer to Follow, Jim Marous is an internationally recognized financial industry strategist, co-publisher of The Financial Brand and the owner and publisher of the Digital Banking Report. Marous advises on innovation, portfolio growth, customer experience, marketing strategies, channel shift, payments and digital transformation within the financial services industry.
Veteran Banker Bets Branchless Banking’s Time Is Here… Finally6
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
June 08, 2015
A finance-industry veteran is launching a new branch-less bank, betting that the explosion in smartphone adoption means the time in finally here for a bank that interacts with its customers almost entirely on a mobile app
Target Marketing: Banks Pitch Products Through Smartphones
AMERICAN BANKER
June 20, 2014
Imagine walking into an auto dealership with your smartphone in hand and, moments after arriving, the phone buzzes with a message from your bank offering options for car loans.
Banking with Apple? Millennials prefer Google, Amazon
CNBC
May 28, 2014
Apple products have disrupted the phone, computer and music markets, but support for the tech giant to move into financial services is flagging.
An Accenture survey out Tuesday showed just 34 percent of millennials—and 20 percent of respondents aged 35 to 54—would bank with Cupertino, California-based Apple if it offered those services. More millennials would bank with Google and Amazon, according to the survey, part of a broader report titled "Everyday Bank: A New Vision for the Digital Age."
Making millennials “Sticky” The changing role of the CMO in the financial services industry
The Economist Intelligence Unit
January 01, 2013
Confident. Connected. Open to change. That’s how
the Pew Research Center describes the millennial
generation in its definitive 2010 study Generation
Next.
Beyond Customer Experience with Joe Pine
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March 10, 2026
For the past decade, financial institutions have poured billions into improving customer experience. Digital journeys. Frictionless onboarding. Personalization. Higher satisfaction scores.
But according to Joe Pine, that era is over.
In this episode of Banking Transformed, I sit down with Joe, the
Why Credit Union Transformation Is Stalling and How to Fix It
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March 05, 2026
Credit unions entered 2026 with more digital ambition than any segment of the banking industry. Yet 60% are still in early stages of transformation or lack clear goals.
That’s not a strategy issue. It’s an execution issue.
In this episode of The Experience Factor, sponsored by Q2, Jim Marous s
Banks Must Move Beyond Product Parity
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March 03, 2026
If your bank is still competing on features, you don’t have a strategy.
There was a time when products and features made a difference. That time is gone. Digital is now expected. Rates are aligned. Features are replicated. And AI can compare them instantly. If you're leading with just what you of
Why Banks Can't Afford to Wait on Voice AI
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February 24, 2026
For decades, banks have forced customers into frustrating phone trees and rigid IVR systems—all in the name of efficiency. But what if automation could actually strengthen customer relationships instead of eroding them?
In this episode of Banking Transformed, Jim Marous speaks with Isaiah Granet,
Credit One Bank Serves Those Who Others Won’t
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February 18, 2026
About 25% of Americans can’t get a credit card from a major bank, and more than half are one or two missed paychecks from a credit crisis. Yet most financial institutions still design their products for prime borrowers and pretend the rest of the market doesn’t exist.In this episode of Banking T
What Liquid Death Can Teach Banks
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February 17, 2026
Liquid Death reached a $1.4 billion valuation selling water in cans. Meanwhile, banks spent $500 billion on transformation last year and still struggle to stand out. The gap isn't money - it's courage.
Most banks are still designed to protect the status quo. Risk avoidance dominates, small changes
2026 Banking Trends Reveal a Dangerous Execution Gap
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February 16, 2026
Download the free 2026 Retail Banking Trends and Priorities sponsored by Q2: https://tinyurl.com/2yrce223
Retail banking leaders have never had more clarity about what needs to change, yet execution continues to lag. In this video, discussing the most critical insight from the 2026 Retail Banking
Why Incremental Banking Improvements No Longer Work
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February 10, 2026
With over $2 trillion in deposits already lost to digital banks and fintechs, incremental banking improvements are no longer a strategy; they’re a liability.
Today, I'm joined by Benjamin Conant, Chief Product Officer at Alkami and Co-founder of MANTL, to discuss insights from their new 2026 Bank
Your Gen Z Strategy Is Broken
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February 05, 2026
Your Gen Z strategy is putting your organization’s growth at risk.
New research from Primax, shows that only 12 percent of Gen Z consider a community or regional bank their primary financial institution. Will these Gen Z consumers move their parents' relationship out of your institution?
Back-Office Modernization: The New Growth Strategy for Banks
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January 29, 2026
Banks have spent billions building digital customer experiences. But most are doing it on top of back-office infrastructure built for a different era. That gap has quietly become one of the biggest drags on growth, pricing power, and profitability in banking.
How Stablecoins Will Reshape Financial Services
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January 27, 2026
From Walmart and Amazon to banks and credit unions, stablecoins are accelerating a banking reset that is already reshaping how payments move.
In this episode of Banking Transformed, I’m joined by Dr. Lamont Black, Associate Professor of Finance at DePaul University. We will break down why stablec
Why Data-Driven Marketing Fails in Banking
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January 22, 2026
Most financial institutions say they are data-driven. Far fewer can prove it in customer acquisition and relationship growth success. At a time when marketing costs are rising, response rates are under pressure, and every institution has access to the same channels, data is often the difference betw
The $100 Billion Hidden Fraud Crisis
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January 20, 2026
Thirty to fifty percent of your fraud losses don't come from hackers or organized crime rings. They come from your own customers disputing legitimate transactions under their own names. This is first-party fraud, and it's a $100 billion problem that most financial institutions don't even track as a
How AI, CX, and Trust Must Coexist
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January 15, 2026
Banking is no longer competing with the branch down the street. It is competing with every digital experience your customers have before they ever open your app. Expectations around speed, simplicity, and trust are being set by big tech, fintechs, and embedded finance, not by traditional financial i
How Banking Leaders Can Avoid Becoming Obsolete
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January 13, 2026
Nearly half of the skills banking leaders rely on today will be obsolete within five years.
In this episode of Banking Transformed, Jim Marous explores why continuous learning has become the most critical leadership skill in financial services, and why failing to adapt is the fastest path to irrele
High-Tech, Low-Touch Failure: How Banks Can Fix the Experience Gap
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January 06, 2026
Banks love to claim they are high-tech and high-touch. The truth is, most are neither, and the gap between what institutions promise and what customers experience is widening fast. It is costing banks billions in lost trust, slower growth, and missed opportunities, especially as expectations acceler
Why BofA Is Betting on Branches
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January 01, 2026
What if the biggest myth in banking is that customers don’t need branches anymore?
Because every time Bank of America opens a new financial center, digital sales in that market jump by 50 percent. Physical presence isn’t competing with digital — it’s accelerating it.
Core Modernization, AI, and the Future of Banking
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December 30, 2025
Every bank today is trying to appear modern. But you can’t operate a digital institution with a core system that hasn’t been updated since the iPhone was introduced.
After years of adding new features on top of outdated infrastructure, the limitations become clear: legacy cores slow innovation,
The Banking Growth Opportunity Banks Keep Missing
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December 29, 2025
Nearly half of U.S. households are living paycheck to paycheck, yet millions of financially capable people are denied access to affordable credit. That is not a consumer failure. It is a system failure.
I recently spoke at the Hope Global Forums in Atlanta, where the focus is on economic opportunit
Why Today’s Banking System is Failing Consumers
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December 23, 2025
The biggest threat to consumer financial health isn’t inflation, stagnant wages, or market volatility, but the financial system itself. Not because it’s failing, but because it’s been silently optimized to benefit the most educated, the wealthiest, and the most sophisticated players.
AI Is Breaking Banking’s Scale Advantage
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December 16, 2025
The biggest competitive advantage in banking right now isn’t scale … it’s speed. According to PwC, GenAI is reshaping the balance of power across financial services, and the banks that move fastest will define the next era of growth.
In fact, 58% of banking leaders believe generative and agen
Banks Are Wasting 50% of Their Marketing Budget
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December 11, 2025
Consumers don’t want more banking messages — they want relevance. And right now, most banks are wildly out of sync with what their communities actually need.
Consumers want communication that reflects their neighborhood, life stage, and immediate financial needs — and broad, one-size-fits-all
Tags: FinTech
Why Do All Banks Look and Feel the Same?
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December 09, 2025
In this video, Jim Marous broadcasts from Miami’s Wynwood Arts District — one of the most vibrant creative hubs in the world. Using the evolution of Wynwood as a backdrop, Jim explores why so many financial institutions struggle to differentiate, why creativity has become a strategic imperative,
Future of Banking Through the Eyes of a Shark
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December 02, 2025
Today on Banking Transformed, I sit down with someone who never holds back – Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank. We recorded this conversation live at the Catalyst Strategic Summit in Austin, where Kevin and I explored one of the biggest questions facing the industry today: What is the real future of
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How Will The Coronavirus Impact The Banking Ecosystem?
Innovation in Banking Demands Supportive Culture from Top Down
The Financial Brand
Consumers Prefer Digital Banking Capabilities Over Branch Proximity
Banking Industry Fails to Meet Personalization Expectations
Voice Payments Take Center Stage as Google and Walmart Partner to Compete with Amazon
Get the Latest in Retail Banking Research
The Future of Banking Depends On Open Banking APIs
Will Augmented and Virtual Reality Replace the Bank Branch?
Digital Payments Approaching Universal Acceptance
The Rise of the Digital-Only Banking Customer
Banking Must Move From Mobile-First to AI-First
Not All Mobile Banking Apps Are Created Equal
The Future of Banking Depends On Open Banking APIs
The Rise of the Digital-Only Banking Customer
AI is the New UI
Top #Fintech Influencer Interview with Jax Finance
Banking Industry Still Taking Small Steps with Big Data
Predictive Analytics is the Future of Financial Marketing
Closing the Digital Divide Between Banks and Customers
Lemonade: The Mobile-Based, AI-Fueled Insurance Industry Disruptor
Needs Identification and Transparency Results in Sales Success
Marketers Unprepared for Data-Driven Future
Jim Marous
DIGiTAL BANKING REPORT
“In the future, the [banking] interface will not be a branch, a computer, or even a phone”
Jim Marous Interview: 2016 Banking Trends Recap
Banking with Apple? Millennials prefer Google, Amazon
Credit One Bank Serves Those Who Others Won’t
Beyond Customer Experience with Joe Pine
