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Moderator Jennifer LeTourneau Vice President, Wintrust Treasury Management. Aligning Banking Services with Your Organizational Needs. Panelists Brian Koehler Accountant, Village of Lombard Scott L. Hirsch, CPA-PFS, CFA, CFP®, CFO, The Benida Group LLC Aimee Briles
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Moderator Jennifer LeTourneau Vice President, Wintrust Treasury Management Aligning Banking Services with Your Organizational Needs Panelists Brian Koehler Accountant, Village of Lombard Scott L. Hirsch, CPA-PFS, CFA, CFP®, CFO, The Benida Group LLC Aimee Briles Vice President, Wintrust Government Funds
Optimal Bank Relationship • Communication • Regular and effective • Open and honest • Commitment • Will work through unique situations • Understands your industry/business • Fully engaged • Collaboration • Mutually beneficial • Profitable and productive
Dysfunctional Relationships • Customer Service Woes • No explanations on how/why things work • No one takes ownership of issues • No urgency to find solutions or complete tasks • Endless myriad of voicemail boxes • Communication issues • Withholding information • Blindsiding
Obstacles to Ideal Relationship Bank Client Turnover Inexperienced and change –averse staff Non-responsive contacts Reactive communication Siloed product groups Lack of resources • Turnover • Poorly trained Treasury Reps • Slow problem resolution • Siloed product groups • Lack of resources • Introspective
Best Practices - Keeping the Relationship Strong Bank Client Timely reconcilement Monitor accounts daily Utilize dual control Maintain IT protection Restrict access Dedicated PC Talk regularly Be open Don’t procrastinate Trust your gut • Deliver on commitments • Do homework • Understand business • Regular relationship review • Offer proactive solutions • Follow up • Respond quickly • Be available • Communicate, communicate, communicate
Panel Feedback • What are the important components of a banking relationship? • What are you looking for in a relationship management team? • Product offerings and delivery? • Customization of relationship/services?
Why Seek Formal Proposals? • Evaluates current banking relationship • Provides information on new banking/TM services/technology • Improve efficiencies • Potentially lower costs through competitive bidding and/or negotiation • Mediates political situations (internal and external)
Proposal Preparation & Considerations • Are you actually willing to change providers? • Understand your current contract, services, fees and relationship • Determine minimum qualifications for proposers & list of banks to be included • Determine team members to be involved
Panel Feedback • Why explore other banks? • What were your goals? • Board/Senior Mgmt. driven? • Contract expiring/fee increase? • Are you open to actually changing banks?
Panel Feedback • How do you decide what banks to include in the proposal process? • Location convenience • Board/senior management driven • Bankers you know/have worked with • Product/service differentiation • Who internally should be included in the putting together and evaluating the proposals?
Proposal Preparation Tips – Help Bidders and Yourself • Be specific about your needs and “wants” • Allow for question submission & pre-bidder conference • Provide a copy of Investment Policy & Collateral requirements if applicable • Provide electronic form of RFP and attachments (include any required agreements) • Goal is “apples to apples” comparison – maybe even provide current analysis statement
Evaluating Us; Evaluating You Banks look at: Companies should look at: Is the bank financially strong? Tenure of management team Work history of RM Support staff depth, breadth and credentials Convenience & service capabilities References from like entities using similar services • Is the company financially strong? • Length/experience of management team & Board • Funding sources • Concentration of funding • “Back up” funds-Foundation/reserve accts. • Outside firms – CPA, Attorney, etc.
Evaluation Process • Ability to meet service requirements • Creative suggestions for enhancements • Industry experience of Bank & RM • References • Finalist Interviews • Bank location • Price guarantee
Evaluation Process – Price Considerations • Low Cost vs. Best Value • Lowest compensating balance, lowest fees, best interest or earnings credit rate, individual price points • Bundled services or menu based • Access and per item charges • Activity retention fees • Discounts for online initiated transactions
Panel Feedback • What were deciding factors in the evaluation process? • Low cost vs. Best value - Would you allow for “pencil sharpening?” • Is there something you did not include that you should have?
Multiple Bank Relationship? • Possible roles for multiple banks • Concentration Bank • Disbursement Bank • Investment Bank • Lockbox Collections • Some banks may meet certain product/service needs better • Multi-bank information reporting • Panel thoughts??