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W H I T E
                                                                                               P A P E R
Essentials of CRM for Commercial Banking
Build Relationships You Can Bank On




       Executive Summary
       Today, leading commercial banks are looking beyond the transaction to the full
       opportunity presented by their commercial clients. Accordingly, they’re moving
       beyond managing clients as simple contacts to a whole new level of client
       relationship management, crafting a superior commercial client experience that gives
       the bank a competitive advantage—and a more loyal, profitable client.

       In this white paper, learn how commercial banks can use client relationship
       management (CRM) strategies and technology to maximize client value, become
       trusted advisors, and streamline operations, contributing to top-line and bottom-line
       revenues and gaining insight they can “take to the bank.”
Introduction: Do Commercial                                    So what about commercial banking? Commercial
                                                                            banks face many of the same challenges as other
             Banks Really Need CRM?                                         financial services firms. Differentiation in a context of
                                                                            commoditization is a continual challenge: how can
             Before looking at how commercial banks can use client          commercial banks move clients beyond just rate-
             relationship management (CRM) software, it’s worth             shopping, or create preference when rate differences are
             considering whether, or at least why, they need it in          negligible? Client loyalty is another challenge: how can
             the first place. CRM, as we will explore, constitutes          a bank retain its clients when other lenders are looking
             much more than just a software purchase—it is a                to lure them away? Many commercial banks also operate
             business strategy, and one that demands executive-level        different units serving small businesses, the mid-market,
             commitment, reexamination of processes, and often              equipment finance, and commercial real estate, and
             a significant cultural shift. It’s therefore important to      the commercial banking operations may exist as part
             understand whether CRM is something appropriate and            of larger regional, national, or global financial services
             worthwhile for commercial banks to pursue.                     organizations. Regardless of size, such firms often
                                                                            face the same challenges leveraging customers and
                                          At this stage, CRM is no
                                                                            opportunities across units and business lines due to a
To achieve organic growth,                longer a new concept, having
                                                                            lack of unified information or collaboration around clients.
                                          been around for more than
you need to become more
                                          a decade. It has moved past       In addition, commercial banks face a few challenges all
than just a bank to your                  its early growing pains and       their own. With interest rates low and competition from
commercial clients: you                   matured into what many            alternative sources of funding, commercial banks are
need to be their trusted                  firms consider a necessity,       grappling with compressed margins and reduced client
business advisor.                         perhaps even a “given.” But       loyalty. They also face pressure to better manage risk
                                          companies that see CRM            in their lending practices, which requires strong client
                                          as just a standard part of        knowledge and the ability to proactively monitor changes
            the IT infrastructure or cost of doing business may fail        and trends. Furthermore, commercial banks are returning
            to understand its full strategic value and potential. CRM       to more conservative lending principles, looking not so
            should not be an appliance—it should be a vital part of         much to attract the highest number of clients at any cost
            a firm’s overall business strategy.                             as to attract and retain the right ones while minimizing
                                                                            credit losses. Organic growth, under these circumstances,
             CRM is part of a major shift in the business world away
                                                                            is all about deepening and expanding client relationships
             from product-centric thinking toward customer-centric
                                                                            and improving their profitability. To do this, you need to
             thinking. Simply put, it’s a transition away from focusing
                                                                            become more than just a bank to your commercial clients:
             on how to make people want what you offer toward
                                                                            you need to be their trusted business advisor.
             making sure you offer what they want. More than that, it’s
             about understanding who your customers are and what            To take their client relationships to the next level,
             they need, not only so that you can satisfy their needs        commercial banks need more than just the will: they
             better, but also so that you can improve their profitability   need a sound customer-centric strategy and the tools to
             for your firm. By growing your value to them, you grow         implement it. In short, they need CRM.
             their value to you.

             This “customer-centric” concept has found particular           Do You Already Have What You Need?
             resonance in the financial services industry, where            The preceding introduction may have left some
             firms have struggled with competitive differentiation as       commercial banks with a disquieting feeling: “I thought
             their products and services have become increasingly           we already had CRM, but it doesn’t do that.” This is not
             commoditized. The ability to understand clients more           uncommon, and it is usually for one of two reasons:
             deeply and meet their needs better than competitors has        1) you don’t actually have a CRM system, or 2) you have
             presented a true opportunity to create differentiation and     a CRM system, but not the right one for your firm.
             client loyalty. Furthermore, as many financial services
             firms have diversified and grown through mergers and           The first issue arises due to a common misconception
             acquisitions, they have become more fragmented, failing        that “contact management solutions” are tantamount to
             to fully achieve the economies of scale and synergies they     CRM, which is not the case.
             had hoped for because they have been unable to truly
             pool their intelligence and act collaboratively to leverage    Contact management software was rapidly embraced
             opportunities across business lines. Forward-thinking          by the banking industry when it first came on the scene,
             financial services firms have seen how unifying and aligning   because it filled an urgent need for more consistent,
             around the customer using CRM is a strategy that can be        centralized contact tracking. It quickly replaced the
             effective in breaking down these barriers and finding new      isolated personal Rolodex and made it easier and
             synergies and opportunities for organic growth.                more efficient for companies to keep track of their




                                                                                                                   Pivotal CRM | White Paper   1
many professional contacts. But as major e-mail               Whether your firm has never implemented a true CRM
applications such as Microsoft Outlook became more            system or you simply feel that your firm is not achieving
sophisticated, they gained many embedded contact              its full potential with its current CRM solution, this white
management system features, including useful add-ons          paper will help you understand what commercial banks
such as calendaring and task-list management. Given the       can achieve today using the right CRM system to support
growing importance of e-mail to professionals’ business       a customer-centric strategy.
lives, this convenient integrated alternative quickly
supplanted contact management systems, which were
pushed toward obsolescence.                                   True Relationship Management
                                                              Relationship management is not simply “customer
The decline of contact management systems was
                                                              service.” True relationship management seeks to initiate,
concurrent with the rise of a whole different class of
                                                              cultivate, and sustain a two-way exchange of value
software: client (or "customer") relationship management.
                                                              between a business and its clients. For commercial
CRM systems sought not just to compile and coordinate
                                                              banks, this means thinking strategically about every step
contacts and tasks, but to create full databases of deep
                                                              of the client lifecycle, from first contact through the lending
client intelligence, complete with tools that would help
                                                              and payment process and provision of other products
users gather, access, and apply this information more
                                                              and services to ongoing retention of their business. It
easily and meaningfully. CRM systems also encompassed
                                                              means considering how the bank can add value to and
marketing, sales, and service automation features that
                                                              derive value from each stage. It means thinking not just
streamlined related processes, integrating not just data,
                                                              about individual transactions but about the totality of
but workflows and activities. While contact management
                                                              the customer experience—its coherence, consistency,
systems had tried to turbo-charge the Rolodex, CRM
                                                              continuity, and competitive differentiation, as well as its
sought to enrich and unify all elements of the front office
                                                              ability to build and deepen the customer’s relationship
by facilitating customer-centric strategies—a far more
                                                              with the bank with every interaction.
ambitious undertaking.

Two forces combined to discourage commercial banks            Win the Business
from moving beyond contact management to CRM:
first, struggling contact management system vendors           True relationship management doesn’t begin when a
attempted to reinvent themselves as CRM, convincing           client selects your firm for commercial banking services,
commercial banks they already had what they needed            but long before—from the moment they are identified as
in their contact management systems, and second, a            a potential client. A good CRM strategy will recognize this
few highly publicized CRM failures by early adopters          and mandate the selection of a CRM system that can help
made some banks wary of joining the trend too soon.           you not only service and retain existing clients, but attract
Unfortunately, even as those few misguided early CRM          them and win their business in the first place.
projects were superseded by a panoply of successes,           A commercial bank’s in-depth CRM-system profile of
many commercial banks remained complacent and failed          a client organization should begin before they become
to ever graduate to real CRM—or didn’t realize the vast       a client, with a prospect record. While at first only limited
difference between what they already had in place and         details about a contact or company may be available,
true CRM.                                                     recording them within the system enables the firm to take
Of the commercial banks that did implement CRM                action on building out the profile, researching prospects
systems early on, some still failed to understand the         and aggregating information about them to create a
strategic underpinnings and cultural shifts required          more useful picture—one that will help win their business.
to make CRM software truly successful, installing the         Further research on specific prospects can even be
systems but failing to really implement them to their         assigned as a task within some CRM systems. Marketing-
advantage. Others selected a system that didn’t really        list contacts can also be entered into the system to create
mesh with the commercial banking industry and its             a single, integrated database of targets and prospects.
processes and therefore failed to gain sufficient adoption    Advanced CRM querying tools can then be used by the
within the company to be of real value.                       marketing or business development team to segment
                                                              the database into meaningful groups, allowing highly
Fortunately, today the CRM landscape has changed              personalized and relevant messaging to be delivered to
significantly. There are now CRM systems designed             them. For example, the commercial bank might segment
specifically for financial services—even expressly for        its prospect database by company size, industry, lending
commercial banking—offering a better fit for the industry     needs, or maturity level and send specific campaigns and
without complex and costly customization. There are also      messages based on this information. Many CRM systems
CRM options on the market that are more flexible and          include marketing automation components that allow such
adaptable than ever before, allowing firms to model their     campaigns to be created or sent directly within the CRM
unique processes rather than try to fit a pre-programmed      system, personalizing content such as name and address
mold that may not work for their company or personnel.        using the CRM profile. More advanced systems will allow




                                                                                                      Pivotal CRM | White Paper   2
for sophisticated conditional content, replacing entire         As the lending cycle progresses, commercial banks
              graphics or paragraphs of text, for example, based on           should be able to capture increasing detail about the
              the recipient profile.                                          prospect and the opportunity, recording and storing all
                                                                              information and communications in the CRM system,
             As each interaction with a prospect occurs—whether it’s          such as RFPs, business plans and goals, organization
             a phone call, e-mail, marketing campaign, or in-person           structure, risk profile, and contacts tied to the opportunity.
             interaction, and whether initiated by the prospect or the        Having this information centrally stored within the
                                          commercial bank—it can              CRM system enables a team-based approach, with all
                                          be documented within the            participants and managers continually kept apprised of
A good CRM system                         CRM system, creating a              each new development as the opportunity progresses.
used effectively will help                comprehensive record of the         New tasks can be assigned to team members through the
commercial banks target and               prospect’s history with the         system as required: every member of the team is kept on
attract the right business,               firm and response to various        the same page and understands their role and the deal’s
                                          approaches. In addition to          status, accelerating the lending cycle and eliminating
pursue deals more capably
                                          tracking the effectiveness of       information-hunting and duplication of effort. Furthermore,
and strategically, close                  different marketing and sales       storing opportunity information and contacts centrally
deals more swiftly, and bring             techniques, this allows the         within the CRM system allows commercial banks to easily
new clients on board more                 commercial bank to build out        find connections and pre-existing relationships that might
seamlessly.                               the prospect profile further with   facilitate winning the business or obtaining insight into
                                          each interaction and gradually      the client or opportunity—for example, a consultant tied
                                          develop more advanced               to one opportunity might also have been involved in an
                                          segmentation and behavioral         existing client account. Leveraging this kind of insight
             targeting, as well as a more complete risk profile. When         can help commercial banks work more strategically and
             a new or existing prospect becomes a lead through a              efficiently, taking advantage of all available resources
             marketing-campaign response or other expression of               and relationships to increase win rates while shortening
             interest, many CRM systems allow commercial banks                the lending cycle. As business moves toward closing,
             to pre-qualify the lead according to custom criteria and         the ability to assign tasks around quotes, contacts,
             automatically route qualified leads to the appropriate           signatures, and approvals helps drive the deal to closure
             employee for follow-up according to territory, product,          as rapidly as possible.
             specialization, or an advanced combination of factors.
             For example, an equipment finance unit might wish to             Once new business is won, some of the most labor-
             direct leads based on ticket size as well as region. This        intensive processes must take place, such as account
             ensures that skilled business bankers’ time is not wasted        origination and documentation. Yet this is also precisely
             on unqualified prospects and that hot leads don’t go             the time when a customer relationship is newest and most
             cold while waiting to be sent to the right person, helping       delicate: professionalism and efficiency are paramount.
             ensure the bank doesn’t lose business to faster-acting           Many CRM systems include workflow tools that enable
             competitors. Furthermore, it ensures business bankers            each element of multi-step processes such as account
             are kept focused on the accounts with the most revenue           origination to be automated, electronically assigned, and
             potential, rather than chasing weak or high-risk leads. This     streamlined, ensuring more rapid completion and higher
             increases overall productivity and reduces the cost of the       team productivity.
             lending cycle.
                                                                              In essence, a good CRM system used effectively will
              When a prospect moves from being a lead to a defined            help commercial banks target and attract the right
              business opportunity, CRM systems should enable                 business, pursue deals more capably and strategically
              commercial banks to apply a strategic plan to engage            while economizing resources, close deals more swiftly to
              the account and pursue the opportunity step by step             reduce the risk of losing them to competitors, and bring
              according to the bank’s lending process. One of the             new clients on board more seamlessly. A CRM system
              greatest advantages of having a CRM system is the ability       can be the difference between haphazard, uncoordinated
              to implement a formalized methodology that ensures              client acquisition supported by manual, individual efforts
              consistent, deliberate steps to win business, such that         and methodical, efficient business generation supported
              every account receives the same professional, attentive,        by a team-based approach. Best of all, in the process of
              and effective customer-management approach. A good              pursuing prospects and opportunities, the firm builds up
              CRM system will not impose a methodology on the                 a rich, detailed profile and history that lays the foundation
              commercial bank or restrict its options, but enable it to       for a more meaningful business relationship.
              embed the process of its choice in the system, be it a
              proven third-party methodology or the bank's own unique
              proprietary methods.




                                                                                                                     Pivotal CRM | White Paper   3
Know Your Customer                                             Even if this is all information that exists in your firm today,
                                                               it is worth considering where it resides and how easy it
Winning the business is just the first step. Once a firm       is to access and use. If client data is dispersed across
becomes a client, the real relationship management             multiple files and systems, it can be virtually impossible
begins, and as with any relationship, getting to know each     for an employee to get a comprehensive picture without
other is an essential building block for trust.                hours of research and reporting—let alone to use it in
                                                               responding to a client or management inquiry on the spot.
To get the most out of CRM, a commercial bank must
                                                               Without a 360-degree client view, risk and opportunity may
build into its processes, culture, and use of the system
                                                               be equally difficult to identify. Furthermore, a staggering
the recognition that knowledge is power. Just as every
                                                               amount of this information may reside with individual
client interaction should be documented in the system,
                                                               employees—whether in their printed or electronic files,
so should every new piece of information, whether it’s
                                                               written notes, or heads. This generates a massive amount
something as simple as a contact’s birthday or spouse’s
                                                               of risk for a commercial bank: should the files be lost or
name or as fundamental as a major management change
                                                               the employee leave the firm, the client knowledge—in
or financial result. Both kinds of information can be
                                                               fact, the entire relationship—can be jeopardized. Storing
equally valuable to the commercial bank in cultivating
                                                               all client data centrally not only creates this form of
the client relationship.
                                                               “corporate memory” that persists over time; it also helps
Since relationship management is at heart about value          the client relationship transcend individuals and accrue
exchange, it is of utmost importance that a CRM system         to the firm more broadly, as any employee in any location
help a commercial bank understand where that client            can give the client equally informed and consistent service.
value lies. This demands a 360-degree client picture.
                                                               As with any relationship, it is important to recognize that
The CRM system should enable the commercial bank to
                                                               client relationships aren’t static. Client profiles should
build out a full, meaningful client record, integrating data
                                                               never be viewed as “completed,” because there is
from other systems to make the CRM system a one-stop
                                                               always more to learn and it is always evolving: client-firm
shop for client information. This holistic record should
                                                               employees leave or change roles, reporting structures
include not just details of loans or other products and
                                                               change, areas of business focus are shifted, markets
services that have been sold to the client, but broader
                                                               fluctuate, and risk dynamics change. CRM must be
information that helps the commercial bank understand
                                                               integrated into the company culture and interactions to the
the full potential of the client, as well as pinpoint areas
                                                               extent that each interaction is seen as a new opportunity
of risk. For example, the record should allow the firm to
                                                               to learn more about the client or to validate and update
view the complete net worth and asset distribution profile
                                                               the information already in the system. A vast database of
of the client to reveal share of wallet and opportunities
                                                               stale information can be as injurious to the relationship
for growth. If at the underwriting stage, for example, a
                                                               as too little information, so efforts must be continually
bank learns that a commercial client qualifies for a larger
                                                               made to keep this valuable data fresh and accurate.
loan than requested, they can seize the opportunity to
                                                               With a good CRM system, prompts and reminders to
investigate the company’s equipment leasing plans and
                                                               obtain or update various pieces of data can be woven
future growth plans, working with the client to determine
                                                               into the automated workflows and interactions, making
whether additional financing is appropriate at this stage.
                                                               data collection and hygiene—as well as proactive risk
The CRM system should also allow the bank to track the         monitoring—an integrated part of your CRM processes.
many complex relationships and associations between
contacts within and outside the client firm. For example,      Become a Trusted Business Advisor
a client business may have multiple divisions, affiliated
companies, and partners that may present opportunities         While the ever-expanding database of client information
for the commercial bank. The commercial bank may even          in your CRM system is valuable, the real value emerges
share clients with its clients. The CRM system should          from applying this information. Rather than leaving this
furthermore enable the bank to track the source of its         to chance, smart commercial banks will use CRM to go
new business leads—it could turn out that a lower-tier         from reactive to proactive, ensuring that client information
client is in fact referring other businesses to the bank       is leveraged to the firm’s advantage at every turn and that
and thus bringing additional value. Understanding these        the client relationship continues to evolve and deepen
intricacies can help the bank keep track of areas of           over time.
influence and value that might otherwise remain hidden,        The right CRM system will enable commercial banks to
as well as maximize business-referral opportunities. This      implement a solid relationship plan composed of frequent
gives a truer picture of client value and potential and        goal-based touch-points throughout the year. This can
avoids embarrassing underestimations of a client’s             be as simple as an informal check-in call or as complex
underlying importance.                                         as a multi-stakeholder on-site strategy meeting. The
                                                               CRM system should enable the firm to store information




                                                                                                       Pivotal CRM | White Paper   4
about the client’s business plan, stage, and milestones.       bank’s offering with competitive offerings the client might
             The overarching goal is to ensure the commercial bank          be considering or overcome any objections, highlighting
             understands the client’s business and evolving priorities      their product’s differentiators and comparative advantages
             and is in the right place at the right time to position its    or developing rapid counter-offers. In some cases this
             financial expertise, products, and services. Not only          could rule out the competition right from the outset,
             will this enable the commercial bank to effectively and        dramatically shortening sales or lending cycles and
             seamlessly up-sell and cross-sell the non-interest fee-        preventing rate-shoppers from going elsewhere.
             based offerings that are of increasing importance in the
             context of low interest rates and compressed margins,          Various kinds of information are best provided by the
             but it will continue to deepen the relationship cumulatively   specialists, but this should not prevent it from being
             over time and enhance the perception of the bank as not        accessible within the CRM system. Some CRM systems
             just a one-time lender, but a trusted business advisor.        allow third-party data to be integrated right within the CRM
                                                                            interface, allowing commercial bank employees to keep
                                        After each call or meeting, the     track of useful information such as news headlines, ticker
CRM systems aren’t just data            system should make it easy          information, and research without leaving the system.
sources; they’re collaboration          to enter notes that clearly         Similarly, some CRM systems will allow users to access
                                        flag all products and services      resources such as map programs and client websites
platforms.                              discussed and the client’s          within the CRM interface. Integration with specialized
                                        reaction, preventing the client     systems for credit lifecycle management, loan origination,
           from being offered the same items multiple times from            loan servicing, and risk monitoring also helps
           multiple sources. Any follow-up tasks, whether for the           create a more complete and current view of client status
           primary relationship officer or other colleagues, should         within a single system. This saves time spent switching
           be easy to assign within the system for guaranteed               between programs and brings the information direct to
           follow-though, even if they are for six months or two years      the employee when and where they need it most.
           down the road. Any new referrals generated through the
           interaction should be easy to enter as leads and should          Managing research can also be a chore for commercial
           clearly note the source.                                         banks, but with the right CRM system, they can easily
                                                                            query the client database to find clients who may be
             Relationship plans embedded in the CRM system ensure           interested in receiving new research on specific topics
             that as with the initial lending process, the steps to build   and send the research directly from the system to
             and maintain the client relationship and derive value from     individuals or large lists of clients on a scheduled or
             it through ongoing revenue-generation are consistent,          ad-hoc basis.
             methodical, and strategic. Up-selling and cross-selling
             to existing clients can then be pursued with the same          In addition to helping employees be more productive and
             discipline as new clients. What differentiates this kind       efficient and making their jobs easier, fast, direct access
             of sale, however, is that it is enriched by the deep           to the information that is of most value to the client helps
             knowledge of the client business that has been built up        commercial bank personnel position themselves as more
             over time, allowing the bank to time and match pitches to      informed, helpful, and advisory.
             client needs, increasing receptivity and conversion rates
             by being more customer-centric.                                Collaborate for Success
                                                                            CRM systems aren’t just data sources; they’re
             Manage Research and Products                                   collaboration platforms. Today’s clients want immediate
             To create a true “one-stop shop” for working with clients,     service and faster results—having a single person
             the best CRM systems bring together as much of the             servicing an account can create a bottleneck and slow
             information commercial banking staff need as possible          down response. Similarly, within the average commercial
             under one system. This includes not only the rich client       bank, there are many different skill-sets and areas of
             information described above, but product information,          specialization, and often discrete units for SBL, CRE, and
             competitive intelligence, research, and third-party            so forth. It is seldom most efficient or in the best interests
             data sources.                                                  of the client to have a single staff member attempt to
                                                                            meet all of a client’s needs, and it can ultimately limit the
             By storing product and service information within the CRM      products and services offered to a client.
             system, commercial banks can instantly call up the facts
             and features they need to position the offerings to clients    As previously mentioned, CRM systems should allow for
             and prospects. Some of the more advanced systems will          a team-based selling approach. This persists after client
             allow flexible components and features to be dynamically       on-boarding with collaborative account servicing and
             combined to fit client needs. Some CRM solutions also          relationship management. The goal is to allow efficient
             allow competitive intelligence to be stored within the         behind-the-scenes collaboration between different area
             system so that it is easily accessible at the point of sale.   specialists to help move intricate processes forward
             This enables the loan officer to proactively compare the       faster, while also providing the pooled intelligence to




                                                                                                                    Pivotal CRM | White Paper   5
allow every team member to benefit from the information              and implementations while opening up a whole realm
gathered by the others. This empowers all team members               of possibility for collaboration across geographies and
to serve clients in an equally informed and professional             business lines—for example, a commercial bank may
manner, helping build the relationship while also allowing           have a client company that is seeking a multi-million-dollar
seamless continuity of service in the event of employee              line of credit with a view to making acquisitions and could
illness, vacation, or departure. This also assists in                refer the company to their investment banking arm as a
elevating the client relationship to the company level, not          lead. Such collaboration serves to deepen the client’s
just the individual employee.                                        relationship with the firm and the commercial bank’s
                                                                     advisory value to the client.
Collaboration is facilitated by CRM workflows and
action plans that allow complex processes to be broken
down into defined tasks that can be assigned through                 Provide Management Insight
the system to the appropriate individual and performed               With all marketing, lending, and service activity
either sequentially or concurrently, as appropriate.                 being tracked and managed within the CRM system,
This streamlines activities and drives them forward                  commercial banking executives have the perfect
faster, ultimately increasing overall productivity and               management platform. At any time, they can see in the
lowering overhead.                                                   CRM system exactly what stage a given opportunity is
                                                                     at, without having to hunt down employees for status
Another dimension of collaboration that is often                     updates. This allows them to precisely calculate the sales
underdeveloped in commercial banks is interdepartmental              pipeline for revenue forecasting. They can also see which
cooperation, or collaboration between the commercial                 clients are happy, which ones have issues, and which
banking unit and other lines of business within a broader            ones are growing or shrinking in profitability.
financial services firm. CRM systems should make it
easy for leads that come in to one area of the firm to               A good CRM system allows executives to perform
be assigned to another area of the firm, such as from                more proactive sales management. They can identify
commercial lending to leasing or commercial real estate,             which employees are responsible for bringing in the
for follow-up or pursuit—without the risk of having the              most revenues and which are possibly in need of more
customer fall through the cracks or be treated like a                training or support. They can see which deals or clients
stranger by another unit. This highlights the value of               are at risk or pose risk and take action to ameliorate the
having a shared CRM system across different areas of the             situation before it is too late. They can also see which
firm. The idea of a global, cross-business CRM system                clients are most profitable or present the greatest growth
is unappealing to some commercial banks because they                 opportunities and focus on developing executive-level
recognize that there are significant differences in the kinds        relationships with them.
of data and processes used in different geographies and
business lines within financial services. However, solutions         CRM systems can present an invaluable source of
are now available through flexible systems that allow                decision support. With good reporting features, a CRM
uniquely tailored CRM systems—complete with their own                system should allow an executive to report on almost any
workflows, data views, and processes—to coexist on a                 facet of sales performance, client-base composition, and
unified platform. This kind of system can accommodate                return on investment. Executives can use CRM data to
process differences among discrete commercial banking                perform win/loss analysis to see which deals are being
units such as small business lending and equipment                   won and what the common attributes are, using this to
finance, but also among completely different lines of                refine the bank’s processes and segmentation as well
business, such as investment banking and mutual fund                 as to spot new opportunities and trends. They can also
wholesaling. Such systems allow commercial banks and                 use CRM data to realign teams and territories to play on
other financial units to maintain their unique processes


   Keeping Pace with Change: The Need for Flexibility
   As we all know, the only constant is change. With market-structure shifts, regulatory changes, competitive pressures, and other
   forces continuously reshaping the commercial banking landscape, you can count on the fact that your firm will need to adapt in
   order to deal with the plethora of changes in your business environment. To continue to be effective high performers in today’s
   business climate, organizations have to be agile and adaptive. Supporting your business processes with technology can make
   your company faster and more productive today—but you must also ensure it won’t hinder you when you need to respond
   rapidly to tomorrow’s changes in the market and regulatory environment.
   Whatever CRM system you choose, you should ensure it is capable not only of molding to the way you currently do business,
   but also of adapting to change—quickly and cost-effectively. No matter how robust or powerful your CRM system, it is useless
   if it will tie you to outdated processes and impede your business agility. Be sure to select a flexible, easily customizable CRM
   system that can keep pace with your business in a dynamic business environment.




                                                                                                                Pivotal CRM | White Paper   6
individual strengths and to allocate budgets and other       doing business anywhere from on-site at their place of
resources.                                                   business to the coffee shop on the corner. Commercial
                                                             banking professionals can no longer afford to be chained
A good CRM system gives managers and executives the          to their desks, especially as their competitors go mobile.
opportunity to closely monitor what is going on within
the firm without overloading employees with requests for     Mobile and wireless capabilities are thus important
updates and reports. It also provides a valuable record of   CRM-system considerations for commercial banks.
employee actions and client communications that helps        Employees need to be able to access and contribute to
avoid reliance on subjective reports and interpretations,    CRM data from laptops and handheld devices, anytime,
providing more concrete evidence of employee interaction     anywhere—whether they are referring to loan details
with clients and prospects.                                  before an on-site meeting or entering call reports while
                                                             on a plane. Luckily, many CRM systems offer mobile
                                                             and wireless features that allow users to access or add
Comply with Client                                           CRM data from the device of their choice. With access to
and Regulator Expectations                                   a broadband Internet connection sometimes uncertain,
Regulatory compliance is an ever-evolving challenge for      another feature offered by some CRM systems that is of
all financial services businesses, and client expectations   significant value to banking users is the ability to operate
for data security and privacy are continually mounting.      with complete CRM functionality and data while in a fully
A CRM system can help commercial banks meet the              disconnected mode, synchronizing with the main system
demands of both regulators and clients by providing          when reconnected—ensuring optimal productivity and
sound security controls and thorough records.                performance at all times, regardless of connectivity.

A good CRM system will allow commercial banks to
control access to sensitive client data by restricting       Conclusion:
it on a “need-to-know” basis to those employees with
appropriate authorization. This balances the desire
                                                             The Client Experience
to share client information for better-informed service      Opportunity
with the need to adequately protect client privacy.
The commercial bank should be able to restrict access        Do commercial banks really need CRM? It seems clear
to sensitive information while still allowing access to      that without it, few commercial banks are positioned to
other information that helps employees help clients.         live up to the demands of today’s clients.
Some systems will also allow commercial banks
                                                             As this paper demonstrates, with the right CRM system,
to create personalized privacy statements for clients,
                                                             commercial banks can create a more client-centric
helping reassure them that their privacy expectations
                                                             infrastructure and corporate culture, enabling them to
are being met.
                                                             craft a more satisfying and differentiated client experience
While CRM systems are by no means all-encompassing           that helps build loyalty and preference. At the same time,
compliance solutions, they can still be of assistance        they can help grow top-line and bottom-line revenues
on a variety of levels. A good CRM system will allow         by building greater efficiency, productivity, and value
commercial banks to manage mandatory and optional            into every stage of the client lifecycle and uncovering
disclosures for client accounts. It will also provide a      more opportunities to cross-sell and up-sell other finance
comprehensive audit trail for all information entered,       options as well as non-interest-based products and
accessed, and changed within the system. CRM records         services to help counteract the effects of low interest rates
can also be very useful as documentation of client           and compressed margins. Greater collaboration among
interactions and communications.                             commercial banking units and other lines of business
                                                             can increase corporate synergies and efficiencies while
Since new regulations are a continual concern, the           generating more referrals and broadening relationships
greatest advantage a CRM system can provide to a             with key clients. Furthermore, commercial banks can
commercial bank is the flexibility to adapt to change and    use CRM to increase executive insight, inform decision-
accommodate new processes and data collection needs          making, and decrease risk, while also supporting more
easily and cost-effectively.                                 effective internal collaboration. It’s a win-win scenario for
                                                             both clients and commercial banks.
Mobile Access: Productivity Anytime,                         Client relationship management is still first and foremost
Anywhere                                                     a strategy, with technology as its toolbox. But today,
                                                             a commercial bank with a strong client-centric vision
Commercial banking clients are increasingly mobile, and
                                                             can use the right CRM system to devise a unique client
more and more, they expect you to match their mobility,
                                                             experience that maximizes value across the front office
                                                             and confers a competitive edge.




                                                                                                    Pivotal CRM | White Paper   7
Pivotal CRM for Commercial                                                market lending, equipment finance, and commercial real
                                                                          estate lending, Pivotal CRM allows commercial banking
Banking                                                                   units to function as a unified whole while still meeting their
                                                                          unique needs. Furthermore, Pivotal CRM for Commercial
Pivotal CRM for Commercial Banking is a complete,                         Banking is complemented by the full Pivotal CRM for
end-to-end client relationship management suite that                      Financial Services suite, which also includes solutions
offers exceptional functionality tailored to the needs                    for investment banking and institutional brokerage,
of commercial banks. Pivotal CRM for Commercial                           private banking/wealth management, institutional asset
Banking is designed to help commercial banks retain the                   management, and mutual fund wholesaling, allowing
advantages and insight of traditional relationship banking                diversified firms to easily accommodate the unique
while capitalizing on the efficiencies of automation and                  processes and information needs of their different lines of
centralized client information and opportunity management.                business while maintaining a common platform.
Pivotal CRM for Commercial Banking mirrors the                            Use Pivotal CRM for Commercial Banking for:
business processes and data models commonly used
                                                                          •	    Complete CRM tailored to commercial banking
by commercial banks. Its flexible platform allows it to be
seamlessly connected to the entire firm, including back-                  •	    Company and contact profiles
office financial systems. With an industry-specific client                •	    Relationship and influence tracking
relationship management system, commercial banks can                      •	    Activity management and planning
accelerate their return on their investment and lower their
                                                                          •	    Account alerts
total cost of ownership.
                                                                          •	    Productivity tools
Using Pivotal CRM, commercial banks can fully integrate                   •	    Up-selling and cross-selling tools
marketing, lending, and service functions for increased                   •	    Workflow management
efficiency and effectiveness, obtaining a complete view
of the client so users from all areas of the company                      •	    Power searches
can personalize their client interactions. Pivotal CRM                    •	    Lead management
saves time and increases productivity by automating                       •	    Territory management
and facilitating workflows for important multi-stakeholder                •	    Opportunity management
processes such as account origination and responding
                                                                          •	    Product and research management
to RFPs. It also provides visibility into complex networks
of affiliation and influence, allowing commercial banks to                •	    Service tracking
more successfully track referrals, measure full client value,             •	    Privacy compliance and disclosures
and identify new opportunities.                                           •	    Literature and materials fulfillment
Pivotal CRM enables commercial banks to fully integrate                   •	    Administrative assistant portal
sales, marketing, and service functions for increased
                                                                          With commercial banks around the world using Pivotal
efficiency and effectiveness, providing a complete view
                                                                          CRM solutions, CDC Software has proven time and time
of the client so users from all areas of the company
                                                                          again its ability to meet the needs of the industry. The
can personalize their client interactions. Pivotal CRM
                                                                          Pivotal CRM approach ensures a faster implementation
saves time and increases productivity by automating
                                                                          with a lower total cost of ownership by delivering financial
and facilitating workflows for important multi-stakeholder
                                                                          services solutions on the scalable and flexible Microsoft®
processes such as opening new accounts and
                                                                          platform, which supports easy customization, integration,
responding to RFPs. It also provides visibility into complex
                                                                          and deployment. Commercial banks can rapidly and
networks of affiliation and influence, allowing commercial
                                                                          cost-effectively adapt Pivotal CRM to meet changing
banks to more successfully track referrals, measure full
                                                                          compliance and operational demands and grow with their
client value, and identify new opportunities.
                                                                          business—meeting their business needs today, tomorrow,
With the ability to easily adapt the system for different                 and in the future. To learn more, please call us at 1-877-
processes used across small business lending, mid-                        PIVOTAL or visit www.pivotal.com/financialservices.




For more information or a complete list of our worldwide offices, please visit www.pivotal.com.
Copyright © CDC Software 2010. All rights reserved.
The CDC Software logo and Pivotal CRM logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of CDC Software.

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Essentials of crm for commercial banking

  • 1. W H I T E P A P E R Essentials of CRM for Commercial Banking Build Relationships You Can Bank On Executive Summary Today, leading commercial banks are looking beyond the transaction to the full opportunity presented by their commercial clients. Accordingly, they’re moving beyond managing clients as simple contacts to a whole new level of client relationship management, crafting a superior commercial client experience that gives the bank a competitive advantage—and a more loyal, profitable client. In this white paper, learn how commercial banks can use client relationship management (CRM) strategies and technology to maximize client value, become trusted advisors, and streamline operations, contributing to top-line and bottom-line revenues and gaining insight they can “take to the bank.”
  • 2. Introduction: Do Commercial So what about commercial banking? Commercial banks face many of the same challenges as other Banks Really Need CRM? financial services firms. Differentiation in a context of commoditization is a continual challenge: how can Before looking at how commercial banks can use client commercial banks move clients beyond just rate- relationship management (CRM) software, it’s worth shopping, or create preference when rate differences are considering whether, or at least why, they need it in negligible? Client loyalty is another challenge: how can the first place. CRM, as we will explore, constitutes a bank retain its clients when other lenders are looking much more than just a software purchase—it is a to lure them away? Many commercial banks also operate business strategy, and one that demands executive-level different units serving small businesses, the mid-market, commitment, reexamination of processes, and often equipment finance, and commercial real estate, and a significant cultural shift. It’s therefore important to the commercial banking operations may exist as part understand whether CRM is something appropriate and of larger regional, national, or global financial services worthwhile for commercial banks to pursue. organizations. Regardless of size, such firms often face the same challenges leveraging customers and At this stage, CRM is no opportunities across units and business lines due to a To achieve organic growth, longer a new concept, having lack of unified information or collaboration around clients. been around for more than you need to become more a decade. It has moved past In addition, commercial banks face a few challenges all than just a bank to your its early growing pains and their own. With interest rates low and competition from commercial clients: you matured into what many alternative sources of funding, commercial banks are need to be their trusted firms consider a necessity, grappling with compressed margins and reduced client business advisor. perhaps even a “given.” But loyalty. They also face pressure to better manage risk companies that see CRM in their lending practices, which requires strong client as just a standard part of knowledge and the ability to proactively monitor changes the IT infrastructure or cost of doing business may fail and trends. Furthermore, commercial banks are returning to understand its full strategic value and potential. CRM to more conservative lending principles, looking not so should not be an appliance—it should be a vital part of much to attract the highest number of clients at any cost a firm’s overall business strategy. as to attract and retain the right ones while minimizing credit losses. Organic growth, under these circumstances, CRM is part of a major shift in the business world away is all about deepening and expanding client relationships from product-centric thinking toward customer-centric and improving their profitability. To do this, you need to thinking. Simply put, it’s a transition away from focusing become more than just a bank to your commercial clients: on how to make people want what you offer toward you need to be their trusted business advisor. making sure you offer what they want. More than that, it’s about understanding who your customers are and what To take their client relationships to the next level, they need, not only so that you can satisfy their needs commercial banks need more than just the will: they better, but also so that you can improve their profitability need a sound customer-centric strategy and the tools to for your firm. By growing your value to them, you grow implement it. In short, they need CRM. their value to you. This “customer-centric” concept has found particular Do You Already Have What You Need? resonance in the financial services industry, where The preceding introduction may have left some firms have struggled with competitive differentiation as commercial banks with a disquieting feeling: “I thought their products and services have become increasingly we already had CRM, but it doesn’t do that.” This is not commoditized. The ability to understand clients more uncommon, and it is usually for one of two reasons: deeply and meet their needs better than competitors has 1) you don’t actually have a CRM system, or 2) you have presented a true opportunity to create differentiation and a CRM system, but not the right one for your firm. client loyalty. Furthermore, as many financial services firms have diversified and grown through mergers and The first issue arises due to a common misconception acquisitions, they have become more fragmented, failing that “contact management solutions” are tantamount to to fully achieve the economies of scale and synergies they CRM, which is not the case. had hoped for because they have been unable to truly pool their intelligence and act collaboratively to leverage Contact management software was rapidly embraced opportunities across business lines. Forward-thinking by the banking industry when it first came on the scene, financial services firms have seen how unifying and aligning because it filled an urgent need for more consistent, around the customer using CRM is a strategy that can be centralized contact tracking. It quickly replaced the effective in breaking down these barriers and finding new isolated personal Rolodex and made it easier and synergies and opportunities for organic growth. more efficient for companies to keep track of their Pivotal CRM | White Paper 1
  • 3. many professional contacts. But as major e-mail Whether your firm has never implemented a true CRM applications such as Microsoft Outlook became more system or you simply feel that your firm is not achieving sophisticated, they gained many embedded contact its full potential with its current CRM solution, this white management system features, including useful add-ons paper will help you understand what commercial banks such as calendaring and task-list management. Given the can achieve today using the right CRM system to support growing importance of e-mail to professionals’ business a customer-centric strategy. lives, this convenient integrated alternative quickly supplanted contact management systems, which were pushed toward obsolescence. True Relationship Management Relationship management is not simply “customer The decline of contact management systems was service.” True relationship management seeks to initiate, concurrent with the rise of a whole different class of cultivate, and sustain a two-way exchange of value software: client (or "customer") relationship management. between a business and its clients. For commercial CRM systems sought not just to compile and coordinate banks, this means thinking strategically about every step contacts and tasks, but to create full databases of deep of the client lifecycle, from first contact through the lending client intelligence, complete with tools that would help and payment process and provision of other products users gather, access, and apply this information more and services to ongoing retention of their business. It easily and meaningfully. CRM systems also encompassed means considering how the bank can add value to and marketing, sales, and service automation features that derive value from each stage. It means thinking not just streamlined related processes, integrating not just data, about individual transactions but about the totality of but workflows and activities. While contact management the customer experience—its coherence, consistency, systems had tried to turbo-charge the Rolodex, CRM continuity, and competitive differentiation, as well as its sought to enrich and unify all elements of the front office ability to build and deepen the customer’s relationship by facilitating customer-centric strategies—a far more with the bank with every interaction. ambitious undertaking. Two forces combined to discourage commercial banks Win the Business from moving beyond contact management to CRM: first, struggling contact management system vendors True relationship management doesn’t begin when a attempted to reinvent themselves as CRM, convincing client selects your firm for commercial banking services, commercial banks they already had what they needed but long before—from the moment they are identified as in their contact management systems, and second, a a potential client. A good CRM strategy will recognize this few highly publicized CRM failures by early adopters and mandate the selection of a CRM system that can help made some banks wary of joining the trend too soon. you not only service and retain existing clients, but attract Unfortunately, even as those few misguided early CRM them and win their business in the first place. projects were superseded by a panoply of successes, A commercial bank’s in-depth CRM-system profile of many commercial banks remained complacent and failed a client organization should begin before they become to ever graduate to real CRM—or didn’t realize the vast a client, with a prospect record. While at first only limited difference between what they already had in place and details about a contact or company may be available, true CRM. recording them within the system enables the firm to take Of the commercial banks that did implement CRM action on building out the profile, researching prospects systems early on, some still failed to understand the and aggregating information about them to create a strategic underpinnings and cultural shifts required more useful picture—one that will help win their business. to make CRM software truly successful, installing the Further research on specific prospects can even be systems but failing to really implement them to their assigned as a task within some CRM systems. Marketing- advantage. Others selected a system that didn’t really list contacts can also be entered into the system to create mesh with the commercial banking industry and its a single, integrated database of targets and prospects. processes and therefore failed to gain sufficient adoption Advanced CRM querying tools can then be used by the within the company to be of real value. marketing or business development team to segment the database into meaningful groups, allowing highly Fortunately, today the CRM landscape has changed personalized and relevant messaging to be delivered to significantly. There are now CRM systems designed them. For example, the commercial bank might segment specifically for financial services—even expressly for its prospect database by company size, industry, lending commercial banking—offering a better fit for the industry needs, or maturity level and send specific campaigns and without complex and costly customization. There are also messages based on this information. Many CRM systems CRM options on the market that are more flexible and include marketing automation components that allow such adaptable than ever before, allowing firms to model their campaigns to be created or sent directly within the CRM unique processes rather than try to fit a pre-programmed system, personalizing content such as name and address mold that may not work for their company or personnel. using the CRM profile. More advanced systems will allow Pivotal CRM | White Paper 2
  • 4. for sophisticated conditional content, replacing entire As the lending cycle progresses, commercial banks graphics or paragraphs of text, for example, based on should be able to capture increasing detail about the the recipient profile. prospect and the opportunity, recording and storing all information and communications in the CRM system, As each interaction with a prospect occurs—whether it’s such as RFPs, business plans and goals, organization a phone call, e-mail, marketing campaign, or in-person structure, risk profile, and contacts tied to the opportunity. interaction, and whether initiated by the prospect or the Having this information centrally stored within the commercial bank—it can CRM system enables a team-based approach, with all be documented within the participants and managers continually kept apprised of A good CRM system CRM system, creating a each new development as the opportunity progresses. used effectively will help comprehensive record of the New tasks can be assigned to team members through the commercial banks target and prospect’s history with the system as required: every member of the team is kept on attract the right business, firm and response to various the same page and understands their role and the deal’s approaches. In addition to status, accelerating the lending cycle and eliminating pursue deals more capably tracking the effectiveness of information-hunting and duplication of effort. Furthermore, and strategically, close different marketing and sales storing opportunity information and contacts centrally deals more swiftly, and bring techniques, this allows the within the CRM system allows commercial banks to easily new clients on board more commercial bank to build out find connections and pre-existing relationships that might seamlessly. the prospect profile further with facilitate winning the business or obtaining insight into each interaction and gradually the client or opportunity—for example, a consultant tied develop more advanced to one opportunity might also have been involved in an segmentation and behavioral existing client account. Leveraging this kind of insight targeting, as well as a more complete risk profile. When can help commercial banks work more strategically and a new or existing prospect becomes a lead through a efficiently, taking advantage of all available resources marketing-campaign response or other expression of and relationships to increase win rates while shortening interest, many CRM systems allow commercial banks the lending cycle. As business moves toward closing, to pre-qualify the lead according to custom criteria and the ability to assign tasks around quotes, contacts, automatically route qualified leads to the appropriate signatures, and approvals helps drive the deal to closure employee for follow-up according to territory, product, as rapidly as possible. specialization, or an advanced combination of factors. For example, an equipment finance unit might wish to Once new business is won, some of the most labor- direct leads based on ticket size as well as region. This intensive processes must take place, such as account ensures that skilled business bankers’ time is not wasted origination and documentation. Yet this is also precisely on unqualified prospects and that hot leads don’t go the time when a customer relationship is newest and most cold while waiting to be sent to the right person, helping delicate: professionalism and efficiency are paramount. ensure the bank doesn’t lose business to faster-acting Many CRM systems include workflow tools that enable competitors. Furthermore, it ensures business bankers each element of multi-step processes such as account are kept focused on the accounts with the most revenue origination to be automated, electronically assigned, and potential, rather than chasing weak or high-risk leads. This streamlined, ensuring more rapid completion and higher increases overall productivity and reduces the cost of the team productivity. lending cycle. In essence, a good CRM system used effectively will When a prospect moves from being a lead to a defined help commercial banks target and attract the right business opportunity, CRM systems should enable business, pursue deals more capably and strategically commercial banks to apply a strategic plan to engage while economizing resources, close deals more swiftly to the account and pursue the opportunity step by step reduce the risk of losing them to competitors, and bring according to the bank’s lending process. One of the new clients on board more seamlessly. A CRM system greatest advantages of having a CRM system is the ability can be the difference between haphazard, uncoordinated to implement a formalized methodology that ensures client acquisition supported by manual, individual efforts consistent, deliberate steps to win business, such that and methodical, efficient business generation supported every account receives the same professional, attentive, by a team-based approach. Best of all, in the process of and effective customer-management approach. A good pursuing prospects and opportunities, the firm builds up CRM system will not impose a methodology on the a rich, detailed profile and history that lays the foundation commercial bank or restrict its options, but enable it to for a more meaningful business relationship. embed the process of its choice in the system, be it a proven third-party methodology or the bank's own unique proprietary methods. Pivotal CRM | White Paper 3
  • 5. Know Your Customer Even if this is all information that exists in your firm today, it is worth considering where it resides and how easy it Winning the business is just the first step. Once a firm is to access and use. If client data is dispersed across becomes a client, the real relationship management multiple files and systems, it can be virtually impossible begins, and as with any relationship, getting to know each for an employee to get a comprehensive picture without other is an essential building block for trust. hours of research and reporting—let alone to use it in responding to a client or management inquiry on the spot. To get the most out of CRM, a commercial bank must Without a 360-degree client view, risk and opportunity may build into its processes, culture, and use of the system be equally difficult to identify. Furthermore, a staggering the recognition that knowledge is power. Just as every amount of this information may reside with individual client interaction should be documented in the system, employees—whether in their printed or electronic files, so should every new piece of information, whether it’s written notes, or heads. This generates a massive amount something as simple as a contact’s birthday or spouse’s of risk for a commercial bank: should the files be lost or name or as fundamental as a major management change the employee leave the firm, the client knowledge—in or financial result. Both kinds of information can be fact, the entire relationship—can be jeopardized. Storing equally valuable to the commercial bank in cultivating all client data centrally not only creates this form of the client relationship. “corporate memory” that persists over time; it also helps Since relationship management is at heart about value the client relationship transcend individuals and accrue exchange, it is of utmost importance that a CRM system to the firm more broadly, as any employee in any location help a commercial bank understand where that client can give the client equally informed and consistent service. value lies. This demands a 360-degree client picture. As with any relationship, it is important to recognize that The CRM system should enable the commercial bank to client relationships aren’t static. Client profiles should build out a full, meaningful client record, integrating data never be viewed as “completed,” because there is from other systems to make the CRM system a one-stop always more to learn and it is always evolving: client-firm shop for client information. This holistic record should employees leave or change roles, reporting structures include not just details of loans or other products and change, areas of business focus are shifted, markets services that have been sold to the client, but broader fluctuate, and risk dynamics change. CRM must be information that helps the commercial bank understand integrated into the company culture and interactions to the the full potential of the client, as well as pinpoint areas extent that each interaction is seen as a new opportunity of risk. For example, the record should allow the firm to to learn more about the client or to validate and update view the complete net worth and asset distribution profile the information already in the system. A vast database of of the client to reveal share of wallet and opportunities stale information can be as injurious to the relationship for growth. If at the underwriting stage, for example, a as too little information, so efforts must be continually bank learns that a commercial client qualifies for a larger made to keep this valuable data fresh and accurate. loan than requested, they can seize the opportunity to With a good CRM system, prompts and reminders to investigate the company’s equipment leasing plans and obtain or update various pieces of data can be woven future growth plans, working with the client to determine into the automated workflows and interactions, making whether additional financing is appropriate at this stage. data collection and hygiene—as well as proactive risk The CRM system should also allow the bank to track the monitoring—an integrated part of your CRM processes. many complex relationships and associations between contacts within and outside the client firm. For example, Become a Trusted Business Advisor a client business may have multiple divisions, affiliated companies, and partners that may present opportunities While the ever-expanding database of client information for the commercial bank. The commercial bank may even in your CRM system is valuable, the real value emerges share clients with its clients. The CRM system should from applying this information. Rather than leaving this furthermore enable the bank to track the source of its to chance, smart commercial banks will use CRM to go new business leads—it could turn out that a lower-tier from reactive to proactive, ensuring that client information client is in fact referring other businesses to the bank is leveraged to the firm’s advantage at every turn and that and thus bringing additional value. Understanding these the client relationship continues to evolve and deepen intricacies can help the bank keep track of areas of over time. influence and value that might otherwise remain hidden, The right CRM system will enable commercial banks to as well as maximize business-referral opportunities. This implement a solid relationship plan composed of frequent gives a truer picture of client value and potential and goal-based touch-points throughout the year. This can avoids embarrassing underestimations of a client’s be as simple as an informal check-in call or as complex underlying importance. as a multi-stakeholder on-site strategy meeting. The CRM system should enable the firm to store information Pivotal CRM | White Paper 4
  • 6. about the client’s business plan, stage, and milestones. bank’s offering with competitive offerings the client might The overarching goal is to ensure the commercial bank be considering or overcome any objections, highlighting understands the client’s business and evolving priorities their product’s differentiators and comparative advantages and is in the right place at the right time to position its or developing rapid counter-offers. In some cases this financial expertise, products, and services. Not only could rule out the competition right from the outset, will this enable the commercial bank to effectively and dramatically shortening sales or lending cycles and seamlessly up-sell and cross-sell the non-interest fee- preventing rate-shoppers from going elsewhere. based offerings that are of increasing importance in the context of low interest rates and compressed margins, Various kinds of information are best provided by the but it will continue to deepen the relationship cumulatively specialists, but this should not prevent it from being over time and enhance the perception of the bank as not accessible within the CRM system. Some CRM systems just a one-time lender, but a trusted business advisor. allow third-party data to be integrated right within the CRM interface, allowing commercial bank employees to keep After each call or meeting, the track of useful information such as news headlines, ticker CRM systems aren’t just data system should make it easy information, and research without leaving the system. sources; they’re collaboration to enter notes that clearly Similarly, some CRM systems will allow users to access flag all products and services resources such as map programs and client websites platforms. discussed and the client’s within the CRM interface. Integration with specialized reaction, preventing the client systems for credit lifecycle management, loan origination, from being offered the same items multiple times from loan servicing, and risk monitoring also helps multiple sources. Any follow-up tasks, whether for the create a more complete and current view of client status primary relationship officer or other colleagues, should within a single system. This saves time spent switching be easy to assign within the system for guaranteed between programs and brings the information direct to follow-though, even if they are for six months or two years the employee when and where they need it most. down the road. Any new referrals generated through the interaction should be easy to enter as leads and should Managing research can also be a chore for commercial clearly note the source. banks, but with the right CRM system, they can easily query the client database to find clients who may be Relationship plans embedded in the CRM system ensure interested in receiving new research on specific topics that as with the initial lending process, the steps to build and send the research directly from the system to and maintain the client relationship and derive value from individuals or large lists of clients on a scheduled or it through ongoing revenue-generation are consistent, ad-hoc basis. methodical, and strategic. Up-selling and cross-selling to existing clients can then be pursued with the same In addition to helping employees be more productive and discipline as new clients. What differentiates this kind efficient and making their jobs easier, fast, direct access of sale, however, is that it is enriched by the deep to the information that is of most value to the client helps knowledge of the client business that has been built up commercial bank personnel position themselves as more over time, allowing the bank to time and match pitches to informed, helpful, and advisory. client needs, increasing receptivity and conversion rates by being more customer-centric. Collaborate for Success CRM systems aren’t just data sources; they’re Manage Research and Products collaboration platforms. Today’s clients want immediate To create a true “one-stop shop” for working with clients, service and faster results—having a single person the best CRM systems bring together as much of the servicing an account can create a bottleneck and slow information commercial banking staff need as possible down response. Similarly, within the average commercial under one system. This includes not only the rich client bank, there are many different skill-sets and areas of information described above, but product information, specialization, and often discrete units for SBL, CRE, and competitive intelligence, research, and third-party so forth. It is seldom most efficient or in the best interests data sources. of the client to have a single staff member attempt to meet all of a client’s needs, and it can ultimately limit the By storing product and service information within the CRM products and services offered to a client. system, commercial banks can instantly call up the facts and features they need to position the offerings to clients As previously mentioned, CRM systems should allow for and prospects. Some of the more advanced systems will a team-based selling approach. This persists after client allow flexible components and features to be dynamically on-boarding with collaborative account servicing and combined to fit client needs. Some CRM solutions also relationship management. The goal is to allow efficient allow competitive intelligence to be stored within the behind-the-scenes collaboration between different area system so that it is easily accessible at the point of sale. specialists to help move intricate processes forward This enables the loan officer to proactively compare the faster, while also providing the pooled intelligence to Pivotal CRM | White Paper 5
  • 7. allow every team member to benefit from the information and implementations while opening up a whole realm gathered by the others. This empowers all team members of possibility for collaboration across geographies and to serve clients in an equally informed and professional business lines—for example, a commercial bank may manner, helping build the relationship while also allowing have a client company that is seeking a multi-million-dollar seamless continuity of service in the event of employee line of credit with a view to making acquisitions and could illness, vacation, or departure. This also assists in refer the company to their investment banking arm as a elevating the client relationship to the company level, not lead. Such collaboration serves to deepen the client’s just the individual employee. relationship with the firm and the commercial bank’s advisory value to the client. Collaboration is facilitated by CRM workflows and action plans that allow complex processes to be broken down into defined tasks that can be assigned through Provide Management Insight the system to the appropriate individual and performed With all marketing, lending, and service activity either sequentially or concurrently, as appropriate. being tracked and managed within the CRM system, This streamlines activities and drives them forward commercial banking executives have the perfect faster, ultimately increasing overall productivity and management platform. At any time, they can see in the lowering overhead. CRM system exactly what stage a given opportunity is at, without having to hunt down employees for status Another dimension of collaboration that is often updates. This allows them to precisely calculate the sales underdeveloped in commercial banks is interdepartmental pipeline for revenue forecasting. They can also see which cooperation, or collaboration between the commercial clients are happy, which ones have issues, and which banking unit and other lines of business within a broader ones are growing or shrinking in profitability. financial services firm. CRM systems should make it easy for leads that come in to one area of the firm to A good CRM system allows executives to perform be assigned to another area of the firm, such as from more proactive sales management. They can identify commercial lending to leasing or commercial real estate, which employees are responsible for bringing in the for follow-up or pursuit—without the risk of having the most revenues and which are possibly in need of more customer fall through the cracks or be treated like a training or support. They can see which deals or clients stranger by another unit. This highlights the value of are at risk or pose risk and take action to ameliorate the having a shared CRM system across different areas of the situation before it is too late. They can also see which firm. The idea of a global, cross-business CRM system clients are most profitable or present the greatest growth is unappealing to some commercial banks because they opportunities and focus on developing executive-level recognize that there are significant differences in the kinds relationships with them. of data and processes used in different geographies and business lines within financial services. However, solutions CRM systems can present an invaluable source of are now available through flexible systems that allow decision support. With good reporting features, a CRM uniquely tailored CRM systems—complete with their own system should allow an executive to report on almost any workflows, data views, and processes—to coexist on a facet of sales performance, client-base composition, and unified platform. This kind of system can accommodate return on investment. Executives can use CRM data to process differences among discrete commercial banking perform win/loss analysis to see which deals are being units such as small business lending and equipment won and what the common attributes are, using this to finance, but also among completely different lines of refine the bank’s processes and segmentation as well business, such as investment banking and mutual fund as to spot new opportunities and trends. They can also wholesaling. Such systems allow commercial banks and use CRM data to realign teams and territories to play on other financial units to maintain their unique processes Keeping Pace with Change: The Need for Flexibility As we all know, the only constant is change. With market-structure shifts, regulatory changes, competitive pressures, and other forces continuously reshaping the commercial banking landscape, you can count on the fact that your firm will need to adapt in order to deal with the plethora of changes in your business environment. To continue to be effective high performers in today’s business climate, organizations have to be agile and adaptive. Supporting your business processes with technology can make your company faster and more productive today—but you must also ensure it won’t hinder you when you need to respond rapidly to tomorrow’s changes in the market and regulatory environment. Whatever CRM system you choose, you should ensure it is capable not only of molding to the way you currently do business, but also of adapting to change—quickly and cost-effectively. No matter how robust or powerful your CRM system, it is useless if it will tie you to outdated processes and impede your business agility. Be sure to select a flexible, easily customizable CRM system that can keep pace with your business in a dynamic business environment. Pivotal CRM | White Paper 6
  • 8. individual strengths and to allocate budgets and other doing business anywhere from on-site at their place of resources. business to the coffee shop on the corner. Commercial banking professionals can no longer afford to be chained A good CRM system gives managers and executives the to their desks, especially as their competitors go mobile. opportunity to closely monitor what is going on within the firm without overloading employees with requests for Mobile and wireless capabilities are thus important updates and reports. It also provides a valuable record of CRM-system considerations for commercial banks. employee actions and client communications that helps Employees need to be able to access and contribute to avoid reliance on subjective reports and interpretations, CRM data from laptops and handheld devices, anytime, providing more concrete evidence of employee interaction anywhere—whether they are referring to loan details with clients and prospects. before an on-site meeting or entering call reports while on a plane. Luckily, many CRM systems offer mobile and wireless features that allow users to access or add Comply with Client CRM data from the device of their choice. With access to and Regulator Expectations a broadband Internet connection sometimes uncertain, Regulatory compliance is an ever-evolving challenge for another feature offered by some CRM systems that is of all financial services businesses, and client expectations significant value to banking users is the ability to operate for data security and privacy are continually mounting. with complete CRM functionality and data while in a fully A CRM system can help commercial banks meet the disconnected mode, synchronizing with the main system demands of both regulators and clients by providing when reconnected—ensuring optimal productivity and sound security controls and thorough records. performance at all times, regardless of connectivity. A good CRM system will allow commercial banks to control access to sensitive client data by restricting Conclusion: it on a “need-to-know” basis to those employees with appropriate authorization. This balances the desire The Client Experience to share client information for better-informed service Opportunity with the need to adequately protect client privacy. The commercial bank should be able to restrict access Do commercial banks really need CRM? It seems clear to sensitive information while still allowing access to that without it, few commercial banks are positioned to other information that helps employees help clients. live up to the demands of today’s clients. Some systems will also allow commercial banks As this paper demonstrates, with the right CRM system, to create personalized privacy statements for clients, commercial banks can create a more client-centric helping reassure them that their privacy expectations infrastructure and corporate culture, enabling them to are being met. craft a more satisfying and differentiated client experience While CRM systems are by no means all-encompassing that helps build loyalty and preference. At the same time, compliance solutions, they can still be of assistance they can help grow top-line and bottom-line revenues on a variety of levels. A good CRM system will allow by building greater efficiency, productivity, and value commercial banks to manage mandatory and optional into every stage of the client lifecycle and uncovering disclosures for client accounts. It will also provide a more opportunities to cross-sell and up-sell other finance comprehensive audit trail for all information entered, options as well as non-interest-based products and accessed, and changed within the system. CRM records services to help counteract the effects of low interest rates can also be very useful as documentation of client and compressed margins. Greater collaboration among interactions and communications. commercial banking units and other lines of business can increase corporate synergies and efficiencies while Since new regulations are a continual concern, the generating more referrals and broadening relationships greatest advantage a CRM system can provide to a with key clients. Furthermore, commercial banks can commercial bank is the flexibility to adapt to change and use CRM to increase executive insight, inform decision- accommodate new processes and data collection needs making, and decrease risk, while also supporting more easily and cost-effectively. effective internal collaboration. It’s a win-win scenario for both clients and commercial banks. Mobile Access: Productivity Anytime, Client relationship management is still first and foremost Anywhere a strategy, with technology as its toolbox. But today, a commercial bank with a strong client-centric vision Commercial banking clients are increasingly mobile, and can use the right CRM system to devise a unique client more and more, they expect you to match their mobility, experience that maximizes value across the front office and confers a competitive edge. Pivotal CRM | White Paper 7
  • 9. Pivotal CRM for Commercial market lending, equipment finance, and commercial real estate lending, Pivotal CRM allows commercial banking Banking units to function as a unified whole while still meeting their unique needs. Furthermore, Pivotal CRM for Commercial Pivotal CRM for Commercial Banking is a complete, Banking is complemented by the full Pivotal CRM for end-to-end client relationship management suite that Financial Services suite, which also includes solutions offers exceptional functionality tailored to the needs for investment banking and institutional brokerage, of commercial banks. Pivotal CRM for Commercial private banking/wealth management, institutional asset Banking is designed to help commercial banks retain the management, and mutual fund wholesaling, allowing advantages and insight of traditional relationship banking diversified firms to easily accommodate the unique while capitalizing on the efficiencies of automation and processes and information needs of their different lines of centralized client information and opportunity management. business while maintaining a common platform. Pivotal CRM for Commercial Banking mirrors the Use Pivotal CRM for Commercial Banking for: business processes and data models commonly used • Complete CRM tailored to commercial banking by commercial banks. Its flexible platform allows it to be seamlessly connected to the entire firm, including back- • Company and contact profiles office financial systems. With an industry-specific client • Relationship and influence tracking relationship management system, commercial banks can • Activity management and planning accelerate their return on their investment and lower their • Account alerts total cost of ownership. • Productivity tools Using Pivotal CRM, commercial banks can fully integrate • Up-selling and cross-selling tools marketing, lending, and service functions for increased • Workflow management efficiency and effectiveness, obtaining a complete view of the client so users from all areas of the company • Power searches can personalize their client interactions. Pivotal CRM • Lead management saves time and increases productivity by automating • Territory management and facilitating workflows for important multi-stakeholder • Opportunity management processes such as account origination and responding • Product and research management to RFPs. It also provides visibility into complex networks of affiliation and influence, allowing commercial banks to • Service tracking more successfully track referrals, measure full client value, • Privacy compliance and disclosures and identify new opportunities. • Literature and materials fulfillment Pivotal CRM enables commercial banks to fully integrate • Administrative assistant portal sales, marketing, and service functions for increased With commercial banks around the world using Pivotal efficiency and effectiveness, providing a complete view CRM solutions, CDC Software has proven time and time of the client so users from all areas of the company again its ability to meet the needs of the industry. The can personalize their client interactions. Pivotal CRM Pivotal CRM approach ensures a faster implementation saves time and increases productivity by automating with a lower total cost of ownership by delivering financial and facilitating workflows for important multi-stakeholder services solutions on the scalable and flexible Microsoft® processes such as opening new accounts and platform, which supports easy customization, integration, responding to RFPs. It also provides visibility into complex and deployment. Commercial banks can rapidly and networks of affiliation and influence, allowing commercial cost-effectively adapt Pivotal CRM to meet changing banks to more successfully track referrals, measure full compliance and operational demands and grow with their client value, and identify new opportunities. business—meeting their business needs today, tomorrow, With the ability to easily adapt the system for different and in the future. To learn more, please call us at 1-877- processes used across small business lending, mid- PIVOTAL or visit www.pivotal.com/financialservices. For more information or a complete list of our worldwide offices, please visit www.pivotal.com. Copyright © CDC Software 2010. All rights reserved. The CDC Software logo and Pivotal CRM logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of CDC Software.