CIANJ Commerce Magazine September 2020 Live | Page 26

■ Annual Best Practices Guide Continued From Page 22 BANKING Freedom Bank By Matthew Carcich, President and Chief Executive Officer At Freedom Bank, our employees continue to be available seven days a week to serve the needs of our customers. Our team reaches out to our customers more frequently by phone, texts and e-mails during these uncertain times. The challenges of meeting the increased demands placed upon us by the effects of COVID‐19 have affected everyone. Our bank, almost overnight, transitioned to working remotely and we are extremely proud of our staff for their diligence in doing so. Everyone has adapted to juggling the requirements of working from home and Zoom meetings, along with schooling children. What our employees miss the most is the face-to-face interactions with our customers. A customer recently said, "I bank with Freedom because when I call on a Sunday at 9:00 p.m., my loan officer answers my call." That is our culture and that is why we continue to attract new business through word-of-mouth. Lakeland Bank By Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO We launched our three-year digital strategy in January, and when the coronavirus hit we had to accelerate portions of that strategy to meet the demands of a rapidly changing workplace and enhance our ability to meet the needs of our customers. I liken the reinvention of our remote workplace to an extreme makeover…the transformation happened in about a month and under normal circumstances may have taken months, or even years to accomplish. It was a success in part because a strong culture of respect, trust and collaboration already existed at Lakeland. And while technology played a crucial role in changing how we do business, how our associates work and how we interact with customers, the bottom line is that we relied heavily on the traditional practice of open and frequent communication. This best practice has withstood the test of time and now a modern-day global pandemic. M&T Bank By Tom Comiskey, New Jersey Regional President The banking industry was already changing rapidly on the technological front prior to COVID‐19. The pandemic only increased consumers’ comfort with interacting with their bank online. I think you will likely see that continue. We evolved to interact with customers in new ways, especially as many contend with economic challenges from the pandemic. We moved quickly to identify liquidity issues and implement M&T Bank direct or government stimulus assistance programs. Fortunately, some of our business clients were in a position to provide much-needed products (like PPE) to the market. As their banking partner, we made sure we supported them so they could meet that elevated demand. Culturally, we’ve relied on digital platforms to connect with colleagues and move projects forward. We make frequent use of WebEx, encourage video participation and hold virtual get-togethers to keep collaboration strong. It’s been fun to see kids and pets pop in to say hello. Continued On Page 26 Everybody in business has a story to tell. A public relations professional is an objective set of eyes who knows how to drill down and find the thread of what makes your company, service or product unique. What Exactly Is Public Relations? It is an invaluable tool in creating favorable public opinion. It differs from advertising in that it is an unpaid endorsement of a company, a person, a product or a service, and that fact alone, lends tremendous credibility. How Does Public Relations Pay Back Big? Your uniqueness, your story is what differentiates you from everyone else in your field. Being quoted in newspaper and business publications as well as appearing on broadcast media brands you as an ‘expert’. This type of credibility creates a ‘buzz’ or publicity that associates you and your firm with excellence. Publicity builds on itself and opens doors where entrée was never previously anticipated or envisioned. 24 COMMERCE www. commercemagnj.com Make sure your story is told. Contact Amy Delman [email protected] or 201.563.4614 www.amydelmanpr.com