The Bankwatch

These examples were the best part of the meeting for me – First Shari.

My take:  this is a unique and powerful effort that gets as close to the Cluetrain as I have seen.  engagement of employees, with each other and with customers, and that was the Cluetrain message.  The openness will bring enormous benefits to all, such as a recent post from an employee that highlighted certain internal customer processes.   I think that was a good thing – either the process is right and will be justified, or its wrong and the CU should change it.  Either way the customers will win.  (I eagerly await the treatment of that comment, when I get back online)

Shari Storm – Verity Credit Union “Who are V”

• Anyone in the CU can blog
• Shari interviews them for 10-15 minutes and sets the rules – no religion, no family secrets
• no legal or compliance preview on posts
• requests they do at least 1 per month, and no more than 1 per week
• any employee, no editors (occasional spelling correction)
• Stats

• 1,000 readers
• compare to 15,000 monthly statements from the CU – good penetration

• web site was hacked last year -directed people to blog for updates
• 2006 storm updates, closed branches, and customers chipped in with comments on status of their neighbourhood
• TJ MAxx type updates

• 2.7 services
• $9K deposits
• $11.5 loans/ mortgages

• move off Blogger (Editor:  smart idea!!)
• Podcasting with outsiders
• Product review forum