Six Priorities for Successful Post-Merger Integration

Is your bank properly resourced for an efficient and effective post-merger integration?

Most banks head into post-merger integration with long to-do lists but find they are not equipped with the people, processes and technology integral to achieving valuable post-close results. Managing data, applications, and infrastructure to integrate the target company to drive the return your institution is expecting is critical to the merger’s success.

Depending on the scope and scale of each transaction, the first 120 days can vary greatly. Boards and executives should keep these six priorities in mind when planning the days following the merger for a smoother transition to full integration. A well-executed and communicated plan avoids delays, unnecessary costs and long-term unfavorable consequences.

Document everything, assume nothing. Memorialize the value creation strategy. What is the integration approach? Where is the value? And what’s the time frame to realize this value? When a bank defines these goals, it allows the integration team to set the right priorities. Communicate it and then communicate it again, and again.

Prioritize consistent communication between key players. The right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing. That does not mean constant meetings between every member of the integration team, but the moving pieces — for example, the merger and acquisition leaders, operations and the finance team — must regularly sync. Boards need to set an expectation for communication cadence early.

Agree on the integration approach. Is this acquisition an absorption, holding, value creation or integration? Agreeing on what the end game looks like creates a solid, common vision and strategy, quiets the noise around non-priorities for the near term and universally defines what success looks like in zero to 90 days, 90 to 120 days and beyond.

Realistically assess team skills and what’s missing. In most banks, everyone on the integration team has a day job and few have the experience or bandwidth to handle onetime tasks and niche elements of M&A, including core system conversions. For most banks, this may be the first time they’ve been through the process, or the last deal was years ago. If your institution doesn’t have time for training, consider contracting outside talent that regularly performs these types of transactions to handle your institution’s integration efficiently.

Core system conversion planning. Core system conversion readiness and availability of vendors is a key part of the post-integration plan. This component alone could demand a separate team of bank personnel from both organizations. Use this time to review your technology vendor contracts.

Understand (and respect) the culture. Every transaction will affect people: employees, customers, shareholders, and vendors. Recognize the impact, plan for it and communicate what you know when you know it. Focus on the value creation for each audience.

As early as possible, rightsize the project team with a trusted advisor that understands the nuances of the banking industry, has nimble processes, a broad range of knowledge and expertise, and most importantly — the ability to execute.

The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal, accounting, investment, or tax advice or opinion provided by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CliftonLarsonAllen) to the reader. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is an independent network member of CLA Global. See CLAglobal.com/disclaimer. Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. 

How to Reduce Application Abandonment and Grow Revenues

Banks drive significant portions of their revenues through products such as credit cards, mortgages and personal loans. These products help financial institutions improve their footprint with current customers and acquire new customers. The coronavirus pandemic has increased demand for these products, along with an excellent opportunity to improve revenues.

But applying for these offerings has become a challenge due to changes in the in-person banking environment and the limited availability of customer support outside traditional banking hours. Even though customers and prospects are attempting to apply for these products online, financial institutions are experiencing low conversions and high drop-off rates. Simple actions — such as an applicant not checking an agreement box or not having clarity about a question — are behind over 40% of the application abandonment instances.

Financial institutions can tackle such situations to improve the application journey and reduce instances of abandonment with products such as smart conversion that are powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

How Does Smart Conversion Work?
AI is being increasingly incorporated into various functions within banks to help tackle a variety of issues. Incorporating AI can enhance customer service, allowing customers to become more self-sufficient and quickly find answers to questions without long wait times or outside of bank hours.

In smart conversion, an AI-powered assistant guides applicants throughout the application process, step by step, providing tips and suggestions and answering questions the applicant may have. Smart conversion achieves this through its AI co-browsing capability. In AI co-browsing, the AI assistant snaps on to the application form and proactively helps fill out the application form if it sees a customer slow down. If an applicant has questions, it helps them at the moment of doubt and ensures they continue with the application. This enables applicants to complete the form with ease, without additional assistance from someone within the financial institution.

Say there is a portion of an application that stops an prospective customer in their tracks: They are not sure of its meaning. Smart conversion will proactively assist them with the clarification needed at that moment. Applicants can also interact with the smart conversion assistant at any time to ask questions. For applicants already in the system, the smart conversion assistant can autofill information already available about them, making the application process more seamless and efficient.

The smart conversion assistant provides complete flexibility to the bank to choose the parts of an application that should deliver proactive help to applicants. It also offers insights on the customer journey and details why applicants drop off — continually enabling financial institutions to improve the customer journey.

Better Business with Smart Conversion
Smart conversion helps financial institutions increase revenues and enhance the customer experience by assisting applicants and improving application completion rates. These tools have proven to increase conversions by up to 30% — a considerable improvement to financial institutions of any size.

Financial institutions must look at the current offerings in their technology suite and explore ways to incorporate valuable tools to become more efficient and grow. They should consider leveraging smart conversion to reduce application abandonment rates and the assistance needed from the call center or internal staff while growing revenues.

In a time when banks are fiercely competing for customers’ valuable business and relationships, AI-powered tools like smart conversion that can be set up easily and deliver results swiftly will be key.