PRI Blog: All

Most community banks recognize the importance of their core system. It does, after all, control nearly every operational process of the bank. However, far fewer realize that the solutions to some of their biggest operational challenges may be hiding in plain sight. Core system parameters are doing the quiet, daily work of determining how accounts […]

Whether evaluating a core provider, preparing for a contract renewal, assessing vendor performance, or considering new technology investments, leaders at community financial institutions are often asked to balance competing priorities while making decisions that will impact their organization for years to come.  In that environment, it’s understandable that banks feel pressure to move quickly. Existing frustrations, vendor proposals, […]

While technology, digital banking and economic uncertainty continue to dominate industry conversations, many bank leaders agree their biggest competitive challenge isn’t technology—it’s people. In fact, a recent study confirmed that 36% of community banks identify talent acquisition and retention as a top concern, with nearly 1 in 4 community banks reporting difficulty attracting compliance and […]

Check fraud remains one of the most persistent and costly threats facing community banks and their business customers. According to Bank Director’s 2026 Risk Survey, 99% of respondents reported that their bank or its customers had been directly impacted by check fraud over the past 18 months. Additionally, the Association for Financial Professionals’ 2026 Payments […]

For financial institutions, capacity planning is not just a staffing exercise—it’s a strategic growth tool. However, banks that rely solely on transaction counts or historical staffing formulas often miss the operational realities—and opportunities—that drive productivity, service quality and profitability. Supercharging capacity planning to make it most effective requires a comprehensive approach that combines accurate volume data, realistic time standards, productivity benchmarks and operational insight to determine the right staffing levels at […]

For many community banks, few phrases carry more weight or anxiety than “core conversion.” The mental image is familiar: long weekends, strained teams, frustrated customers, and months of cleanup. That reputation has become a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, leading institutions to delay decisions, renew contracts out of inertia, or avoid the conversation altogether. That instinct […]

Community banks have always played an outsized role in strengthening local economies, and during Community Banking Month, that impact deserves recognition. According to the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), community banks provide nearly 60% of the nation’s small-business loans and more than 80% of agricultural loans, while serving as the only physical banking presence […]

Community Banking Month in April is a time to pause and recognize the vital role local financial institutions play in strengthening the fabric of their communities. The industry’s relationship-driven model is the basis for nearly 60% of the nation’s small-business loans and more than 80% of the banking industry’s agricultural loans, according to the Independent […]

Project management in today’s banking environment is no longer an add-on, back-room function—it is a strategic discipline that directly impacts performance, profitability and long-term success. From core conversions and M&A integrations to product launches and process improvements, every initiative impacts the organization’s future. Yet despite the stakes, only 35% of projects are completed successfully on […]

Change happens. How you plan for it and prepare your team is ultimately the key to success or failure. Particularly as leaders consider evaluating new solutions–whether it is the bank’s core solution or ancillary solutions–the assumption should be that there is potential for change to occur. To manage that change effectively, it’s beneficial to ensure […]