The Hidden Benefits Of Talking To A Local Banker | Northwest Bank
Anthony Hapney, manager of our New Albany, Ohio financial center, shares why in-person banking can still make a difference.
Key takeaways:
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Online and mobile banking make it easy to manage your money day to day, but visiting a local financial center offers personalized support.
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A conversation with a banker can help you sort through your options and turn general advice into a plan that fits your life.
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Most people could benefit from coming into their financial center during life transitions, when they’re facing financial hardship or struggling to set goals — though you don’t need to be grappling with a challenge to benefit from support.
It’s tough to beat the convenience of digital banking.
During my career, I’ve seen online and mobile banking grow from bare-bones functionality — mostly, a way to check account balances — into the financial "control center" it is today. Today, online and mobile banking can handle a lot, from depositing checks to tracking spending and setting up automatic savings.
So it’s no surprise that many of the customers I speak to, especially those in younger generations, use digital banking to manage nearly every aspect of their finances. But if you never stop into your local financial center, you may miss the kind of one-on-one support that can help you make clearer financial decisions.
Today’s financial centers look different than the branches of years past
If you’re relatively new to in-person banking, you might think the in-branch experience involves a long line of folks waiting to deposit checks, move money between their accounts or withdraw cash. Or dressing up to sit in an office and explain why you deserve a mortgage or a loan.
Today’s financial centers are often more relaxed and approachable than people expect. The focus is less on routine transactions and more on answering questions, talking through options and offering guidance that's harder to get from a screen alone.
What does that look like in practice?
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More personal support. Since many everyday tasks happen online, in-person visits can focus more on questions, guidance and next steps.
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A focus on helping, not selling. Conversations are designed to be practical and low-pressure, whether someone is building a budget, navigating financial stress or just trying to understand their options.
How can visiting a financial center in-person help you reach your goals?
When I talk to folks about in-person banking and our focus on providing insights and advice, I often hear some version of “Can’t I find the information I need online?”
The answer is yes, at least partially. There’s a lot people can learn on their own through articles, calculators and other online tools. But talking with someone in person can make it easier to understand how a decision may affect your own budget, timeline and priorities.
Where online research falls short
One of the key downsides of relying on online advice is that much of it is created with a general audience in mind. It’s just not possible to provide fully personalized advice on that scale, so there’s a chance that some of the advice might not apply to you. And even when the advice fits your situation perfectly, you might still find it difficult to put it into practice.
Let’s say you’re looking to save for a home in Columbus. You can read articles on how to save for a down payment and start using some of the techniques you learn there. What’s harder to figure out on your own is how those ideas fit into your actual budget, how much you may need to save and what kind of home payment makes sense for you.
Reaching your goals with in-person banking
A financial expert can help you think through what you may be able to afford and how different home prices could affect your monthly budget. From there, they can help you decide how much to save, based on your budget and your anticipated timeline. They can even help you automate your finances to more easily stick to your goal.
But that’s just the beginning. They can also help you understand what may strengthen your mortgage application, even if buying a home is still a few years away. For example, we can talk through your credit history and share steps that could help improve your score before you apply for a mortgage. And, as you get closer and closer to buying, we can help you create a budget that makes room for all your new housing expenses, from mortgage payments to maintenance and more.
In other words, you’re not just getting general information. You’re getting guidance that can reflect where you are now and what you're working toward next.
When does it make sense to visit a financial center?
While banking in-person offers unique benefits, that doesn’t mean you need to stop into your local financial center every week — unless you want to.
Generally, we recommend that customers consider coming in when they’re going through a life transition or when they’re making a significant financial decision. That way, we can make sure your financial plan still suits your current situation and goals.
If you just landed a promotion, chatting with a financial expert can help you think through how to use that extra income in a way that supports your priorities instead of disappearing into everyday spending.
Consider stopping into your local financial center if you’re:
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Approaching a milestone, like getting married, expanding your family or buying your first home. We can help you figure out how to incorporate your new goals into your financial plan.
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Experiencing financial stress or hardship, such as the impact of rising inflation. We can help you create a budget that works for your lifestyle, so you can cover costs without feeling deprived.
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Feeling “stuck” when it comes to your finances. We can help you talk through what you’re trying to do and what steps may make sense from here.
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Looking for support with your business (or future business). Have a goal to be your own boss? We can talk through how to manage your business’ finances and feel confident in your choices.
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Just looking to chat. You don’t need to have a specific question to stop in. Sometimes it helps just to start a conversation and get to know the team in your neighborhood.
As we open the first of our financial centers in Columbus, our goal is simple: to be a useful, approachable resource for people in the community as they think through what’s next financially.
Thank you for being part of a community we’re proud to call home,
Welcoming spaces where people can stop in, ask questions and talk through what’s on their mind. The setting is often more comfortable and less formal than people expect.