by OTMS Staff | Mar 4, 2026 | Learning & Development, Strategy
The end of February 2026 “marked” (pun intended) a significant milestone for On The Mark Strategies. We’ve been in business for 15 years, and we’ve learned plenty of small business lessons along the way. Why is 15 years so important? Because: 20% of small...
by OTMS Staff | Mar 2, 2026 | Branding, Strategy
On a recent episode of “Banking Transformed,” host Jim Marous interviewed Will Smayda, Head of Financial Centers at Bank of America. Bank of America previously shrank its branch presence from 6,000 branches to 3,700 branches. Now, they are opening 150 new “financial...
by OTMS Staff | Feb 23, 2026 | Marketing, Strategy
Many credit union member retention strategies think they have a front door problem: member growth. For credit unions, the member growth rate slowed to 1.88% last year (the lowest number in close to 15 years). However, the real problem – net growth – could in fact be a...
by OTMS Staff | Feb 2, 2026 | Strategy
“Groundhog Day” is arguably one of the most well-known films of all time. In the movie, Bill Murray’s character (Phil) relives Groundhog Day over and over and over again. The plot revolves around Phil discovering how to escape the time loop and grow as a person. And...
by OTMS Staff | Dec 17, 2025 | Case Study, Strategy, Training
“Anyone who’s looking to take their member experience, journey mapping or strategic planning to the next level should go with On The Mark Strategies. We see the results, and we’ve been very pleased.” – Brandon Oliver, VP of Branch Operations, SAFE FCU Many of...
by OTMS Staff | Dec 8, 2025 | Strategy
It’s that time of year. Yes, the holiday season. But it’s also top ten list, “best of” compilation and Spotify Wrapped season. Of course, all these lists tend to look back over the year. And while there’s value in reflecting on 2025, there’s also value in using those...
by OTMS Staff | Nov 24, 2025 | Strategy
A table full of food means little without people crowded around it ready to partake in the feast. Maybe the table isn’t even full of food if those assigned to bring the side dishes or dessert never arrive. For dinner to be a success, you need others to show up. Your...
by OTMS Staff | Oct 27, 2025 | Strategy
It’s bank and credit union strategic planning season! And boy does Shawn Temple (our Chief Strategy Officer) know it. Shawn’s nearly two-month-long strategic planning tour is taking him to institutions across the country…and he’s making great use of the time. Besides...
by OTMS Staff | Oct 15, 2025 | Strategy
There’s an old saying that the early bird gets the worm. When it comes to strategic planning for your organization, the early bird gets something even better: clarity, focus and a competitive advantage. Most organizations schedule their strategic planning...
by OTMS Staff | Oct 6, 2025 | Marketing, Strategy, Training
Zombies. Vampires. Ghouls. Budgets. All are terrifying to think about…and budgets might just be the scariest monster of all. When discussing his upcoming budget process, one credit union CEO said he was already resorting to prayer to defeat the beast. Yikes! Luckily,...
by OTMS Staff | Sep 29, 2025 | Branding, Marketing, Strategy, Training
No organization is a one-trick pony. Sure, everyone has their specialties. But the best organizations still do all core functions competently or even exceptionally. What are those core functions? There are four vital disciplines, or Success Markers, you need to create...
by OTMS Staff | Sep 15, 2025 | Leadership, Marketing, Strategy
Clarity and alignment are defining traits of the best organizations out there…but how you acquire those traits is often a mystery. Well, you might only be six questions away from aligning your organization around a purpose and common values. Patrick Lencioni and his...
by OTMS Staff | Aug 27, 2025 | Strategy
Strategy is a tricky beast that means different things to different people. For some people, it’s goals over a one-to-three-year term. For others, strategy is nothing less than ten years out. Both can be right. The most successful organizations operate at two...
by OTMS Staff | Aug 4, 2025 | Strategy
“How will we grow?” A common question. An important question. It’s probably one you ask yourself constantly in this ever-changing environment awash in new technologies, new payment rails and new mergers. There are many potential answers…but many of them...
by OTMS Staff | Jul 30, 2025 | Leadership, Strategy, Training
Winston Churchill once said, “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” That wisdom perfectly captures what separates great bank and credit union leadership from the merely average. Picture...
by OTMS Staff | Jun 30, 2025 | Strategy
Now would be the time to insert a pithy quote about looking ahead. Like “the best way to predict the future is to create it” or the line from Yogi Berra: “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” When it comes to your organization, the future is...
by OTMS Staff | Jun 11, 2025 | Strategy
Your financial institution isn’t a farm. So why does your bank and credit union strategic planning look like a collection of separate silos? Marketing wants to build awareness. Operations wants greater efficiency. Lending wants application growth. IT wants...
by OTMS Staff | May 28, 2025 | Strategy
Bank and credit union strategic planning requires revival…because in many cases, it’s lifeless. Stale. Dull. Awkward. Regardless of what word you use, planning sessions can be painful affairs you undergo (or avoid) year after year. Maybe your facilitator beat the...
by OTMS Staff | May 21, 2025 | Branding, Strategy
No matter how you slice it, these are challenging economic times for your bank or credit union brand. According to CNBC, the economy shrank 0.3% in the first quarter. Whether your executive team is using the “R” word or not, the reality is there are headwinds (and not...
by OTMS Staff | May 16, 2025 | Strategy
It’s one of the most famous twists in movie history. And it’s relevant to your bank and credit union strategy, marketing, branding and training right now. So, what’s the twist? It’s the climax of “When a Stranger Calls.” A babysitter receives threatening calls...
by OTMS Staff | May 7, 2025 | Strategy
Wouldn’t you want a chocolate bunny bank or credit union strategic plan? After all, chocolate bunnies are typically gigantic and delicious. They wear massive chocolate grins, have chocolate ears that reach to the clouds, yell “eat me” at you from store shelves...
by OTMS Staff | May 2, 2025 | Marketing, Strategy
Almost everyone is familiar with the “Where’s Waldo?” search-and-find books. These books show massive images covered with colorful chaos at beaches, mansions, forests and many other locations. The reader’s objective is to find Waldo, a man dressed in a candy cane...
by OTMS Staff | Dec 31, 2024 | Strategy
It’s always a good time to start thinking about your strategic plan in the coming year…and swerving to avoid success-devouring potholes. There are some strategic planning mistakes leaders make every year. Let’s go over three of these common errors (and how to...
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