Bankers Title Shenandoah and the Courthouses

will be closed on Monday, October 10th

in Observance  of Columbus Day

Be a Better Leader by Wagging Your Tail

by Krissi Barr, co-author of The Fido Factor: How to Get a Leg Up at Work

Dogs can teach us a thing or two. Have you ever thought about how to apply canine behavior to your leadership style? There are interesting approaches your dog would encourage you to try if you want to be a better leader. Leadership is more art than science, and more emotion than logic. The actions and behaviors that roll up to form an effective leader, when you boil them down, are actually pretty simple. And they are very similar to why we love dogs so darn much. Dogs are faithful, inspirational, determined and observant. These four core qualities—the Fido Factors—are the basis of the unexpected reason why we can learn leadership lessons from dogs. Click HERE to learn more.

How Housing Market Deterioration Will Disrupt Home Lending

by Steve Cocheo

Goldman Sachs forecasts further reductions in home sales and a fall and then flattening of home prices. This will further erode the primary mortgage business, already down as high rates have severely squashed refinancing business. Falling prices will impact the home equity credit business, which had been building back. Click HERE to learn more.

The Face of the Lending Landscape is Changing

Lenders need to mirror the communities they serve to survive the next wave of buyers

by Dr. Vanessa Montanez

The buyers today are diverse. For a lender to stay relevant and thrive, changes are needed. First, the lender needs to mirror the communities they serve. Second, the lender needs to hire a diverse sales organization. Third, the lender needs to understand the market needs. If the buyers are younger and more diverse, the lender needs to hire accordingly. Is your company making the necessary changes to thrive? Click HERE to read on.

Why Banking as a Service May Be the Best Community Bank Survival Strategy

by Vince Curotto

The challenges facing existing bank-fintech relationships will open opportunities for new partner banks to emerge as the banking as a service (BaaS) industry enters a new phase of its evolution. The current market environment not only presents a compelling opportunity to launch banking services that meet the demands of regulators and fintech partners, but also offers a lifeline to community banks struggling to accelerate growth and increase profitability beyond that of their current services. Click HERE to learn more.

The Journey to True Success

by Dan Rockwell

Beginnings determine endings. When you pursue material success and neglect self-awareness you lose yourself to possessions, position, power, and prestige. The journey toward true success begins with self-awareness. “Developing self-awareness by understanding your life story and reframing your crucibles should be the starting point on every person’s path to becoming a leader.” George and Clayton. Self-aware leaders know their strengths and accept their weaknesses. Gaining self-awareness requires introspection and feedback. Click HERE to read on.

The Value of Turning Bank Employees Into Entrepreneurs

by Nymbus

Most banking employees won't chuck their day job to hit the start-up trail (although a side-hustle could be useful), but they can bring an entrepreneurial spirit into their bank or credit union. That can make all the difference in keeping the institution relevant in a time of rapid innovation. Investor/author Marcus Whitney explains the why and how, click HERE to learn more about his insights.

Check Yourself: 7 Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Tackle in October

by Holly Amaya

Ah, October. Temperatures are dropping, the days are growing shorter, and the pumpkin spice latte is, in a word, inescapable. But before you go hog wild with the Halloween decorations and settle in for that horror movie binge session, take some time to prep your home for winter’s onslaught (buzzkill, we know!). Luckily, we’re here to make it a breeze with our handy checklist of home maintenance chores to tackle this month. Click HERE to read on for details about where to start, and who to call if you need reinforcements.

The Future of Business Banking: Fintech Innovation + Human Advice

by Steve Cocheo

ConnectOne Bank doubles down on technology by creating an innovation office, creating a new niche vertical, and hiring more tech staff. At the same time management continues to believe that in-person expertise is a business banking edge. Click HERE to learn more about how they have leveraged this model to create success.