Pandemic: No Problem. And Messages From Our Financial Services Providers

Here is what my family is doing to reduce the risk of contracting or spreading coronavirus:

1. Washing hands with greater discipline for 20 seconds per wash. Which is difficult. I'm singing the "Baby Shark" song.

2. Daily disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces such as phones, keyboards, handles, etc.

3. Coughing and sneezing into our elbows.

4. Trying desperately to not touch our faces. Do you know how hard this is?

5. Following CDC guidelines and state recommendations to reduce risk, such as not attending large gatherings. The NHL made that difficult Flyers-Wild game decision for me. Hoping to get tickets for another game.

6. Towelette wipe down of seating area when I fly.

7. Sign up for my health plan's virtual doctor visit portal. In case we need it.

Here is what we are doing to support local businesses:

1.  Keep going to them.

2.  Order online, as most restaurants will either deliver or prepare for pickup.

3.  Highlight brands that are supporting their hourly employees even in lieu of significantly declining revenues.

4.  Highlight charities and wealthier individuals that are supporting the same, such as Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers donating $100,000 to support arena workers.

5.  Not sniping at politicians because I disagree with them.

6. Not hoarding.

Here are some messages that I have received from various financial firms regarding coronavirus preparedness. Perhaps your pandemic response team would be interested.

Stay safe out there and don't panic!

Genworth

Dear Valued Policyholder:

As COVID 19 (the coronavirus) dominates the news and the stock markets have large movements from day to day, we at Genworth want to reassure you that our associates are well positioned to continue our long tradition of being there for our policyholders regardless of social and economic conditions.

We have proactively taken steps to make sure that our associates are safe, our call centers staffed, and our processing teams are able to function. We have implemented employee travel restrictions, provided associates with tools and technology and have encouraged them to work from home, conducted a deep cleaning of all Genworth facilities and revised our time off and FMLA policy. These changes provide our associates with the flexibility to adapt their schedules to meet our business obligations and limit any service interruptions.
 
Genworth’s high commitment to serving you includes a robust self-service opportunity MyGenworth available 24/7. To sign up, click: https://www.genworth.com/login.html. With MyGenworth, you can obtain current policy status and perform routine policy updates such as address changes and beneficiary updates. Additionally, we encourage you to consider signing up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for your on-going premium payments as well as policy benefit payments you receive from us on a routine basis. You will find the necessary authorization information under the “Billing and Payments” section on MyGenworth. 

To help you stay healthy and take care of yourself we are sharing some useful third-party resources.

https://www.nahc.org/resources-services/coronavirus-resources/
 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
 
We realize times like these can be unsettling, rest assured we are ready to serve you and value your business.
 
Sincerely,

David O’Leary
CEO, President, U.S. life insurance division

MassMutual

Market Volatility and Your Workplace Retirement Savings     Recent volatility within U.S. and global markets brought on by global health concerns has been historic and unsettling. You're not alone if you have concerns or questions about your retirement savings and investments during current market conditions.           MassMutual is committed to providing you with the power of perspective to help you navigate through these uncertain times.           Things to consider       •   Keep calm. It's not easy, but keep in mind that after downturns, history has shown that markets have recovered and delivered gains in the long-term.           •   Revisit your goals and stick to your plan. Be sure to review your goals and keep your individual needs, risk tolerance and time horizons in mind before making changes to your investment strategy.           •   Stay informed. For up-to-date economic insights and analysis, see MassMutual's regular market commentary.           During market swings, it can be helpful to remember that a diversified and balanced portfolio may be a good defense for downturns and can help position you for potential market recoveries. We're here to help you – so be sure to check out our resources and tools to learn more. Please consider your goals, needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon before making any investment decisions – and consult with your financial adviser if needed.

© 2020 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual®), 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111-0001. All rights reserved. www.MassMutual.com.   We hope you found this message useful. However, if you'd rather not receive future marketing emails from MassMutual, please unsubscribe. Replies to this address are not monitored.

BB&T/Truist

You're a valued member of the Truist family, and nothing is more important to us than your health and safety.

As the spread of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, continues to be a growing concern across the country, we’re taking extra precautions to protect you, our teammates and the communities we serve. Our Executive Leadership and business readiness teams are monitoring the situation and are in close contact with health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to ensure we’re acting on the latest guidance and information.

We’re Here To Help

If you're negatively affected by the coronavirus situation, we’re here to help. Our branch bankers, relationship managers and contact center teammates are all committed to working with our clients to reduce financial stress during this challenging and uncertain time.

Contact Information:

BBT.com

Find up-to-date branch hours and other information to manage your accounts

800.BANK.BBT | 800-226-5228

Account information is available through our automated phone system 24/7.

As we assist clients and businesses who may be affected by the coronavirus situation, we're also listening and learning from those conversations to help us evaluate and possibly implement additional client relief measures as they emerge.

We invite you to use our convenient digital banking channels and phone banking options to conduct your banking transactions, and when in doubt, always feel free to contact your relationship manager or local branch.

What Our Company Is Doing To Help

• Increasing our focus on disinfecting surfaces including ATMs, teller line areas, elevator touchpads, door handles and other high-touch areas • Increasing the number of hand sanitizing stations available in our branches and offices • Asking teammates who are sick to stay home until they are well • Asking teammates who have recently returned from any high-risk country on the CDC’s Coronavirus Disease Travel Information website, or who live with someone who has recently traveled to one of those identified regions, to self-report to their manager and work from home for at least 14 days • Suspending international air business travel and limiting nonessential domestic business air travel for our teammates • Conducting group meetings by phone or other digital means

Keeping You Informed

We’re committed to keeping you informed through this rapidly changing situation. As it evolves, you can always find the latest information here on Truist.com. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance with any of your banking needs.

For the latest information about COVID-19, please visit cdc.gov or your local health department website.

Navy Federal Credit Union

An Update for Our Members

The spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has all of our attention. I wanted to let you know your Navy Federal Credit Union family is doing everything possible to keep our employees and you, our members, safe while delivering the best member experience possible. What We’re Doing We’re monitoring and following all guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), including taking the steps necessary to reduce the threat of COVID-19 exposure to employees and members. Our branches remain open to serve you. We have an extensive cleaning procedure in place and can conduct additional cleanings if needed. Some locations have had their hours adjusted as a result of local conditions. For the latest updates on branch hours, you can visit our Branch Closures & Updates page on our website. Our team members are also being reminded to ensure their hands are regularly washed or sanitized. Steps You Can Take Our commitment to world-class, 24/7 member service remains fundamental to our mission. Our digital banking tools are designed to be easy to use. Whether you’re paying a bill through the Navy Federal website, depositing a check, checking an account balance or transferring money using our mobile app, our goal remains empowering you to conduct your business quickly and easily. If you need to access cash, we have more than 700 Navy Federal ATMs around the world, and you have free access to another 30,000 ATMs in the CO-OP Network®. You can find your nearest ATM here. Our Mission Despite the threat posed by COVID-19, your Navy Federal team remains committed to serving you and your families. You are our members, part of our family, and together we will get through this situation. Sincerely, Mary McDuffie President/CEO Navy Federal Credit Union

Radius Bank

A message from Radius Bank on COVID19  

Like you, the team at Radius Bank is monitoring the latest news about the Coronavirus. As a valued client, we understand your concerns and the uncertainty you may be feeling at a time like this.

We wanted to remind you that Radius is a leading-edge digital bank prepared to handle situations such as this, and as a Radius client, you can handle all your banking needs at anytime, anywhere from your computer or mobile device. Our convenient digital tools give you 24/7 access to your accounts.

Once signed in, you'll be able to:

• View transactions and check balances
• Make payments
• Make a mobile deposit (from the mobile app only)
• Transfer funds
• Update your contact information
• See your account and routing number
• Find an ATM
• Send us a secure message

Make sure you have the correct website address bookmarked and the most updated version of our mobile app by following the links below:

Personal Account Clients

• Enroll in Personal Online Banking
• Download the Radius Mobile app

Business Account Clients

• Contact us to enroll in Business Online Banking
• Download the Radius Business app

We're Here to Help!

Questions?

• Visit our FAQ page
• Start a live chat on our website
• Give us a call at 1.800.242.0272 – you can activate your debit card or reset your PIN, check your balances, hear recent transaction history, and transfer funds all from our automated system, as well as speak with a representative
• For our business/commercial banking and lending customers, you may also contact your portfolio or relationship manager

As always, the health and well-being of our customers and team members is our top priority. We will continue to monitor this situation and will be available to assist our clients as needed.

Please visit radiusbank.com/readiness as the situation evolves for the latest updates.

For additional information about COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at CDC.GOV.

PNC Cares Far More About the Penguins Than the Flyers

Reporters occasionally call for my opinion. And I have them. Oh I have them.

Last week an American Banker reporter called for my opinion on WSFS Bank's strategy to deploy much of the cost savings from its recent Beneficial Bank merger into technology. Read the resulting article here. 

The reporter e-mailed his questions. And I responded back. The article carried two quotes from me. But I assure you I was far more loquacious. Here are the reporter's questions followed by my responses with only slight modifications for clarity and grammar. I have to keep Sister Ann Eulaine happy. :)

Q: WSFS is using the synergies from their Beneficial merger to improve their technology. What do you think of that strategy?

A: I am a firm believer in making strategic investments to propel a bank's growth. It is a cultural change for banks, that typically take the synergies from an acquisition and drop them to the bottom line. Many banks make strategic investments only if they can recoup the costs quickly. Such as hiring lending teams. In today's environment, banks need to try, and yes fail, at implementing many technologies to learn what their customers want and to identify what will drive future growth. So, the long-winded answer, I like the strategy of taking resources and investing for the long-term future of the bank.

Q: Where is WSFS' greatest need for a technology upgrade?

A: I can't speak specifically to WSFS. When talking technology, we often talk about customer facing technology. And that's not necessarily the case. Do you know the resources banks put into reconciling accounts, researching customer deaths, and reviewing mobile deposit capture images, etc.? These processes drain resources from more promising investments such as small business loan decisioning, integrated cash management, and retail customer marketing solutions. Sometimes the tech stack shortfall is in the engine.

Q: How can WSFS compete in Philly when some of the country's largest banks that spend billions on tech are there?

A: A very small bank CEO once told me he compared his mobile app to Wells Fargo's and found only minor differences. Banks will figure out how to "keep up". But keeping up or exceeding big banks on tech is a tough strategy and tough sell. The community bank advantage is that most of their deposits will be deployed in their markets. Profits generated here contribute to the charitable works in time and treasure here. In WSFS' case, it's the Philly/ Wilmington market area. Loan and policy exception decisions that impact customers are made here. Not in Charlotte, New York, or Pittsburgh. Wells Fargo can't say that. Neither can PNC. PNC cares far more about the Penguins than the Flyers. 😊

Q: On tech, how much of a spend is necessary to "keep up with the Jones'"?

A: Data processing expense in 2018 for Beneficial was $6.2 million, and $7.8 million for WSFS according to their respective Call Reports. That doesn't include personnel in tech areas of the banks. They should have plenty of opportunity to innovate. You may hear that JPMorgan brags about spending $11 billion on tech. But we don't know how much of that is to keep the lights on. There are so many firms in the Fintech ecosystem to leverage off of to implement solutions important to running the bank and to the bank customers. The critical piece is to build a culture to try many things, even if that means failing in a few of them and missing your budget, and knowing who your strategically important customers are so you can determine the financial solutions important to them. If you do that, the $14 million combined tech spend should be sufficient.

~ Jeff