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Brooke Von Ehwegen: April 28, 2026
Follow our 4-step process to craft Smart, Bold creative campaigns. Note: This article also features insights from Senior Graphic Designer Margaret Diggins and Content Manager Ryan Pleggenkuhle. We are constantly exposed to advertisements, both...
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3 min read
Crystal Steinbach: April 27, 2026
Marketing ROI has long been one of the most challenging things for financial institutions to clearly define, measure and communicate. Leaders want...
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Heather Stahl: January 28, 2026
Note: This story also features insights from Rhonda Handy, VP, Risk and Compliance. A newly announced savings opportunity aims to help families start...
3 min read
Brooke Von Ehwegen: January 28, 2026
Note: This story also features insights from Josh PeterSmith, Graphic Designer. If you’ve ever looked at an AI-generated image and thought, “Why does...
3 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: January 23, 2026
Note: This article was written featuring insights from Becki Drahota, Mills CEO. Considering a merger or acquisition? You’ll need the recipe for...
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Kathryn Mahr Dollar: November 12, 2025
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of planning your digital paid media campaign for next year, take a moment to reflect: Where does your financial...
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Rhonda Handy: November 12, 2025
Rethinking Change: Navigating the Penny's Discontinuation Why is the penny being retired? The main reason is the high manufacturing costs of...
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Ryan Pleggenkuhle: October 30, 2025
The SBA’s newest tool is here to help you support small manufacturers and grow your lending portfolio. Big banks are turning away small businesses....
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Crystal Steinbach: August 20, 2025
What You Need to Know Right Now The goalposts have moved. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now reshaping search rules. Recently, Google introduced...
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Crystal Steinbach: August 20, 2025
To compete in search, now AI-powered, financial institutions must take action. Follow this 4-part playbook for staying visible, relevant, and trusted...
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Kathryn Mahr Dollar: August 11, 2025
Curious about what’s truly driving results in digital paid media right now? We’ve gathered our latest insights and observations to reveal 5 trends...
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Brooke Von Ehwegen: August 08, 2025
Plus, follow these three pro tips for maximizing Canva’s capabilities at your FI. In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, visual content is...
2 min read
Heather Stahl: July 21, 2025
Social media marketing has become increasingly popular with today’s mortgage lenders. It provides a platform for reaching a wider audience and can...
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6 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: July 18, 2025
Celebrating 50 Years of SMART and BOLD Financial Marketing. On June 1, 2025, Mills Marketing officially turned 50! To commemorate our milestone...
2 min read
Rhonda Handy: March 28, 2025
Over the years, digital advertising has grown and so have compliance challenges. Many regulations have not been modernized to reflect the digital...
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Crystal Steinbach: November 19, 2024
Updated March 17, 2025 As AI becomes more integrated into Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), we’re seeing a shift in the traditional search model,...
3 min read
Crystal Steinbach: November 01, 2024
Take a moment and think about one of your branches. As you approach, you notice clear branding, a tidy parking lot, and sparkling windows. You walk...
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Ryan Pleggenkuhle: November 01, 2024
Six members of the Mills team had the opportunity to share their expertise at three conferences in September, engaging with a variety of audiences in...
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Ryan Pleggenkuhle: July 29, 2024
Gamification | Data-Driven Customer Growth Strategies | Innovative Thinking It’s been a hot, adventure-filled summer at Mills! In June, we celebrated...
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Rhonda Handy: July 01, 2024
The Rise of Trademark Scams: What to Know and Watch For Scams Target Businesses (with and without a trademark application) Trademark scams have been...
3 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: May 30, 2024
Generative AI Emerges as Major Theme at #IBAMega This Year. Earlier this month, Derek Baker and I had the opportunity to attend and present at the...
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Ryan Pleggenkuhle: May 30, 2024
Exploring the potential benefits of adding international payment services to your repertoire. It’s no secret. Major consolidation has been an ongoing...
1 min read
Rhonda Handy: April 16, 2024
The last time the FDIC had updated regulations regarding the official FDIC sign and advertising statement was in 2006. However, the banking industry...
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Ryan Pleggenkuhle: April 16, 2024
Follow these 4 tips to avoid this tricky AI-enhanced scam. Are you familiar with the term “deepfake”? No, it’s not a schoolyard football play drawn...
1 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: April 03, 2024
Our own Derek Baker was recently interviewed for an article featured in Independent Banker magazine. In his interview, he shared valuable insights on...
2 min read
Becki Drahota: February 27, 2024
Here are some key insights on the state of the financial industry. Hi everyone! Just got back from attending the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference...
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Mayra Gonzalez: February 09, 2024
Google and Yahoo Roll Out New Authentication Measures and Spam Prevention Updates, Effective February 2024: Your Essential Guide.: Here's what you...
2 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: January 23, 2024
You may know them. You may even love them (we do, too). We’re pleased to announce the promotions of two key leaders at Mills — Kris Mattoon and Derek...
2 min read
Crystal Steinbach: December 14, 2023
Ever wondered what goes into making a financial institution's website not just good but exceptional? Well, let's talk about laying a solid foundation...
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Ryan Pleggenkuhle: December 13, 2023
Connect with consumers in new ways with these generative AI audio and visual tools. "To me, the future is that we are all using these tools, and...
2 min read
Crystal Steinbach: December 13, 2023
There’s a lot of buzz in digital marketing and the tech world about the metaverse, and financial institutions are taking notice. What exactly is the...
6 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: October 18, 2023
The key to Generative AI use — Think “Effective or Ineffective” rather than “Right or Wrong” “This is going to change everything.” These are the...
2 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: October 17, 2023
Meet Kat — Digital Campaign Manager When we reviewed Kat’s résumé and interviewed her, we knew she was the ideal fit for this position, our team, and...
5 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: September 27, 2023
Boston, Massachusetts — home to Fenway Park, Freedom Trail, and some of the best seafood in the country! It’s also home to INBOUND, presented by...
5 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: August 01, 2023
Note: This article features information and perspectives of two subject matter experts in the mortgage industry from Midwest Family Lending (MFL) in...
5 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: May 09, 2023
Note: The focus of this article is on the current state of the banking industry and how today’s economic environment has impacted strategic planning...
4 min read
Crystal Steinbach: May 09, 2023
Digital solutions to help generate deposits and strengthen your brand From platforms to consumer behavior, the way that you promote your financial...
3 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: March 31, 2023
3 Tips to Position Your Bank as Your Community’s Trusted Financial Anchor “Your deposits are safe here.” These are the words of affirmation every...
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Becki Drahota: March 13, 2023
Each year Bank Director sponsors a number of conferences to inform bank directors and senior leaders on a variety of topics. The Acquire or Be...
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Ryan Pleggenkuhle: January 27, 2023
Note: The focus of this article is on current trends in branch banking. This article features information and findings from an interview with subject...
2 min read
Rhonda Handy: January 20, 2023
When you think of “banking compliance” or “marketing compliance” you might think, that’s not my job! I don’t need to learn about all the regulatory...
3 min read
Rhonda Handy: January 09, 2023
Before we get started, let’s define digital media. It includes digital display ads, search engine marketing, social media, websites, email marketing,...
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Becki Drahota: September 14, 2022
Who knew that a line of business which doesn’t have mass market appeal and has a sales cycle that’s measured in years, would be on a lot of financial...
5 min read
Ryan Pleggenkuhle: September 13, 2022
Engaging. Provocative. Compliant. There’s no denying that well-produced video has enormous marketing value, but the process of creating it can be...
3 min read
Becki Drahota: September 07, 2022
Your customers are comparing your mobile banking app experience to shopping on Amazon®. Your CEO wants a digital transformation plan up and rolling....
2 min read
Becki Drahota: September 01, 2022
When it comes to brand value, the financial industry is and has been behind the curve for a while. In fact, compared to all major industries,...
2 min read
Becki Drahota: August 15, 2022
Mega-Banks, major regionals and fintechs know their value proposition. Are you sure you know yours? Problem #1: A lot of financial institutions are...
2 min read
Derek Baker: August 15, 2022
This message may seem out of character, especially to those who know we’re the biggest advocates of data-driven decision-making there is. That said,...
3 min read
Crystal Steinbach: June 07, 2021
Marketing Digitalization: The New Norm in Retail Banking. We all know the COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for digitization in banking, forcing...
2 min read
Becki Drahota: February 23, 2021
I live in Iowa. Just like you, we’re going through COVID, we’ve had political unrest, we’ve experienced demonstrations. And in the midst of all these...
3 min read
Crystal Steinbach: February 23, 2021
Using data to drive communications. When it comes to marketing, instead of spending hundreds of dollars to acquire a new account, consider spending...
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Derek Baker: February 11, 2021
Today, most markets are overrun with similar product offerings amongst competitors, making it challenging to enter new markets. And digital...
2 min read
Becki Drahota: February 11, 2021
If you don’t know what a Hydro Flask® is, just ask any self-respecting 13-year-old. A Hydro Flask will carry anything. You want tea? Put tea in it....
3 min read
Crystal Steinbach: February 09, 2021
Using data to drive communications. Research has shown that complicated checking accounts are both difficult to sell, and unattractive to consumers....
