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Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

In the age of GDPR, why are banks still getting data management wrong?

Since the introduction of GDPR in 2018, it’s been clear that consumers have the right to know how their data is being used and that businesses must handle it with care. While the UK seems set to introduce its own data protection bill, it hasn’t changed the fact that it is crucial for organisations to take data seriously. In no sector is this more

/regulation /retail Banking

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

Why banks need better communications during the cost-of-living crisis

A recent story revealed that thousands of bank customers are at risk of losing out on cash after being told to “call NOW or miss the best rates”. While lenders are generally expected to pass on any information about raised interest rates automatically, customers are now being asked to reach out about these changes themselves. This was shortly fol...

/retail Customer Service 2015-2019-2025

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

'Which?' raises the alarm: 'Digital-only' banks could exclude older customers

High street banks were in the headlines once again this week, this time with consumer group Which? reacting to the recent spate of branch closures. With high-street banks now closing at a rate of 54 branches per month, campaigners have voiced concerns that elderly and vulnerable customers won’t be able to access their cash or get assistance if the...

/retail Digital Banking Trends

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

HMRC Warning on Scams is Only Half the Problem

This week, we heard the news that HMRC is warning Self Assessment customers to be on their guard after more than 570,000 scams were reported to HMRC last year. The news comes as a wake-up call for those who use the Self Assessment service, but it’s also a grisly sign that the true scale of email, text and call scams is likely much larger than any ...

/crime Exposing Financial Crime

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

Bridging the gap: Rising Post Office use shows continued consumer appetite for in-person banking

UK institution the Post Office recently announced its branches handled a record £3.1 billion in cash deposits and withdrawals in December 2021, which is a 25% increase on last year’s number. The news is hardly surprising given almost 5,000 bank branches have closed in the UK since 2015. Many customers have been left looking for alternatives for i...

/people /retail Customer Service 2015-2019-2025

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

Why digital-first, not digital-only, is key for banks to deliver stellar customer experiences

The last remaining bank branch on the Isle of Scilly has announced that it is set to close in April next year, marking the end of in-person banking for the island’s residents. While the decision is due to changes in consumer behaviour, with the branch used less often, this removes a key banking touchpoint for customers. The branch closure is one of...

/retail /inclusion Banking Strategy, Digital and Transformation

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

Traditional banks must move away from a one-size-fits nobody digital approach

If traditional banks want to continue to be a vital element in their customers’ lives, they must refocus efforts. At present, they are prioritising a one-size-fits-nobody digital approach, that costs the bank less, but doesn’t meet customer needs. By continuing on this path, banks risk being reduced to nothing but money storage vaults by the time ...

/retail /predictions Customer Service 2015-2019-2025

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

How banks can improve customer communication, as FOI reports banking nuisance calls rise 35%

This week, the results of a Freedom Information Request to the Information Commissioner’s Office revealed that complaints about banking nuisance calls and texts rose by 35% in 2020. This is particularly concerning as many consumers needed urgent assistance from banks last year as the pandemic took its toll. The data shows that 6,367 complaints wer...

/people /covid-19 Customer Service 2015-2019-2025

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

Don't be a nuisance: What financial organisations can learn from recent ICO crackdown

Last week, the Information Commissioner’s Office announced it has issued fines totalling nearly half a million pounds to four companies making nuisance calls to numbers registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). It is against the law to make marketing calls to numbers that have been registered with the TPS for more than 28 days, unle...

/regulation /people Customer Service 2015-2019-2025

Andrew Stevens

Andrew Stevens Global banking and financial services specialist at Quadient

Branching out: Why improving digital experiences is key to fending off challenger banks

When the pandemic hit, people quickly grew accustomed to carrying out a number of key tasks online, from grocery shopping to catching up with their friends and family. However, they were more enthusiastic about some areas of their lives turning digital than others, with research showing people want to return to physical bank branches post-Covid-1...

/retail /covid-19 Online Banking

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