Joseph Fikejs
Chief operating officer, Bank Mutual
4949 W. Brown Deer Road, Brown Deer
www.bankmutual.com
Industry: Financial Institution
Employees: 625
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“We challenged ourselves to review our critical processes and procedures to help us achieve our operational excellence goal. We started with our manual processes first and moved on from there. To be successful as a financial institution in today’s environment, you must operate efficiently and effectively.”
What’s new at your company?
“Technology is continuously changing within the banking industry. Therefore, we have a completely new website and mobile banking experience designed to support the key features our customers expect with a financial institution.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“Yes to both. We are in the processes of hiring additional compliance talent. Our significant investments for 2017 will be centered on technology and efficiency. We will have a completely new online banking experience for retail banking customers, which is packed with benefits to help them manage their day-to-day finances and plan for their future life milestones.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“The regulatory environment for the banking industry continues to be one of our biggest challenges. Regulations enacted since the financial crisis have impacted all banks, large and small. Community banks like Bank Mutual face more complex regulations and scrutiny similar to large national banks, and it requires a lot of resources to manage through them. In addition, margin compression due to the low interest rate environment will be a challenge.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“The hottest trend in our industry continues to be the mobile and digital experience. Providing financial services to our customers anytime, anywhere and on any device.”
Do you have a business mantra?
Externally, “Tomorrow starts today” is our mantra, which really hits at the heart of planning today for future life milestones.
Internally, “Put the customer first with everything we do” is
our guiding principle.
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“Our customers. They are local businesses and individuals in Wisconsin who are striving every day for financial independence and success, while giving back to our communities.”
