New Research Topics:
Each year RFG identifies the emerging issues affecting banks and their customers and enhances the surveys to address those issues. In turn, we provide banks with timely research to help them effectively analyze and react to issues affecting their customers and prospects.

Are you the choice of the next generation?:
Gen Y is growing up and represents the largest segment of the population. At 36 percent of the U.S. population, they will continue to be increasingly important for your bank’s growth and will be more financially influential than the Baby Boomers. Gen Y is entering into the financial mainstream as new buyers of financial products and services. What are you doing to reach this segment of more than 80 million new buyers?

Our research on your generational segments will show how Gen Y differs from its predecessors and what you need to do to appeal to this segment. Through our exploration, we will help you:

• Learn the buying behavior of this up-and-coming segment
• Evaluate your products and services to align them to meet the needs of Gen Y
• Learn how Gen Y’s attitudes towards financial services differs from other generational segments
• Discover ways to position your institution as the financial institution of choice for this segment
• Understand Gen Y’s preferred channels for financial services and communication
• Uncover your organization’s deficiencies in the eyes of Gen Y
• Gauge the size of your Gen Y segment as a percentage of your customers and children of your customers

How can consumer attitudes towards the Big Four banks impact your institution?:
RFG’s national consumer research reports that half of consumers have a banking relationship with one of the Big Four banks. Forty-eight percent state they may not remain as customers. How many of your customers are using one or more of the Big Four banks in addition to your bank? What opportunities exist for your bank to increase market share?

Our research will investigate the mix of institution types that your customers use and why they use them. Our findings will help you:

• Determine what institution types are the main competitors within your market – a national bank, credit union or another bank
• Evaluate the products and services customers are using with other institutions
• Understand why you may lose customers to the competition
• Examine the differences in institution usage by the generational segments
• Learn how to become your customers’ PFI

How should your bank use social media to interact with customers?:
Social media, including blogs and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, can provide a relatively low-cost connection to your customers. However, to get any real traction and to avoid potential pitfalls, you need to be willing to commit resources to it. We will survey your customers to understand who among your base is using social networking sites and which sites they are using. Our research will help you:

• Determine which customer segments are currently using social networking as well as the potential of use within your customer base
• Find out if your customers have ever used social networking sites to make financial decisions
• Quantify the importance of social networking to your generational segments
• Prioritize which social networking sites to monitor and manage
• Develop your social networking strategy