Strategic Research

When it comes to understanding the critical issues facing retail banking today, nobody has the pulse of the industry like BAI. We offer an integrated approach to providing financial services companies with high quality, customer- and performance-focused information and insights—from performance benchmarking around core consumer relationships to primary research, multi-client subscription research on areas critical to retail bank organic review growth and profitability. As always, you can be assured the results BAI delivers are objective, trusted and actionable.

Recent research studies include:

BAI/Hitachi Study of Consumer Payment Preferences (pdf)
This is the defnitive guide to how consumers pay in different venues, why, and how their payment habits are likely to evolve going forward. This syndicated consumer research study will analyze the continuing shift from paper to electronic payments. With a sound fact base of primary data, the 2010 Study will provide insights to enable organizations throughout the payments system to create more effective and targeted marketing and operational strategies.

BAI Study of Consumer Confidence (pdf)
BAI & Finacle Research Series: Navigating in Turbulent Times: Competing for Deposits and Relationships, Sponsored by NewGround.

BAI Frontline Sales ROI (pdf)
In today's retail banking environment, it is more imperative than ever to generate and retain quality deposit relationships. A key component in this effort is a high level of frontline engagement, coupled with the right coverage model that is supported by the appropriate compensation structures and hiring and training programs. As a market leader in providing consistent, objective reporting and analysis, BAI Research developed Frontline Sales Benchmarking, building on the BAI/The Alexander Group study in 2007/2008. The results confirm that frontline deployment can have a significant impact on household acquisition, long-term household retention and balance performance.

BAI Retirement Study (pdf)
BAI Research and Mercatus explored the influential retirement market in the 2007 ground-breaking study, Competing in the Retirement-Dominated Future, and revealed startling risks and opportunities for banks. Investment firms and brokerages currently hold over 40% of consumer assets (with banks controlling only 23%) while continuing to make inroads into traditional banking products. The national study dictates that banks require a well-defined strategy, not only to capture these crucial retirement assets, but to retain and grow traditional transaction, credit and investment share.

Small Business Payment Strategies
The research study was launched by BAI in partnership with Oracle and Unisys in October 2005 and completed in January 2006. The research is based on a nationally representative survey completed by 854 small businesses (ranging in revenue size from $500,000 to $20 million), 164 interviews with mid-sized businesses (ranging in revenue size between $20 million and $250 million) and 30-plus interviews with small business or payments executives at the nation’s largest banks. The objective of this study was to help banks better understand the factors and forces that help shape demand for payment services by smaller businesses, an area of focus for many retail banks.

The Relationship Experience
This research was designed to understand the specific branch-based experiences that have the greatest impact on customers’ relationship receptivity and loyalty with their primary bank. This project was launched by BAI in partnership with Accenture, ARGO Data Resources, NewGround, SAP and Unisys in June 2006. The research is based on a nationally representative survey completed by 2,430 U.S. consumers in August 2006.

The Frontline Experience
This landmark study will provide you with perspectives on consumer attitudes towards relationships, the critical role of branch and frontline personnel in fostering those relationships, and attributes that drive customers’ receptivity to relationships with their primary banks. 

The Frontline Factor (pdf)
BAI’s research study, The Frontline Factor: An exploration of relationship-based strategies, explored the effectiveness of front-line retail banking staff in implementing customer relationship-based initiatives, such as customer profiling, cross-selling and retention programs. The study also uncovered key barriers to successful front-line implementation of relationship-based programs—and provided insights on how performance can be improved.