Community Bank and Credit Union Management Consulting

Malzahn Strategic provides Community Bank and Credit Union management consulting services in the areas of Strategic Planning, Enterprise Risk Management, Treasury Management, Talent Management, Executive Leadership Coaching, Board Services, Training Services, Organization Structure, and Best Practices Consulting all designed to help leadership teams strengthen their institutions.
Celebrating 10 years of service to the banking industry!

Strategic Planning

Your strategic plan is intended to guide the institution in a forward-thinking manner that aligns with your mission and vision. Strategic planning is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing process that requires the participation of your entire leadership team. Your strategic plan should be reviewed at least annually to determine whether it still reflects the needs and interests of your institution.

Treasury Management

Treasury Management services are a critical part of maintaining and expanding core deposits and non-interest fee income. This is especially critical for community banks and credit unions that are experiencing declining margins in the face of an extremely competitive market. By leveraging technology to improve the efficiency of Treasury Management services, community banks and credit unions can increase their fee income while reducing costs.

Enterprise Risk Management

We have extensive experience in enterprise risk management and can guide your institution to develop a simple yet comprehensive program. Our approach is to develop a risk management program that is tailored to your institution’s needs, while still providing the benefits of a comprehensive program. We can help you develop and implement policies and procedures using existing resources.

Leadership Coaching

We help leadership teams work more productively together, by providing them with accountability as well as guidance on how to define their vision and get their operations running smoothly.

Talent Management

To fulfill your vision, you need the right people in the right places. You need people who see the big picture, who care about the vision and will do whatever it takes to get it done. You need people with integrity who consistently live out their values and lead by example. You need people who are committed to achieving your vision, not just doing what they’re told or taking orders from above.

Financial Institution Training Services

We offer training in strategic planning, treasury management, enterprise risk management, and talent management for community banks and credit unions. Our goal is to help you improve your financial performance, reduce risk and increase efficiency. Our training programs are designed to be relevant, engaging and interactive. They are delivered by experienced professionals who understand the unique challenges you face as a community bank or credit union.

Financial Institution Start-ups, Branch Openings/Closings

Malzahn Strategic helps you manage the project from start to finish or provide support in areas where you need help. Our team works with you to create a plan for your project and determine how much time and resources are needed for each phase of your project, keeping it on time and on budget.

Organization Structure

Enhance your institution's organizational structure to make the most of its unique potential. In order to tap into your institution’s full potential and maximize its impact, you need a solid foundation. This is how you lay the groundwork for future growth and development. As your institution grows, so should its organization structure.

Operational Best Practices

Bring your operations up to date with the latest industry best practices. Create a culture of continuous improvement by assessing your operations and performance on a regular basis. We’ll help you update and streamline your business processes, so that you can stay competitive.

Board Services

Bring your board of directors up to speed with modern standards. Your board of directors is a powerful group of people. They help you set strategy and make decisions about important issues. But if your board members don’t understand the modern standards for corporate governance, they can make bad decisions that hurt your institution.

“PSB hired Marcia Malzahn at Malzahn Strategic at a time of leadership transition for the Bank. Malzahn immediately identified critical roles within the Bank and conducted a complete and comprehensive Talent Management Assessment to ensure those roles were assigned. The Talent Management Assessment improved efficiency within the operations of the Bank and increased employee engagement. Malzahn has also been instrumental in the Strategic Planning process for PSB. This process included moderating the Board of Directors Strategic Planning Session, facilitating all-staff Strategic Planning meetings, and writing the Strategic Plan. Malzahn’s diverse banking expertise allowed her to lead numerous operational projects throughout the year. I’m glad that we had the opportunity to work with Malzahn Strategic and would recommend their services to any community bank.”

“My colleagues and I recently participated in your "3 Key Risk Assessments in Your ERM Program" webinar. We genuinely found it to be the most informative and valuable ERM webinar we have ever attended. We were so impressed that we plan to rewatch it using the on-demand playback feature and invite more people to join us.”

“I've been in Banking for 34 years. I started out as a Loan Officer, then a Branch Manager and I have been President here for the last 12 years. I've been involved in the Strategic Planning process several times at both my previous and current Bank employer. Marcia has been the best facilitator for Strategic Planning that I've seen. Last year Marcia was instrumental in getting our new Strategic Plan up and running. Her experience in Bank management, her organizational skills, and her ability to lead and communicate during our meetings was outstanding. Marcia kept the conversations on track and flowing in a positive direction.”

“Marcia Malzahn led our Board of Directors, Audit Committee, and staff through a comprehensive and dynamic review of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) which led to the creation of an ERM Policy, an expanded scope of responsibility for our newly named Audit and ERM Committee and an internal ERM Staff Committee to oversee and review ongoing risk factors within our organization. Even more important than these structural changes is the awareness and appreciation that we have gained of the internal and external risk dynamics that threaten the optimal performance of our organization. And perhaps the biggest daily benefit of the process is the way in which ERM has spilled over into other aspects of our work and has inspired us to be more strategic with all of our planning.”

"We engaged Malzahn Strategic and found Marcia to be an invaluable resource, with regard to our Enterprise Risk management (ERM) program. She facilitated an ERM Assessment with our Executive Team and delved deeply into the functional areas of our core operating units. She is very methodical in her comprehensive approach and took the time to truly understand FCCU and the needs of our Executive Team. Her vast array of knowledge and professional experience gives her a solid foundation for the Management Consulting practice focused on the ever-changing financial institution market space. She is particularly adept at providing professional guidance for early stage programs. She does an outstanding job and we are very happy to have Malzahn Strategic as a resource partner."

"Engaging with Malzahn Strategic was vital for building our Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program. Marci Malzahn conducted a comprehensive ERM assessment with our Leadership team, examining the critical functional areas of our operations. Her structured and detailed approach, along with her understanding of our specific needs, was essential for success. Marci’s extensive expertise in the financial industry provided professional advice that has been beneficial throughout the program. She effectively guided our Board of Directors through ERM training. Her commitment to understanding our needs and attention to detail were exceptional. We are highly satisfied with the outcomes and fortunate to have had Malzahn Strategic as a partner."