BankThink

How Many Bankers Does it Take to Send a Tweet?

In his call for ''high-frequency banking,'' BankThink contributor Philip Maymin asserted that government interference has put banking’s current pace on par with the beleaguered U.S. Post Office. The decided lack of speed hasn’t just made it more difficult to complete the most basic transactions; it’s also slowed innovation.

As one commenter noted, a perfect example of this creative lag can be seen in how financial institutions currently use social media – or rather, how they don’t.

''How much bureaucracy does it take for someone in a bank to post on Facebook [or] Twitter?'' BankerBud wrote. ''Quite a bit, in fact. You have manager review, compliance review, legal review, etc. before you even get to post a comment (if you are even allowed to).''

In a subsequent discussion on American Banker’s Facebook page, commenter Rich Vetstein was quick to agree. ''The red tape is ridiculous,'' he wrote. ''Two word policy. Be Professional.''

It's hard to suggest financial institutions should use social media with reckless abandon. As Richard Magrann-Wells wrote on BankThink a year ago, in a column arguing that stockbrokers should not be on Twitter, there are high risks associated with any and all forms of corporate communication. (Hint: the regulatory whip is one of them.)  

Another commenter postulated that it's not the government, per se, that has financial institutions slow on the Twitter.

''My experience at banks is they've always been wound up about media,'' @mckpartners tweeted. ''I think it's their over controlling, out-of control nature.''

How much social media vetting do you see in the industry? Is it necessary, and if so, why? Leave a comment below.

Jeanine Skowronski is the deputy editor of BankThink.

 

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