Posts by Ken Leiviska

“Can you take a photo of us handing over a $500 check to a local charity?” It was one of the most annoying calls I ever took as a newspaper reporter. Don’t get me wrong, donating to worthwhile causes is great. But calling local media to come take a “grip ‘n grin” photo isn’t good…

Nobody likes having to pay for insurance. The only time you’re glad you have insurance is after something bad happens. And that feeling of relief is usually short lived. That’s because the claims process is only slightly less painful than major dental work. It’s time consuming and frustrating. I know from experience. After a bad…

Financial institutions marketing to millennials isn’t groundbreaking. The truth is, the ones that don’t are likely to die off with their current customers. The challenge has always been getting the attention of the largest age demographic in the U.S. One of the favorite communication tools of this demographic is Facebook. So when the social media…

The newest installment of the Star Wars franchise opens in theaters next week. Count me as one of millions who are excited to see what new terror has developed three decades after Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance claimed victory over the evil Empire in that galaxy far, far away. Maybe it’s financial ruin? Okay,…

Joint bank accounts are kind of scary. I’m a bit of a Scrooge, so when I discovered my girlfriend also had penny pincher tendencies; I put a ring on it. No, that wasn’t the only reason we got married, but it was comforting to know she wouldn’t blow an entire paycheck on the latest DSW…

It’s not easy to stand out among the vast sea of .coms and .nets across the gargantuan cyberspace we call the internet. Any small distinction can help separate one site from another. Soon, banks and insurance companies will have a small claim to some unique turf with the introduction of .bank later this month and…

Games are fun. That’s why they’re called games. Webster’s Dictionary uses words like “diversion” and “amusement” when defining the word “game.” Now, in our ever-growing mobile world, “gamification” has emerged as a major force in marketing. Companies from Nike to Verizon have created mobile apps that deliver basic information and trackable goals to users through…

Most financial institutions understand the importance of hopping aboard the mobile train. After all, that train is running on some serious steam – in fact, research from the Pew Center Research now shows nearly three in five American adults own a smartphone. Yet, banks and credit unions still haven’t taken full advantage of the opportunities…