Small business banking customers, and the economic catalyst that they represent, are not having their expectations fully met by their bank, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Small Business Banking Satisfaction Study released (Friday).
While overall satisfaction among small business banking customers averages 736 (on a 1,000-point scale), reflecting a 19-point increase from 2011, satisfaction is still significantly lower than among retail banking customers. Even given the value that small business banking customers represent to financial institutions, they experience more problems than do retail banking customers and experience fewer of the basic customer-service elements, such as being greeted by name and being thanked for their business, which significantly impact satisfaction.
The study finds that when small business banking customers are greeted by name, the positive impact on overall satisfaction is 106 points. However, this occurs only 47 percent of the time, compared to 64 percent of the time among retail banking customers, representing a 17-percentage-point gap. This disparity occurs even though small business customers bank in person at the branch more than twice as often as retail customers (36 times vs. 16, respectively, on an annual basis).
"When it comes to customer satisfaction, sometimes it really is the little things that matter. Simple gestures, like greeting customers by name as they walk in, go a long way in providing a satisfying experience," said Jim Miller, senior director of banking at J.D. Power and Associates. "Due to the value of their business to the bank, and how frequently they visit the branch, small business banking customers expect, and deserve, a level of service that is greater than that of retail banking customers."
Now in its seventh year, the study measures small business customer satisfaction with the overall banking experience by examining eight factors: product offerings; account manager; facility; account information; problem resolution; credit services; fees; and account activities.
Small Business Account ManagersThe study finds that an assigned account manager may be an extremely valuable contributor to the overall satisfaction of small business banking customers. However, satisfaction among small business banking customers with an assigned account manager who only "partially" or does "not at all" understand their customers' business is only one percentage point different than when an account manager is not assigned. Customer satisfaction among small business banking customers who have an account manager who they perceive "completely" understands their business averages 848, compared with those with an account manager who they perceive only "partially" or does "not at all" understand their business (709). Satisfaction among small business banking customers without an assigned account manager averages 708.
The implications of not assigning an account manager who "completely" understands their customers' business are significant. The study finds that among customers who have an account manager who "completely" understands their business, 47 percent say they "definitely will" reuse the bank and 53 percent say they "definitely will not" switch banks, compared with those whose account manager does not fully understand their business, or are not assigned an account manager (19% and 25%, respectively).
"When small business banking customers do not have an account manager who they perceive understands their business, the impact on loyalty and advocacy rates is significant," said Miller. "In these cases, it may be beneficial for customers to look for a bank that will do a better job of meeting their needs."
