Parris Kellermann

High-interest-rate environments are always challenging for financial services providers. But the current mixed-message market makes it harder to separate signal from noise — particularly in an election year. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print If you ask businesspeople about the American economy today, many — perhaps most — would tell you that it’s roaring ahead. Inflation is off its highs (give or take). Wages have risen at the fastest pace in years.

When it comes to branching, these community banks and credit unions are taking an active hand — closing underperforming branches and designing new ones to deepen customer relationships, showcase consulting and differentiate themselves from scores of competitors. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Bank branches are transforming — again.

Stock investors have rewarded Microsoft Corp. in the past for its cloud-computing business and recently for its foray into artificial intelligence. So it should be no surprise that one of the technology giant's most innovative commitments to sustainability involves a dose of both specialties.