What if I told you that thinking like a buyer is the key to getting the best price for your bank?
Here's a powerful exercise that changed how we saw our own bank's value:
Reverse engineering the perfect acquisition.
The Magic Wand Exercise
Imagine you have a magic wand that lets you buy...
Every bank sale is unique, just like the bank itself and the leaders who built it.
But I've found that successful bank sales follow a pattern.
This pattern matches what author Bo Burlingham describes in his book "Finish Big: How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top."
Burlingham f...
Here's a simple truth:
You only sell your bank once, but you need to build its value every day.
Selling a bank isn't like selling a house.
You can't just add a fresh coat of paint and expect top dollar (see The Savvy Banker 064 – "Community Bank Hiring Success: 5 Strategic Steps That Maximi...
"You only sell your bank once."
I hear CEOs say this when they put off preparing for a sale.
But the truth is simple: While you sell just once, you need to build value every day.
Early in my career, investment bankers taught me something important:
The best bank sales happen because of sma...
Want to send a clear signal to potential buyers that you're serious about selling your bank?
Start by bringing serious people to the table: Your investment banker, legal counsel, and accountants. This professional team doesn't just provide expertise – it signals intent and credibility to the mar...
Let me share a counterintuitive truth about bank leadership:
Your most important job as CEO is to make yourself replaceable.
I've seen too many community bank leaders who believe their personal involvement in every decision is the path to success.
They're wrong.
And if you're planning a po...
What separates successful bank sales from disappointments?
It's not market timing.
It's not luck.
And it's certainly not the latest M&A trend.
It's preparation.
When you're prepared, two things happen: your decisions become more confident, and the entire process seems to "slow down" – all...
Let's talk about something that trips up many bank CEOs when considering a sale: limiting your potential buyer pool too early in the process.
Here's a fundamental truth about any sales process:
The more qualified prospects at the top of your funnel, the better your chances of getting maximum...
Let's talk about one of the most crucial decisions you'll make when selling your bank: how to take it to market.
There are three distinct approaches and choosing the right one can mean the difference between a smooth, value-maximizing transaction and a messy process that destroys shareholder val...
Let's talk about something every bank CEO struggles with when considering a sale: the mental shift from being a builder to being a seller.
Here's what typically happens in your mind:
"Here's my bank. What will you give me for it?"
Simple, right? You've built something valuable, now it...
