The CFOS expect to grow, invest in technology and invest in employees. They are continually working on data security to fend off cyber thieves, and the No. 1 thing that keeps them up at night is the cost of healthcare.Eighty-nine percent of CFOs expect their company’s sales to grow in 2016. About 23 percent say their growth strategy includes the merger or acquisition of another company.“This is the first time we’ve seen this since 2008; 54 percent of CFOs plan to hire to additional full time employees – that is the highest mark since 2008,” Borthwick said. “Only 5 percent plan to layoff employees.On a 100-point index, with zero being extremely weak and 100 being extremely strong, CFOs give the U.S. economy an average score of 61 – the highest of the last eight years.Ninety percent of CFOs believe the U.S. economy will expand or remain the same. And the top factors that CFOs feel will impact the U.S. economy in 2016 are the elections and healthcare costs. If interest rates were to rise, 70 percent of CFOs surveyed say it would have no impact on how they would invest their working capital, maintaining their current allocation of instruments and deposits. This is up significantly from 51 percent in 2015, suggesting that CFOs previously made adjustments in anticipation of rising interest rates, Borthwick said. But there is a gap in the feeling of optimism for the U.S. economy and for the global economy. “They are slightly less optimistic about world economy,” Borthwick said. About 65 percent of the CFOs projecting growth in their companies say their firm’s growth will be exclusively in the U.S. But they are not shying away too much. About 61 percent of CFOs say they already have some foreign market involvement. And 17 percent say they…

“According to customers, smaller banks tend to offer more personalized service, better interest rates and fewer fees,” according to the report.Wells Fargo tops the list of big banks for most satisfied customers with a score of 75, up from 72 last year. The San Francisco-based bank, which keeps its largest employee base in Charlotte, is the only big bank that improved from last year.“Providing excellent value and outstanding service to our customers is critical to our success,” says Josh Dunn[1], Wells Fargo spokesman. “Our most important feedback comes to us directly from our customers. We’re pleased with the results of this year’s survey, and those results confirm what we continue to see in our internal surveys.”Charlotte-based Bank of America ranks last among its peers with a score of 68, down from 69 last year.“We take our clients’ feedback very seriously,” says BofA spokeswoman Anne Pace[2]. “We are confident in our relationship strategy and the investments we are making to improve our clients’ experience with us.”Citibank came in second with a score of 73, down from 74 last year. And JPMorgan Chase received a 71, down 4% from last year.Among super regionals, Birmingham, Ala.-based Regions Bank takes the cake with a score of 79. Pittsburgh-based PNC ranks second with a 78 and Winston-Salem based BB&T ties for third with Richmond-based Capital One at 77. Michigan-based Citizens Bank ranks last in this category with a score of 70. "A good customer experience at Regions[3] doesn’t happen by accident," Regions spokesman Jeremy King said. "We take a very deliberate and measurable approach to customer service, and we listen to customer feedback. In 2013, Regions began an initiative called ‘Regions360’ with a goal of identifying and meeting all of our customers’ financial needs. We are taking the time to ask the right questions. As…

Teller illustration. Ron Bath As bank branches decrease and online banking increases, 60 percent of the more than 1,000 consumers surveyed said they don’t have a relationship with a banker, though 74 percent said they visit banks at least five times a year. The responses indicate banks have ample opportunity to cross-sell and up-sell, but improvements in in-branch service are critical, according to TimeTrade, a provider of online appointment software, which issued the report.[1] Teller illustration. Ron Bath Other findings: - 56 percent said they abandon online options because they want the expertise of a banker or aren’t sure of the right options. - 83 percent said they would be willing to come to a branch during a weekday if they could be guaranteed they’d meet a representative there. References^ according to TimeTrade (www.banknews.com)...