April 27-29, 2020
Aria Hotel Resort | Las Vegas
The Forum 2020 is hosted by The Financial Brand, one the world’s largest publications in the retail banking industry, with 2.0 million readers in 200+ countries.
The Financial Brand Forum is the world’s most elite conference on marketing, CX, data analytics and digital transformation for the banking industry. The event is built exclusively for senior-level executives working in the financial industry — specifically marketers at retail banks and credit unions based in North America. One in every 20 banking providers in the U.S. will attend the Forum 2020, and over two-thirds of attendees are VP-level or higher. More than 2,000+ people from 800+ of the most progressive and respected financial institutions on earth are projected to attend.
The Forum 2020 is specifically engineered to help financial institutions tackle the biggest challenges in retail banking, with dozens of strategy sessions and how-to presentations — three days jam-packed with the big ideas and actionable insights guaranteed to build both your brand and your bottom line. Learn from the best and brightest in retail banking, as they reveal the latest trends, new innovations and advanced techniques that are transforming the financial industry today.
Contact Info
The Financial Brand
3110 Judson Street – Suite 97
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
206.661.5070
Frequently Asked Questions
REGISTRATION INFO
How much does it cost to attend the Forum 2020?
For employees who work at financial institutions (e.g., retail banks and credit unions), the earlier you register the more you’ll save. Former attendees save even more — see below.
All discounts apply to attendees who work at banks and credit unions only, For vendors, suppliers, consultants, leagues/associations and others, the registration fee is $2,695 — limited to the first 100 attendees in this category. If you do not work at a government-regulated financial institution (e.g., insured by the FDIC or NCUA), you probably fall into this category, although some direct/digital-only banks might qualify for the discounted rates.
What is the difference between a Standard Pass and a Gold Pass?
The Standard Pass includes access to all keynotes, all breakout sessions, all demos, and the exhibit hall. Also includes three breakfasts, three lunches, three hosted networking receptions, and complimentary refreshments for three days.
The Gold Pass provides attendees with access to all Forum 2020 session videos, including keynote presentations, Forum X, Forum University and breakout sessions. This means you don’t have to worry about missing any sessions at the conference, and you can watch your favorites again when you get home.
I've attended the Forum before. Where do I get my discount code?
There are generous discounts for bank and credit union employees who have attended The Financial Brand Forum in the past. To get your special alumni discount code, please send an email to our Attendee Concierge.
Are there group discounts?
For banks and credit unions sending three attendees, the cost is $1250 per person. For groups with four attendees, the registration fee drops to $1175 each. For groups of five, it only costs $1100 each. And for groups of six or more, the registration fee is only $1025 — a savings of $1470 per person. Click here for more information on group rates.
Group rates are not available for vendors, suppliers, consultants and others.
Can I add attendees to my group after I've registered?
You can add another attendee to your group at any time. If you want to register yourself now and add attendees later, everyone in your group will automatically qualify for our special group rates.
I work for a league or association. What attendee category should I be in?
If you do not work for a bank or credit union, you must register in the “Other” category. The Financial Brand offers only 100 passes per year in the “Other” category, and these passes sell out quickly.
If your email is not name@abccreditunion.org or name@abcbank.com, please do not register in the “Bank” or “Credit Union” categories. Your registration may be cancelled.
I work with an ad agency/design firm and I'm coming with my bank/credit union client. What attendee category should I be in?
If you do not work for a bank or credit union, you must register in the “Other” category. The Financial Brand offers only 100 passes per year in the “Other” category, and these passes sell out quickly.
If your email is not name@abccreditunion.org or name@abcbank.com, please do not register in the “Bank” or “Credit Union” categories. Your registration may be cancelled.
Can I bring my spouse, partner, friend or traveling companion?
Registered attendees who work for banks and credit unions may bring their spouse, partner or friend for $395. This special pass allows your guest to join you for breakfast, lunch and cocktail receptions, but they will not be allowed to attend any sessions during the conference.
What is the Forum 2020 cancellation policy?
If you are unable to attend, you are welcome to send a substitute. Or if you cancel in writing by February 29, 2020, you can receive a full refund. After that date, there is a $500.00 fee, provided we receive a written cancellation notice from you prior to the conference date. Registrants who do not cancel in writing before the cancellation deadline or do not attend the conference are not eligible for a full refund of their registration fee. To cancel, please send an email to the Forum attendee care center.
Do you have a money-back guarantee?
Yes. If you don’t come away from The Financial Brand Forum with new ideas that will build both your brand and your bottom line, we will give you your money back — no questions asked.
Are complimentary registrations or scholarships available.
No, sorry. Unfortunately complimentary registrations and scholarships are not available.
Where can I find your IRS form W-9?
You can download the IRS W-9 form for The Financial Brand by clicking the button below.
When can I register for the Forum 2021?
Registration for the Forum 2021 will open on April 29th, 2020.
I am an international attendee. How can I get a letter for my embassy to request permission to attend?
Please send an email to our Attendee Concierge including the embassy name, address, and contact person the letter should be addressed to. Your letter will be processed in 24-28 hours.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
How many people will attend the Forum 2020?
We anticipate anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees at The Financial Brand Forum 2020, representing over 750+ of the most respected and progressive financial institutions on the planet. In fact, one in every 20 banking providers in the U.S. will be there.
Roughly two-thirds of attendees work directly for a retail financial institution, which means more time networking with peers.
Who should attend The Financial Brand Forum?
Any senior-level executives in the banking industry looking to fuel their institution’s growth, especially those with marketing responsibilities.
Over 63% of the attendees are VP-level or higher. The most common titles attendees hold include CEO, CMO, COO, EVP, VP and AVP.
Attendees divide evenly between banks and credit unions, with an average asset size of $20 billion and a median of $1.3 billion.
What type of financial institutions attend?
The Financial Brand Forum is built specifically for retail banking institutions. Attendees hail from banks and credit unions of all sizes, representing over 40 different countries around the world.
Many other financial services firms attends as well, including major investment firms and insurance providers.
The Financial Brand has been honored to welcome many of the biggest, most prestigious and most respected banks in the world to the Forum, including Wells Fargo, BBVA, RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, US Bank, PNC, CIBC, Capital One, TD Bank, AIB, Regions, KeyBank, Synchrony, Charles Schwab, Bank of the West, Discover, Navy Federal Credit Union, Banamex, First Republic, ATB Financial, BOK, East West Bank, Frost Bank, Umpqua, Susquehanna, Vancity, Associated Bank, IBERIABANK, UMB, Arvest Bank, Coast Capital Savings, FirstBank, BECU and many more.
Is the conference a good fit for investment firms, insurance companies and other types of financial services firms?
The Financial Brand Forum has many sessions covering marketing, audience segmentation and targeting, personalization, data analytics, AI/machine learning, digital transformation, innovation in the financial sector and other issues that would impact the strategy for any organization offering financial services today.
The keynote speakers always deliver presentations that are broadly relevant and inspirational for senior leaders working in any industry.
Take a look at the agenda and you may see why attendees come from firms like Schwab, Prudential and TD Ameritrade.
Can I get continuing education credits attending the Forum?
No, unfortunately The Financial Brand Forum does not offer any continuing education credits.
How can I submit a speaking proposal?
Speaker proposals may be submitted through this page.
Please note: to be considered for a speaking slot, you must include a link to a video where we can see you speaking at an event in front of an audience. We also need to see a sample slide deck.
We typically book all breakout speakers 9-18 months in advance. By October, the entire agenda will be booked solid and no more speaking slots will be available.
HOTEL & TRAVEL
What do rooms at the Aria Hotel Resort cost?
We have reserved a limited number of rooms for attendees at Caesars at the special discounted rate of $214 per night (single/double occupancy).
The rack rate for rooms at the Aria during the Forum 2020 conference dates often run over $350.00, with an additional $35.00 “resort fee” (for guest amenities like internet access and fitness facilities). Your discounted attendee rate of $214 is all-inclusive — a savings of $135.00 per night!
Please note: You must book your room by March 24th, 2020 to secure the special attendee rate. We strongly encourage you to make your hotel reservations now. Space is limited, and these discounted rooms will sell out prior to the conference.
How do I make hotel reservations?
You should book your hotel room directly through our dedicated online reservations portal, which will be available soon.
If you use travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Kayak or Trivago, you will not receive the special room rate for Forum conference attendees.
Important: Do not book your hotel reservation with any third party company offering to make it on your behalf. Neither The Financial Brand nor Caesars will ever contact you via phone about making your reservations. If you do get a call from anyone claiming to be affiliated with The Financial Brand, the Aria or the Forum conference, please notify us at info@financialbrandforum.com.
What nights should I stay at the Aria?
To get the most out of your Forum experience, we recommend you stay four nights:
- Sunday, April 26th
- Monday, April 27th
- Tuesday, April 28th
- Wednesday, April 29th
The conference has a full schedule from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on both Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th. The conference wraps by 3:00 pm on Wednesday the 29th.
If you are trying to fly back to the east coast, we strongly recommend you stay at the Aria on Wednesday night. Some attendees try to leave the conference early on Wednesday; we don’t recommend this. Past attendees have told us they seriously regretted leaving early because they miss out on too much and get home too late.
If you are flying to a destination on the west coast, you can stay for the final closing keynote and still probably find a flight out that will get you home at a decent hour.
Is there a “resort fee” at the Aria?
The Aria typically charges guests a resort fee of $35.00 per day, but that fee is included in your special $214 room rate. This gets you unlimited high-speed wireless internet access, access to the resort’s cardio fitness center, as well as access to the hotel’s pool.
Can I extend my stay at the Aria?
You can stay any night between Thursday, April 23rd and Friday, May 1st for only $214 per night — perfect if you’d like to stay longer and squeeze in a little vacation time.
Can I stay at another hotel besides the Aria?
There are plenty of hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, and you can stay at any one of them. However, staying at the Aria will help you maximize your experience at the Forum 2020. If you want more opportunities to network with your fellow attendees and less overall stress, you will definitely want to stay at the Aria.
Don’t waste time getting to and from the conference venue. Even if you just stay right next door or across the street from Aria, it can still take over 15-20 minutes to walk back and forth. And you won’t have anywhere to drop your stuff, or do a quick refresh in your room.
Does my registration include hotel and/or travel costs?
No. Your registration fee includes all working materials, access to all sessions, a 2GB digital toolbox, food and beverages for three days, three cocktail receptions with open bar, and access to the Forum 2020 mobile app. Attendees should book their own hotel accommodations and flights.
PLANNING FOR THE EVENT
What is the conference schedule?
The conference will officially kick off Monday, April 27th at 9:00 am, but there will be a cocktail reception celebrating the grand opening of the Forum 2020 exhibit hall Sunday evening starting at 5:30 pm — don’t miss it!
The conference will wrap up at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, April 29th.
Can I attend any session?
Yes. Everyone who attends The Financial Brand Forum can go to any session in the agenda. All registrants — including speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees from banks and credit unions — receive an all-access pass.
Please note: There are some private events (e.g., luncheons, dinners, parties) that are invitation-only. And those with a guest pass ($395) may only participate in food/beverage events — breakfast, lunch, refreshment breaks and receptions.
Will video recordings of the sessions be available?
We record all keynote presentations and breakout sessions. These are available for playback for attendees who purchased a Gold Pass prior to the conference.
Please note: Speaker restrictions or technical difficulties during the live event may prevent a very small percentage of presentations from being included in the final compilation of videos.
What is the appropriate attire for this conference?
Whatever makes you comfortable. Business casual is what most attendees opt for, but really you can wear whatever you like. Feel free to wear jeans and shirts and shirts with your institution’s logo on them. You certainly aren’t expected to wear a suit, skirt or jacket — nothing formal, although some attendees do, and that’s okay. Typically, the only people who are dressed in suits are speakers, sponsors and exhibitors.
We do, however, encourage you to bring a sweater, fleece top, or light jacket in case you get a little cold during one of the sessions. Sometimes hotels in Las Vegas can get a bit overzealous with the air conditioning.
How do I RSVP for private functions at the Forum 2020?
Sometime in March or early April, attendees registered in the “Bank” and “Credit Union” categories will receive invitations from select sponsors for private functions including dinners, Lunch & Learn sessions, and off-site events. All invitations will come directly from the sponsor, and they are responsible for managing RSVPs.
Is there a mobile app for the conference?
Absolutely! The mobile app for The Financial Brand Forum will be available and updated about two weeks before the conference kicks off. An email will with login details will be sent to all registered attendees around that time.
I have a food allergy or dietary restriction. Should I bring my own food?
The Financial Brand is usually able to accommodate the dietary needs for most attendees with allergies and/or various dietary restrictions. To make special dietary arrangements, please send an email to Amanda McCoy, VP/Events at The Financial Brand.
Will there be a private space available for nursing mothers?
Yes. To coordinate your arrangements, please send an email to Amanda McCoy, VP/Events at The Financial Brand.