Building a GEO Strategy for Banks Here’s how banks can prepare for and thrive in the GEO era: 1. Enhance Your Website: Ensure clarity, leadership visibility and community engagement. 2. Generate Outcome-Based Content: Share impact stories and achievements. 3. Align Across Platforms: Consistent messaging across LinkedIn, filings and social. 4. Stay Fresh: Update content monthly, issue regular press releases. 5. Leverage Third-Party Validation: Local news, testimonials and associations. 6. Monitor Reputation Actively: Respond quickly to misinformation or negative content. Protecting What Matters Most Banks are not just financial intermediaries; they are storytellers of local resilience. Every small business loan, every sponsored Little League team, every investment in a local nonprofit reinforces the story that these banks are woven into the fabric of their communities. But imagine asking an AI tool, “What banks care most about local communities?” and your institution not appearing. Worse, imagine misinformation — perhaps a false claim about discriminatory lending — spreading unchecked because the AI pulled from an untrustworthy source. The stakes are not abstract. GEO is about protecting your story, your reputation and your bond with the community in the digital age. GEO for Individuals: Bankers as Community Leaders GEO is not just about institutions. Individual bankers — CEOs, loan officers, compliance leaders — are also subject to AI search. LinkedIn, personal websites and professional profiles all contribute to how AI represents them. For banks, this is an opportunity: • Showcase leaders as trusted neighbors and advocates. • Highlight their skills, recommendations and community service. • Ensure consistency across platforms so AI can distinguish them from others with similar names. When AI tools answer questions like, “Who is the best contact for small business lending in [county]?” you want your people to appear. Fighting Misinformation: A Community Defense Banks have long been guardians against fraud and misinformation in finance. Now, AI introduces new risks such as deepfake executives, fake reviews damaging reputations or even spoofed press releases creating false impressions. The lesson from other industries is clear: Misinformation can spiral out of control in hours. GEO strategy isn’t just about visibility — it’s also about defense. Banks must: • Secure official accounts with two-factor authentication. • Use AI monitoring tools to detect false narratives early. • Have a plan to respond swiftly with clear, trusted communication. In doing so, they not only protect their own reputation but also reinforce their role as stewards of trust in the communities they serve. GEO as a Community Imperative The transition from SEO to GEO is not optional. Just as ignoring Google 20 years ago meant invisibility, ignoring AI search today risks irrelevance. But for banks, this is more than a marketing challenge — it is a moral imperative. The heart of banking has always been trust, service and resilience. GEO is simply the new frontier for ensuring those values shine through in a digital world. By embracing clarity, consistency and credibility, banks can ensure that when neighbors ask AI for advice, the answers point to the institutions that have always been there for them. Because at the end of the day, GEO is not just about optimization. It’s about preserving the story of how banks care for their communities and making sure that story is heard in the places where people now turn for truth. Interested in learning more? Read our newest whitepaper on the SEO to GEO transformation now by scanning the QR code. https://www.aicrisk.com/ai-risk-white-paper Joe McMann is a seasoned entrepreneur and corporate strategist who currently serves as co-founder & CRO at Artificial Intelligence Risk Inc. (AIR). In his role at AIR, Joe leads business and corporate development for a global business recognized as the premier platform to integrate high-risk AI safely. As a seven-time founder, Joe specializes in bridging the gap between innovative technology and practical implementation. Under AIR’s tutelage, banks can gain a tangible pathway to leverage enterprise-grade AI securely and effectively, ensuring accelerated innovation while preserving the relationships and trust that make community banking so valuable. 19 Colorado Banker
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