TRUSTED SOURCES: THE NEW GATEKEEPERS AI models don’t pull from everywhere equally. They rely heavily on a set of trusted sources — official websites, regulatory filings, press releases, respected news outlets and professional profiles like LinkedIn. For community banks, this means: 1. Your website must be crystal clear. Schema markup, structured data and consistent messaging about your services, leadership and community involvement ensure AI can “understand” you. 2. Consistency matters. Information must align across LinkedIn, press releases, NCUA/FDIC filings and local news stories. Inconsistency raises red flags. 3. Third-party credibility is golden. Mentions in state banking associations, local news coverage and customer testimonials are not just good PR — they directly strengthen your GEO presence. In short: AI trusts what the community trusts. Community banks already excel at being trusted in real life. Now they must translate that trust into digital form. BUILDING A GEO STRATEGY FOR COMMUNITY BANKS Here’s how community 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 Community 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. Community banks are the heartbeat of local economies. 16 The Community Banker
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