Canadian Western Bank

“Taking the time to help clients with a one-touch solution approach is what makes us different.” Ayla Guderjan, Manager of Client Relationships A straightforward metric shows how important Ayla and her team’s work is for clients: since November 1st, her team has taken over 10,000 calls and called clients over 5,000 times. Recently promoted to the role of Client Relationships Manager, Ayla has brought this title to a new level – she doesn’t take her clients’ trust for granted and always takes time to listen to them and build authentic connections. Ayla – who has worked in the world of banking since the age of 18 – has seen organizations make the mistake of treating people like numbers, and it brings her joy to see it’s not the case at CWB. Ayla’s kindness, patience, and attention aren’t reserved only for clients. If you ever find yourself on her team, don’t be surprised to see the office decorated when you come to work on your birthday or another special occasion

Tariffs have added a new dimension to our understanding of uncertainty. Today, business owners are wondering about all the possible impacts of the challenge ahead. That’s why now is an important time to revisit your financial plans and consider all scenarios. Remember that your business plan has implications for your personal or family plan. Explore the tips that can help create alignment, as well as how to build a solid plan from scratch in this article: https://bit.ly/42ld1JG

3 steps to grow your business using client analytics: 1. Gather meaningful insights. You need to understand both what your clients think (market research) and what they do (behavior analysis) to drive meaningful growth. 2. Leverage client segmentation. Your current customer data can reveal patterns that will help you tailor offerings, identify new markets, or develop targeted products. 3. Refine client experience. Map every step of a customer’s interaction with your business to reveal pain points and opportunities. Enhance satisfaction with small gestures, such as discounts or follow-ups. Learn more about each step and how to access the resources you need to take your operation to the next level in this guide: https://bit.ly/3Ed0Tm1 #BusinessGrowth

The best part of tax season? Getting a refund. If you’re among the tax-efficient ones, you might be thinking about the best way to leverage your refund this year. The options are endless – pay down debt, invest and save, or spend it. As with any financial decisions, you should consider your unique situation. Start with these questions: 🔸 What stage of life are you in? 🔸 What are your goals? What’s the timeline for each goal? 🔸 How much debt do you have? Use this article to put your answers into context and learn what to consider when deciding how to leverage your tax refund: https://lnkd.in/gymJraNJ

If you haven’t filed your #taxes yet, you have until April 30th to do that. But if you have marked this task “complete,” remember that now is the peak season for Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scams.  Scammers often impersonate CRA agents to trick you into providing personal or financial information. The CRA usually contacts taxpayers through regular mail or your My CRA Account site. They will never initiate contact via text or instant message; however, they may contact you by phone.  Follow these steps if you receive a call from the CRA: 

One in four Canadians is a caregiver. One in two will become one. Providing care – mostly unpaid – for people in their life, caregivers lose productivity, burn through savings, and often deal with burnout and other mental health challenges. If you're not a caregiver yourself, you definitely know one, yet this community doesn’t have access to enough programs and resources that can support them in this role. Here at CWB, our Parents and Caregivers (PAC) employee represented group supports and provides resources to the vast number of working parents and caregivers across the company. Their goal is to foster and build a sense of community and provide educational opportunities to help us all achieve the right work-life balance. As we celebrate #NationalCaregiverDay, explore the resources curated by the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence https://lnkd.in/eNXehJ-t and remember that there are many ways you can care for those who care for others 💙

“After three maternity leaves and multiple roles at CWB, I’m part of the furniture here at the branch.” Megan Hiltz, Relationship Manager at the Grande Prairie banking centre. Starting as a bank teller 12 years ago, Megan moved through cash management, sales and service, and retail banking roles, all the way up to account management in Prestige Banking, where you can find her today. Clients come to Megan for tailored solutions, but she always gives them more – a strong relationship where she is committed to listening to and advocating for them no matter what. Megan cherishes the opportunity to be there for her clients, and if life gives them lemons, she’ll be the first to help set up a lemonade stand. It’s rewarding and heartwarming to have unique take-home relationships with people you meet at work, and Megan is happy to work in an environment where people always come first. Megan’s priority is to make sure that clients leave her office knowing that they’re set up for financial and online banking success, and if that means walking through the platform or solution many times, she’ll do it. This gardening season, Megan is planning to expand her greenhouse, so if you’re her client and she knows your favourite veggies, watch out 😉

Hey business owners, have you heard about 3D tax planning? It’s a strategy that focuses on deductions, deferrals and divisions. 3D tax planning ensures you’re taking full advantage of allowable personal tax deductions, tax-deferral vehicles, and any opportunities to split income among family members involved in the business. This strategy is especially effective if you consider leaving your business and want to secure your retirement. Read this article to explore three more important steps to protect your wealth when exiting your company: https://bit.ly/3XA5ULV

In 2024, Canadians lost over $638 million to fraud and cybercrime, according to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre. Fraud comes in different forms, and while you try to create passwords that are harder to crack, scammers focus on inventing new ways to steal your data and gain access to your money. Learn how to protect yourself from three common scams—digital impersonation, fraudulent code requests, and phishing attacks—and share these tips with your friends, family and co-workers. #FraudPrevention  

“It brings me happiness and satisfaction every time I can provide value to a client. It’s very fulfilling to help our clients get the most out of their online banking.” Frechelle Artates-Moore – Senior Branch & Client Support Advisor – has been with CWB for 7 years. She started with the cash management support team, and has been helping everyone on her way, both clients and team members, ever since. If you’ve ever needed help, chances are you talked to Frechelle. A trouble-shooting sage, she is up for any challenge you bring her, from password resets to creating custom forms. In her pre-financial life, Frechelle was a preschool teacher. She now channels her education talents by teaching ballroom dance to teens. With an incredible amount of patience, Frechelle is the best person when it comes to explaining the waltz to a room full of young couples, so just imagine how calm and helpful she can be when guiding her clients through a technical situation. Frechelle's story is a shining example of how skills and passions can be transferred across different fields to create meaningful impact. Her unwavering commitment to helping others, both professionally and personally, is a true inspiration.