Community financial institutions are increasingly turning to data-driven personalization to compete for deposits and deepen customer relationships, and DeepTarget, Inc. is spotlighting those that have demonstrated measurable results. At its annual JH Connect Client Conference in Kansas City, the company announced the winners of its 2026 Digital Impact Awards, recognizing banks and credit unions that use automated personalization and intelligent targeting inside Jack Henry’s Banno digital banking platform.
Dow Credit Union took top honors for a personalized Preferred Checking experience launched directly from Banno. The experience adapts content based on whether a member already holds Preferred Checking, provides personalized monthly status and qualification information, and uses customized member data fields to create a seamless in-app path to a dedicated microsite. According to DeepTarget, the execution shows how integration and relevant content can make digital banking more useful and individualized.
“True innovation isn’t just about adopting new digital tools – it’s about using data to make every member interaction count,” said Mark Gandy, Chief Information Officer at Dow Credit Union. “Deploying the DeepTarget plug-in in Banno allowed us to tailor content dynamically based on each member’s specific relationship and qualification status. The result is a frictionless, personalized path that empowers our members and drives tangible engagement across our digital channels.”
The other 2026 Digital Impact Award finalists honored at JH Connect include IncredibleBank, recognized for mortgage and deposit campaigns designed to turn one relationship into a broader banking relationship; Georgia United Credit Union, cited for personalized card and checking engagement that turns generic advertising into individualized messaging; Ohio Valley Bank, honored for targeted debit and early-relationship communications that help strengthen relationships during the first 120 days and beyond; and Stone Bank, recognized for segmented campaigns that match deposit offers to different audiences based on profile, product opportunity and need.
“Generic digital advertising is obsolete and today’s growth leaders understand that every digital touchpoint is an opportunity for real connection with their accountholders,” said Preetha Pulusani, CEO of DeepTarget. “Community institutions hold an inherent advantage in the trust they’ve built with their accountholders but activating that trust digitally requires real precision.”
The awards underscore a broader shift in community banking, where institutions face pressure to justify digital marketing spending and demonstrate return on investment. DeepTarget, which is integrated as a plugin within Banno, enables institutions to move beyond one-size-fits-all marketing and turn daily digital interactions into drivers of deposit growth, product adoption, and long-term relationship value. Its reporting connects in-app engagement directly to conversions and balance growth, allowing institutions to measure where and how digital ROI is generated.
For community banks and credit unions, the implications are significant: personalization is no longer a differentiator but a competitive necessity. By embedding automated, intelligent personalization directly into the digital banking platform, institutions can leverage existing customer data to deliver relevant offers and communications at scale, potentially improving retention and deepening relationships without adding friction for accountholders. The recognition of Dow Credit Union and the four finalists illustrates how such strategies are being implemented in practice, offering a template for others seeking to translate digital engagement into measurable financial outcomes.
