Deposits Are Just the Beginning. Get Off the Acquisition Hamster Wheel.

Chime has built a massive customer base, 8.6 million users according to its May 2025 IPO filing. But there’s a catch: with limited credit products, every dollar of growth relies on acquiring new customers. It’s a model built on nonstop momentum — and the nearly $520 million marketing spend in 2024 alone.

That approach is unsustainable for traditional banks and credit unions. 

And unnecessary.

A checking account is just a starting point. Financial institutions that can cross-sell a personal loan, credit card, or small business line of credit can grow revenue without growing customer count or acquisition budgets. 

More importantly, lending builds meaning. When a customer is buying a car, starting a business, or financing a home, they need more than a debit card. Meeting those moments turns a transactional account into a long-term relationship.

Cross-Sell Should Be a Superpower, So Why Isn’t It?

The challenge isn’t the strategy. It’s the execution.

Most financial institutions have the right products but lack the right infrastructure to connect them. At last count, only 23% of banks said they could personalize cross-sell offers based on behavioral or account data. Legacy systems, siloed workflows, and inconsistent user experiences are standing in the way.

This tech gap doesn’t just impact conversion rates; it shapes how customers view your institution. If opening a checking account is easy but applying for a personal loan requires jumping through hoops, you’ve missed a critical moment.

Smarter Infrastructure Creates Multiple Growth Avenues

To avoid the acquisition hamster wheel, institutions need a unified infrastructure where deposits and lending share data and a consistent digital experience. 

When you can see the full customer picture — from income deposits to spending behavior — you can offer more timely, relevant products. And with the right fraud controls in place, you can offer a modern experience without compromising conversion.

This is your chance to establish primacy. When you become a customer’s main financial relationship, you’re not just competing on rates — you’re earning trust and long-term loyalty.

Time Is Ticking

More than 3,500 U.S. banks have disappeared in the last 20 years, and the NCUA estimates that half of today’s credit unions could disappear in the next decade. Meanwhile, AI-driven fraud is surging and customer expectations keep rising. The message is clear: incremental change isn’t enough. Operating your financial institution the same ol’ way isn’t just inefficient — it’s a threat to your survival.

Amount Can Help You Meet the Moment

Amount helps banks and credit unions grow efficiently and intelligently. Our unified platform connects deposit and lending origination into a single, seamless system. With dynamic fraud controls, real-time risk decisioning, and automated cross-sells, it’s easy to monetize.

The acquisition hamster wheel may keep spinning. But with the right platform, you don’t have to stay on it.

Let's talk about getting you off of it.

FAQs

How can banks and credit unions take a smarter approach to growth?

Instead of focusing solely on acquisition, financial institutions can make smarter use of existing customer data. By unifying deposit and lending infrastructure, they can identify behavioral triggers, like a recurring income deposit or large purchase, and automatically surface relevant credit products. This approach boosts engagement, improves cross-sell conversion, and turns transactional accounts into long-term financial relationships.

What’s the benefit of integrating deposit and lending platforms under one system?

A unified system breaks down silos between product lines, enabling a seamless experience for both customers and staff. It gives financial institutions a full view of customer behavior — such as income patterns and spending trends — which can inform personalized cross-sell offers. It also streamlines fraud mitigation, reduces manual work, and accelerates onboarding, all while improving conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

Why is it critical for financial institutions to modernize their cross-sell infrastructure now?

Legacy systems and fragmented digital experiences are creating unnecessary friction. With fintech competition rising and loyalty declining, banks and credit unions can’t afford to miss conversion opportunities. Modernizing cross-sell infrastructure helps institutions stay competitive by delivering the kind of intuitive, responsive, and personalized experience that today’s customers and small businesses expect.