DeepTarget, Inc. has announced the winners of its 2026 Digital Impact Awards at the annual JH Connect Client Conference in Kansas City, spotlighting how community banks and credit unions are transforming digital banking from generic messaging into a measurable engine for growth. The awards recognize institutions that use automated, data-driven personalization inside Jack Henry's Banno platform to deliver tangible business outcomes.
Dow Credit Union received top honors for its personalized Preferred Checking experience launched directly within Banno. The solution 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 Mark Gandy, Chief Information Officer at Dow Credit Union, the approach allows the institution to tailor content dynamically based on each member's specific relationship and qualification status, resulting in a frictionless, personalized path that drives engagement.
The other finalists honored at JH Connect demonstrate similarly targeted strategies. IncredibleBank designed mortgage and deposit campaigns to turn a single relationship into a broader banking relationship. Georgia United Credit Union personalized card and checking engagement to replace generic advertising with individualized messaging. Ohio Valley Bank focused on targeted debit and early-relationship communications to strengthen relationships during the first 120 days and beyond. Stone Bank segmented campaigns to match deposit offers to different audiences based on profile, product opportunity, and need.
The implications are significant for community financial institutions facing increasing competition from larger banks and fintechs. Preetha Pulusani, CEO of DeepTarget, noted that generic digital advertising is obsolete and that growth leaders understand every digital touchpoint is an opportunity for real connection. Community institutions hold an inherent advantage in the trust they have built with accountholders, but activating that trust digitally requires precision. By embedding automated, intelligent personalization directly into Banno, these institutions deliver both an exceptional user experience and meaningful financial return.
DeepTarget's plugin integration within Banno enables institutions to move beyond one-size-fits-all marketing and turn daily digital interactions into primary drivers of deposit growth, product adoption, and long-term relationship value. The company's reporting connects in-app engagement directly to bottom-line conversions and balance growth, allowing institutions to clearly measure where and how digital ROI is generated. As community banks and credit unions seek to differentiate themselves, the ability to measure and optimize digital personalization will likely become a critical competitive advantage.
