Here are the top 17 articles published by The Financial Brand in 2017, revealing what concerned banks and credit unions most in the past year.

"We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten." That famous line from Bill Gates certainly applies to the banking industry. While banking may still look much as it does today in the next year or two, the springboards for dramatic change already are in place. Those forces -- operating in tandem with shifting consumer expectations -- will have an unprecedented impact in the decade ahead, accelerating the transformation of the banking landscape. It's not too late for traditional banks and credit unions to thrive in this dynamic environment.

The global banking sector is becoming both more strategically focused and technologically advanced to respond to consumer expectations while trying to defend market share against an increasing array of competitors. A great deal of emphasis is being placed on digitizing core business processes and reassessing organizational structures and internal talent to be better prepared for the future of banking. This transformation illustrates the increasing desire to become a'digital bank'. The importance of innovation and developing new solutions that take advantage of data, advanced analytics, digital technologies and new delivery platforms has never been more important. We are seeing organizations innovate in targeting, expanding services, re-configuring delivery channels, delivering proactive advice, integrating payments and applying blockchain technology.

The global banking sector is becoming both more strategically focused and technologically advanced to respond to consumer expectations while trying to defend market share against an increasing array of competitors. A great deal of emphasis is being placed on digitizing core business processes and reassessing organizational structures and internal talent to be better prepared for the future of banking. This transformation illustrates the increasing desire to become a'digital bank'. The importance of innovation and developing new solutions that take advantage of data, advanced analytics, digital technologies and new delivery platforms has never been more important. We are seeing organizations innovate in targeting, expanding services, re-configuring delivery channels, delivering proactive advice, integrating payments and applying blockchain technology.

Deploying a digital-first banking platform is not only now possible but mandatory for financial institutions of all sizes. To compete effectively in the future, every bank and credit union must understand the four facets of a digital platform strategy -- omnichannel capability, modular structure, open API architecture, and smart technologies. Subscribe to The Financial Brand via email for FREE!Consumers used to shop around, traveling from branch to branch, evaluating the products offered, service pricing and friendliness of the bank or credit union staff. Today, that shopping usually occurs online or on a mobile device, with financial partner decisions made based on website or mobile banking app design, social media recommendations and even Google search rankings. The impact of distance from a branch is being replaced by the experience of the digital banking engagement.