Bank debt collection in increasing, largely because of a recession and economic crisis affecting consumers and markets around the globe. Banks and credit unions are employing new tools and strategies to improve bank debt recovery.
Because of years of steadily rising consumer debt, banks are facing ever growing credit card delinquencies, checking account and loan defaults, as consumers struggle to pay for the necessities. Financial institutions are trying new strategies to help with bank debt collection efforts.
Listed are a few recommended bank debt collection tips, which will help improve your debt recovery efforts.
Provide alternative payment plans for customers going through financial difficulties.
. Create “hardship” programs for borrowers who are late with their payments.
. Extend or lower payments, interest rates, or lower fees when you anticipate customer payment problems.
Create communications channels where customers can openly discuss their issues. By proactively reaching customers early, you can prevent larger problems later.
In addition to your present internal debt collection processes, these suggestions are designed to “flag” would be problems much sooner, and prevent them from becoming much larger problems later on.
When To Consider Outsourcing Bank Debt Recovery to Collection Agencies
It is critically important that banks and credit unions experiencing growing debt collection issues quickly rid themselves of “problem” delinquencies, and outsource them to a collection agency.
Using many of the earlier suggested strategies, you will be able to identify early on, and be able to distinguish the customers that you can work with via payment arrangements, and the more challenging customers.
These more challenging accounts must be identified early on in the process, and outsourced to a collection agency. Failure to do so decreases the possibility of ever getting paid on them. It will also cost you much more in wasted time, resources, etc. Failing to do so, not only decreases your likelihood of getting paid on them at all, it costs you far more in time, resources, etc.
Some collection agencies offer programs designed to restore negative accounts and retain banking customers before the account is closed or charged off. In fact, research shows customer retention equaling 70% or better can be achieved, as well as restoration of negative account balances when contacted pre-charge off.
The crucial element is reaching these customers before the account is charged off, not afterward.In addition to the incentive to clear up their negative account balance, it is also proven that after a past due account is closed and charged off, these delinquent customers typically seek new bank accounts at other institutions.
Once this happens, there is little interest in that customer bringing their delinquent, charged off account, current.
