Community financial institutions are turning everyday digital banking into a measurable engine for deposit and relationship growth, and DeepTarget, Inc. is recognizing the leaders in that shift. The company announced the winners of its 2026 Digital Impact Awards at the annual JH Connect Client Conference in Kansas City, honoring banks and credit unions that use automated, data-driven personalization and intelligent targeting inside Banno, Jack Henry's digital banking platform, to deliver tangible business outcomes.
Dow Credit Union received top honors for a personalized Preferred Checking experience launched directly from Banno. The experience adapts content based on whether a member already has 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. The execution demonstrates 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, for personalized card and checking engagement that turns generic advertising into individualized messaging; Ohio Valley Bank, for targeted debit and early-relationship communications that strengthen relationships during the first 120 days and beyond; and Stone Bank, 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"Generic digital advertising is obsolete and today's growth leaders understand that every digital touchpoint is an opportunity for real connection with their accountholders," said Preetha Pulusani,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 mounting pressure to compete with larger rivals' digital marketing budgets. Integrated as a plugin within Banno, DeepTarget, Inc 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. DeepTarget reporting connects in-app engagement directly to bottom-line conversions and balance growth, allowing institutions to measure where and how digital ROI is generated.
For accountholders, the shift could mean more relevant offers and clearer information inside their banking apps rather than generic promotions. For the industry, the results suggest that personalization embedded directly in digital banking platforms may become a competitive necessity rather than a differentiator, particularly for community institutions seeking to retain deposits and deepen relationships.
