Banking and Financial Services
Marketing | Sales | Operations | Team Development
Differentiating you from the competition
Banks | Credit Unions | Financial Advisors | M&A Firms | CPAs
BankElevate is our specialized approach designed exclusively for financial institutions. We integrate decades of banking expertise with proven consulting, marketing, and leadership frameworks to:
- Strengthen your strategic plan and market relevance
- Amplify your bank’s brand with compliant, innovative marketing
- Build confident leaders and cohesive teams ready for what’s next
- Create powerful branded experiences that drive loyalty and referrals
We Understand the Financial Services World
“My work isn’t off-the-shelf leadership training. I help banks build strong, self-led leadership teams that can navigate change, drive results, and actually retain top talent. It’s a blend of strategy, coaching, and real-world execution — and it sticks.”
~Cindy Donaldson, Founder - BankElevate
Financial Insights & Featured Articles
Connecticut Bankers Association - Quarterly Magazine
Team & Leadership Development
The primary differentiator between you and your competitors IS your TEAM!
Happy and Fulfilled Employees = Happy Customers = Happy Bottom Line.
Remarks from the 2025 Aspire Leadership Academy for the Connecticut Bankers Association.
Full Day Workshop "How to be a Better Leader from the Inside Out"
The style was a 10 out of 5. Loved the open discourse and live training and consulting.
I met Cindy at the CT Women in Banking Seminar this year prior to the class and she is an overall impressive person. She has great energy and I love the way she lives her life. She is an inspiration.
Excellent. She was very intelligent, funny, kept the class going, gave breaks so we didn't get tired. She's very easy going and approachable. Excellent energy. Easy to tell she loves her job.
Cindy has an amazing presence when presenting and is able to switch it up to answer questions easily.
This felt like the most relevant course to my workday so far.
Cindy is amazing! Really enjoyed this class!
Cindy was EXCELLENT! Her teaching style and positive anergy kept the class engaged. I would love to have her again as an instructor.
Cindy was fantastic from start to finish. Everyone was engaged. The handouts were relevant but not overdone. Class participation was on point and very helpful.
Can't say enough good things about Cindy. She made class really enjoyable.
Banking Done Differently? Let's Go!
Award Winning Strategies
Outside the Box Thinking for the WIN!
The Result: Amazing customer experience for their clients, an uptick in employee morale, and the bling and recognition they so deserved!
Red Barn client, Litchfield Bancorp, was recently selected as one of 18 community banks and credit unions throughout New England as a Community Hero by American Business Media, publisher of Banking New England and Centerpoint magazines.. Litchfield Bancorp was chosen for going above and beyond to help aid the community.
In the category of economic development, the Bank was selected and awarded Gold Standing for their Community Cash Mobs. These Cash Mobs are held monthly to help increase different business’ brand awareness and create potential repeat business by supplying employees with a stipend to spend at selected local businesses. Litchfield Bancorp employees “mob” the business of the month with sales and promote the activity on social media to bank customers and followers alike.
COO Paul McLaughlin said it best…
“We are so thankful and proud to have received this tremendous award. One of our fundamental missions here at Litchfield Bancorp is to give back to the businesses and communities we serve. Hopefully this award represents that, while also pointing out all of the LBC heroes we are so grateful to work with each and every day!”
Pictured left to right: Paul McLaughlin, Laura Murphy, Donald Mayland, Mickie-Ann Budny, Tiffany Hussey, Thomas Villanova and Tania Damota.
(LtoR) Jackie Shirley, State of CT Department of Banking & Cindy Donaldson at the 2025 CT Bankers Association Women in Banking event.
Upcoming Events
AKA - Where you'll find me!
Jan 13, 2026: CT Bankers Association
CT School of Finance & Management Program, Trainer: "The Secrets to Managing that Bankers Stress!"
March 24, 2026: Chelsea Groton Bank
All Employee Meeting Keynote
April 24, 2026: CT Bankers Association - Women in Banking
Sponsor & Attendee
May 1 2026: 2026 ICF Connecticut Inaugural Conference
Speaker
June 9, 2026: CT Bankers Association - Aspire Leadership Program
Trainer: "How to Be a Better Leader from the Inside Out"
Clients & Affiliations
