Social Media Consultant Escapes Death, Creates #BankSocial Conference to Add Human Connection to Banking Industry

NEWARK, N.J., July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- John Siracusa, social media consultant and banking industry speaker, is seeking to change the way banks interact with communities. Following two near-death experiences, Siracusa refocused his life around human connection, creating the #BankSocial media conference and "Bank On It" podcast to help banking marketers create dynamic social media strategies that focus on making lasting, meaningful human connections to help rebuild trust in the industry.

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As many bank marketers know, the effects of 2007-2008's financial crisis are still impacting families and businesses, especially when it comes to trust. Now more cautious about choosing financial institutions, consumers no longer feel a connection with banks, and Siracusa feels that needs to change.

"I can name hundreds of community banks and credit unions who are staffed with some of the best people I have ever met. Yet, they are also unreasonably mixed in with all the blame the banking industry receives," he says.

Siracusa's hard-won passion for meaningful connection in social media stems from his experiences with life threatening illness. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a severe case of pneumococcal pneumonia that almost took his life. Then in September 2014, he faced complications of pneumonia that later revealed two brain tumors. He underwent emergency surgery, followed by a long and difficult recovery, but with the support of his wife and two girls, as well as numerous others at the hospital, Siracusa returned home, filled with new purpose, to begin innovating his business.

"My illness helped me realize that human connection is the most important thing in life, and wanted to bring that new focus to my business, as well," says Siracusa. "Life is a journey and in that journey we meet great people who come in and out of it. I now see my purpose with clarity, and that is to mentor the banking industry through some of its darkest times, as others did for me during mine."

Retail banks and credit unions are the underdog of brand marketing, much like Siracusa was the underdog in his battle with illness. Siracusa, seeing a lack of available resources to help them succeed, decided he could put his skills to the best use by sharing his experiences. Utilizing his knowledge and empathy for bank marketers' difficult job, Siracusa created the #BankSocial media conference, as well as his ongoing podcast, "Bank On It," both of which offer tools and experiences that marketers can use to change the banking landscape for the better.

"Most banks are distracted with trying to remain compliant with all the new regulations coming down the pipeline," he says, "so they don't utilize social media tools that could really help their business grow and connect in a much more meaningful way. #BankSocial will give them these tools."

The #BankSocial media conference is the first banking conference solely dedicated to content marketing and social media. It is an in-person event that makes industry specific expertise available to bank marketers, teaching banks and credit unions of all sizes, across the nation, how to communicate powerfully via social media to rebuild their tarnished reputations, while gaining market and wallet share.

For more information about #BankSocial, or to register for the April 2016 conference, visit www.banksocialmediaconference.com.

About John Siracusa:

John Siracusa is the President and CEO of mOSa Marketing, a company dedicated to helping retail financial institutions grow within their markets by building powerful social media campaigns that effectively attract and engage within their communities. A popular industry speaker, he helps banks not only connect with customers, but their community at large.

For more information, contact:

John Siracusa
201-941-1458 ext 709
Email

SOURCE John Siracusa