“Thanks to our sales training program with Anthony Cole Training Group, we are making great progress with our sales efforts, including increasing our loan volume at a 17+% annualized growth trajectory, significantly over our plans. Through the first 2 months of 2022, we have grown loan volume more than $10m over the total loan growth achieved in 2021. We are getting nice-sized loan opportunities from the approach you taught us gaining introductions from COI’s.
Mark Hayes, Chairman & CEO of First National Bank
“WE ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS WITH OUR SALES EFFORTS, INCLUDING INCREASING OUR LOAN VOLUME AT A 17+% ANNUALIZED GROWTH TRAJECTORY”
"OUR LOANS HAVE GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM”
“Anthony Cole Training Group’s concepts, ideas, and strategies are easy to learn and use. We have found it’s not the typical “sales training” most companies provide. Their coaching can work with all lines of business. Not only are they coaching our Commercial, Retail, and Mortgage producers, they have helped our leadership team become better coaches, leaders, and extremely helpful in developing our team. Our loans have grown substantially since we have been working with them.”
Jerry Orem, President, Hendricks County Bank and Trust Company
“2023 resulted in the most loan growth and the most assets under management growth we have ever had. I like to think this was due, in part, to our working with you.”
Greg S., First National Bank and Trust
"THE MOST LOAN GROWTH WE HAVE EVER HAD"
“WE HAVE SEEN DIRECT IMPROVEMENT AND RESULTS AFTER THE FIRST YEAR”
“We introduced ACTG and the Effective Selling System in the fall of 2017 on a 1-year program that we renewed in 2018. All producers, including Treasury Management and up and coming lenders, were enrolled in the program. This is not a one-shot wonder sales training program. The integrated approach provides constant reinforcement of the principles being learned. We have seen direct improvement and results after the first year. Jack has been a great leader and mentor and provides a fun but effective environment. If you want your producers to be better sales people, this program will help.”
Executive VP, Community Bank
“We began work with Anthony Cole Training Group in 2019, and with their help have implemented a much stronger sales culture, a consistent selling strategy, and a management system that helps drive improved coaching and accountability. This focus and investment have paid off with significant improvement in loan growth year over year, and an increase in fee income.”
Jason Petersen, SEVP, Chief Lending Officer, Austin Bank
"DRIVING IMPROVED COACHING AND ACCOUNTABILITY"
"I’VE GONE FROM $10-$15MM IN ANNUAL PRODUCTION TO $30-$40MM IN ANNUAL PRODUCTION"
“I have personally benefited from this coaching. In the first couple of years of the program, I’ve gone from $10-$15MM in annual production to $30-$40MM in annual production and I owe a lot to this program for unlocking my full potential. I am better at qualifying opportunities and getting them to make decisions much quicker.”
Austin Peterson, Branch President, First State Bank
“F&M Bank has been working with Anthony Cole Training Group for over 3 years and they offer more than just a “Sales Training Program.” They help our team have better and more meaningful conversations with prospects and clients. They are committed to helping community banks grow.”
Nate Dunn, President & CEO, F&M Bank
"THEY ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING COMMUNITY BANKS GROW."
HONEST, INFORMATIVE, PRACTICAL
“I’ve done a lot of “sales training”. This is the most honest, informative and practical I have ever participated in.”
Sales Leader, Central Valley Community Bank
“We spent many years looking at dozens of sales training programs but just never felt those programs were a good fit for our company and employees. Then we found Anthony Cole. They are a perfect fit for Frandsen Bank & Trust because they specifically focus on NOT sounding like a sales person!”
Rich Hoban
Director of Corporate Development, Frandsen Financial
THEY SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON NOT SOUNDING LIKE A SALESPERSON!
“I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH AN ACCURATE BREAKDOWN IN MY CAREER.”
“I have been in sales leadership for nearly twenty years and have managed hundreds of new producers. One of the tools that I have always relied upon has been some form of personality or style assessment. I’ve used at least four completely different programs in the past with very limited success. Recently, I was introduced to the Anthony Cole Group and the OMG assessment. I have never seen such an accurate breakdown in my career. We hired seven producers using the OMG recommendation and one which was not recommended but we took a chance. After six months of on-boarding, training and coaching, the only new sales producer that did not make it was the one we took a calculated risk on and lost. The rest of the team is proving to be true to their original assessment and it has provided us with all the tools and commentary to coach.”
Chris Williams
Director, Commercial Sales, Energy Insurance Agency
“I believe that all sales professionals face challenges, and I would like to be so bold as to ask anyone reading this a very simple question: How do you plan on overcoming your challenges? I did not expect Anthony Cole Training Group to be my answer, but I am here to tell you that they were all of that and more. My training through Anthony Cole has been nothing short of life-changing. Jack Kasel, my instructor, has not only changed the way I approach sales but also the way I approach every conversation I have in my day-to-day life. My comfort zone has been completely re-defined, which has given me the confidence to have the discussions that have resulted in a $3 million increase in my total pipeline. I guarantee that this would have been improbable, if not impossible, were it not for the training I have received. Thank you Jack, and thank you ACTG for all that you have done to shape my personal and professional life. I am forever indebted to you all.”
VP, Community Bank
"THIS TRAINING HAS GIVEN ME THE CONFIDENCE TO HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT RESULTED IN A $3 MILLION INCREASE IN MY TOTAL PIPELINE."
“WE EXPERIENCED A 20% REDUCTION IN OUR SALES FORCE. OUR FEE INCOME HOWEVER, HAS INCREASED BY 50%.”
“During 2016-2017 we have experienced a 20% reduction in our sales force. Our fee income however, has increased by 50% in that same time”. I can attribute that to our sales team being better in their selling process and that is directly attributable to the Anthony Cole Training program.”
Head of Commercial Lending, Community Bank
“Thank you for all you have done to help us build a strong Sales Management Effectiveness program that has transformed Key to a true sales organization. With your help, our sales leaders and sales people are now executing a consistent selling process that has directly contributed to the bottom line revenue and growth of the company. We are far stronger for our association and work with you and your team at Anthony Cole Training Group.”
Beth Mooney
Chairman and CEO, KeyCorp
“WE ARE NOW EXECUTING A CONSISTENT SELLING PROCESS THAT HAS DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE BOTTOM LINE REVENUE.”
“THEY TEACH THE BANKER TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES FROM EVERYONE ELSE.”
“Anthony Cole Training is different from most of the business development training I am familiar with. Their training focuses completely on setting up the call/visit and more importantly how to perform on the call with both Prospects and Clients. Anthony Cole Training teaches a different approach centered around engaging the client/prospect, uncovering needs, presenting solutions and closing with the “Why my bank” story. This completely reverses the order of what most bankers do on a call. Anthony Cole Training is a little bit of process and the rest is teaching the Banker to differentiate themselves from everyone else.”
Shaun D. Kennedy
President of Broadway National Bank
“I have worked with Anthony Cole Training Group at two different financial service companies over the last 5 years. At KeyBank, the sales techniques that Tony and his team have introduced have helped us differentiate ourselves in the marketplace from our competitors. We have created a sales culture that has helped our district significantly rise in the performance rankings within our own organization and most importantly, reach our plan. Additionally, the sales management process is vital to the overall success and for the accountability and motivation of our ‘feet on the street’. I can’t think of any sales organization that can afford not to invest in the kind of sales development that ACTG provides.”
Rick Wirthlin
Sr. VP of Commercial, Huntington
“TONY AND HIS TEAM HAVE HELPED US DIFFERENTIATE OURSELVES IN THE MARKETPLACE FROM OUR COMPETITORS.”
“IN A NUTSHELL, THE ANTHONY COLE SALES PROGRAM HAS TRANSFORMED OUR INDIVIDUAL SALES STAFF INTO AN EFFECTIVE SALES TEAM; UTILIZING EFFECTIVE SALES TOOLS.”
“My past experiences with most Sales Training programs involved attending a series of seminars, followed by filing the glamorous sales manuals on the shelf and returning to the normal ineffective sales habits. The difference with the Anthony Cole Sales Training Group is my daily observance of our sales staff incorporating their newly acquired sales skills in their sales calls, followed by actual sales! In a nutshell, the Anthony Cole Sales program has transformed our individual sales staff into an effective Sales Team; utilizing effective sales tools.”
R.E. “Gene” Coffman Jr.
President, Town Square Bank
“Tony’s organization, ACTG, is not for everyone. Only those that are truly committed to becoming better and are accountable to themselves and the results. I have had the opportunity to utilize Tony’s organization for the past 16 years and can confidently say that it has made a difference in 1) helping to hire the right sales people in supporting a sales growth culture with accountability for results …. and, 2) evaluating, measuring, and improving the current sales force / sales management.”
Dwight (Whitey) Kollmeier
President at First National Insurance Agency (FNIA)
“I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE TONY’S ORGANIZATION FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS…”
“THERE IS AN UNCOMMON COMMON-SENSE TO THEIR DIRECT METHODS THAT HELP BOTH THE BUYER AND SELLER QUICKLY IDENTIFY THE REASONS WE BUY – AND TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE RIGHT FROM THE START.”
“Anthony Cole Training Group has created a unique and effective approach to teaching sales professionals how to identify, qualify and close prospects. There is an uncommon common-sense to their direct methods that help both the buyer and seller quickly identify the reasons we buy – and to get on the same page right from the start. Tony’s methods and guidance have helped me increase the efficiency, impact and success of my sales career beyond measure.”
Scott Lihme
Senior Vice President at Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
Need more?
Community Bank
- Doubled Loan Volume in 3 Years
- Average Loan per RM from $8M to $20M
Bank-Owned Insurance Team
- 150% Increase in Annual Sales in 3 years
- 131% Increase in New Business Sales per Producer
Financial Advisor
- Sales Goals Exceeded by 95% in 6 months
Client Results
- 5+ Years Average Client Program Longevity
- 93% of Participants surveyed consistently rate training programs as effective or highly effective