Though his Dayton, Ohio-headquartered outfit last year sold computer hardware, database software, retail checkout scanners and automated teller machines, it no longer dominates any major markets.

FORBES: Too little and probably too late

Many consumers believe, mostly correctly, that they are better off working with specialist firms for retail banking, investment and insurance rather than expecting their local bank teller, or the voice in a brokerage call center, to steer them to the best products.

FORBES: Is Boring Banking Better?

For a bank, those channels could include automated teller machines (ATMs), bank teller terminals, Web pages, mobile apps, point-of-sale machines in retail, human-staffed call centers, and automated call systems.

FORBES: By Capturing Mobile Data, IBM's Clients Serve Their Customers Better