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Financial Services

Financial industry group goes deeper into data

Lauren Bell June 11, 2009

The Bank Administration Institute (BAI), a research company serving the financial services industry, has tapped DataMentors for data processing services. DataMentors is providing BAI Research with its DMValiData and DataFuse software, which the firm will use to help create its diagnostics and reports for member banks.

Chase launches new rewards card and program

Lauren Bell June 05, 2009

JP Morgan Chase and Co. has launched a new proprietary rewards program for its Chase Card Services division. The "Ultimate Rewards" program, available to users of the Chase Freedom card and the new Chase Sapphire card, offers points rewards, which can be redeemed for cash, merchandise, travel and gift cards.

Flagstar Bank enhances loyalty program

Lauren Bell June 04, 2009

Flagstar Bank has started running a new points-based loyalty program with help from Kobie Marketing. Flagstar Rewards replaces a less flexible loyalty program the bank had in place before and runs on Kobie's Alchemy rewards platform.

Barclays India adds loyalty program

Lauren Bell May 26, 2009

Barclays Global Retail and Commercial Bank (GRCB) India has launched a new loyalty program for its Retail Liabilities Division with help from ElectraCard Services. The loyalty program is designed to help Barclays increase customer registration for and usage of its multiple service channels, including mobile banking, SMS alerts, debit cards, ATM and online banking.

New credit card rules could challenge DMers

Lauren Bell, Dianna Dilworth May 22, 2009

Credit card legislation signed by President Barack Obama Friday is expected to seriously impact the credit card industry and consumers' relationships with credit, and as a result, marketing from the industry is likely to change in message as well as volume.

New bank Ally launches with campaign focused on trust

Nathan Golia May 19, 2009

Ally bank, a newly formed unit of GMAC Financial Services, has launched a campaign with help from BBH New York. The goal of the campaign is to position the company, which was announced earlier this week, as a trustworthy place for its customers in an increasingly wary world around financial services.

Use behavioral targeting to pump up your e-mail ROI

Siara Nazir, director of customer acquisition and retention, E-Loan May 19, 2009

Ready to climb the peak of e-mail optimization? From an ROI perspective, e-mail marketing can be more effective than search in increasing conversion rates, especially if you have the right tools and techniques.

Hawkeye

May 18, 2009

Hawkeye has a strong heritage in data analytics and disseminating complex information to large customer bases, with dedicated practices for the financial services and high-tech arenas. Four years ago, digital work accounted for 10% of the business, while today it's 65% of what the agency does, including developing products in the social networking and personalized URL spaces. Click headline above to view Hawkeye's full profile, complete with capabilities and company history.

Wunderman

May 18, 2009

As the agency that bears the name of the legendary Lester Wunderman, who is credited with coining the phrase "direct marketing," it's no surprise that the science of direct is soul of what this agency does - though much of its work today revolves around digital, mobile, data analytics, e-mail as well as direct mail. The agency traces its roots to 1958 when it was founded as Wunderman, Ricotta, & Kline by three veteran ad men. In 1973, it was acquired by Young & Rubicam. Click headline above to view Wunderman's full profile, complete with capabilities and company history.

Top marketers weigh in on DM agency relationships

May 18, 2009

Peter Intermaggio, SVP of marketing and communications at Comcast, and Len Blaifeder, VP of advertising and direct marketing at Bank of New York Mellon, discuss what the DM agency relationship means to them and their companies.

Mintel survey: Credit card use dropping

Nancy Kearney May 07, 2009

Debit cards are trumping credit cards in light of the recession, while more than a fifth of Americans (22%) are leaving both in the wallet, according to a new consumer survey from market research firm Mintel Comperemedia. Nearly half (43%) of those surveyed say they are relying more on their debit cards and using credit cards less because of the recession.

Teens are top credit target

Lauren Bell May 04, 2009

Marketers of debit and credit cards geared to teens balance the lifestyle-focused needs of teens with parents' interest in security

Showcasing creative campaigns from KCSM-FM, Sage FAS and National Breast Cancer Foundation

May 04, 2009

California radio station wears donations on its sleeve; Sage FAS capitalizes with direct mail, segmentation; National Breast Cancer Foundation taps into online chatter to revamp social community.

AmEx campaign explains loyalty service changes

Dianna Dilworth May 04, 2009

American Express is launching a new campaign for its new Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards to educate loyalty members about changes in service.

ComScore: Online banking growing

Bryan Yurcan April 22, 2009

Despite continued consumer unease about the financial services sector, online banks have increased their customer acquisition, according to ComScore.

EverBank taps Carton Donofrio Partners as AOR

Jonathan Mack April 22, 2009

Online banking and financial service firm EverBank Financial Corp has named marketing communications firm Carton Donofrio Partners (CDP) as its agency of record. As part of EverBank's long-term growth initiative, CDP will create a digital ad targeting high earning prospects in the hopes of increasing acquisition among that demographic in the second quarter of 2009.

KeyBank names Sapient Interactive AOR

Jonathan Mack April 02, 2009

Financial services company KeyBank has named Sapient Interactive as its interactive agency of record. Sapient Interactive will create, manage and deliver digital marketing for KeyBank's online entities.

Banks increase direct marketing to customers

Chantal Todé March 27, 2009

Although the bulk of banks' direct marketing spend is still devoted to acquiring new customers, banks are paying more attention to existing customers via direct mail and e-mail, according to a new report from Mintel Comperemedia. During 2008, banks increased direct mail offers cross-selling additional products and services to current clients by 57% over 2007. During the same period, acquisition direct mail rose 7%.

Texas bank engages with voice-of-the-customer

Lauren Bell March 11, 2009

Texas-based Frost Bank has tapped Allegiance Inc. to add voice-of-the-customer capabilities to its CRM approach. Frost, the banking, investments and insurance subsidiary of Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., will use Allegiance's CustomerPulse and ActiveSurvey tools as part of an effort to improve customer loyalty and reduce churn.

Tween Brands not in compliance with NYSE listing standards

Chantal Todé March 10, 2009

Multichannel merchant Tween Brands Inc. has received notification from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that it does not currently comply with NYSE continued listing standards. Tween Brands, which markets the Limited Too and Justice brands for girls 7-14, received the notification on March 6 advising the company that its average market capitalization over a 30-day trading period was less than the $75 million level required by the NYSE.

AOL's Platform-A partners with Scottrade

Dianna Dilworth March 04, 2009

AOL's Platform-A today has formed a strategic partnership with online investment firm Scottrade that extends the advertising relationship. This year's partnership will bring Scottrade's ads to AOL's recently formed publishing business Mediaglow. Mediaglow's financial-related content properties include AOL Money & Finance, Walletpop.com, Bloggingstocks.com and AOL News, all of which will run Scottrade ads.

Visa's global 'Go' campaign debut a consolidated effort

Dianna Dilworth March 02, 2009

After six months as a public company, Visa has launched a new global advertising campaign to consolidate its marketing — including media buying and global creative advertising — under a single Visa brand. "We expect this consolidation will deliver significant operational efficiencies as well as reductions in production expenses and fees — thus maximizing the effectiveness of our overall marketing expense," said Kevin Burke, head of global consumer marketing, Visa Inc., via e-mail.

Homeowners insurance offers still appear regularly in consumers' home mailboxes

Bryan Yurcan March 02, 2009

Despite the current state of the economy, direct mail marketing from insurance companies appears to be going strong. While overall direct mail volume plummeted from most financial services companies during 2008, mail from homeowners insurance providers increased volume by 19%, according to a survey by Mintel Comperemedia, which provides direct marketing competitive intelligence.

Data can inform, but does not replace one-on-one exhanges

Cara Wood February 27, 2009

Ten years ago, I had a great relationship with my bank teller. I knew her sons' names, noticed when she got her hair cut and told her about my efforts to save for a new car. Today, I visit 24-hour ATMs, use direct deposit, make automatic bill payments and receive automatic e-mail alerts if my balance hits below my preset limit — all without speaking to anyone.

Credit card direct mail offer volume decline sees exception only with airlines, Wal-Mart

Chantal Todé February 23, 2009

Direct mail volume in the financial services sector is down dramatically, as many of the bigger companies walk away from once-thriving businesses that are now deemed too risky because of the economy, such as offers of credit to consumers with less than stellar credit histories. Direct mail credit offers haven't disappeared completely, however, as both big financial firms and some more marginal institutions continue to find opportunities to target consumers.

Data Control

Bryan Yurcan February 18, 2009

Savings Bank Life Insurance (SBLI) creates a comprehensive, segmented customer database to coordinate its e-mail and direct mail efforts, reports Bryan Yurcan.