While bank merger activity declined by 60%¹ in 2020, as compared to 2019, due to several factors including a global pandemic, the banking industry is experiencing a reversing trend in 2021 as bank merger and acquisition activity picks back up.

Topics: Bank Marketing, Direct Marketing, Marketing For Banks, Financial Marketing, Bank Merger, Bank Communications, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing Agency, Marketing For Financial Services

“Since March 2020, checking account sales in the U.S. are down 200%, according to Raddon. Credit usage has also been displaced by debit card usage, which increased by 8.6%, according to the Federal Reserve. Bank marketers need to react to that sea change. What behavioral insights can we draw from this data?”

Topics: Bank Marketing, Direct Marketing, Marketing For Banks, Financial Marketing, Bank Merger, Bank Communications, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing Agency, Small Business Marketing, Marketing For Financial Services

The US banking industry has seen a relatively consistent consolidation rate of 5% over recent years. Prior to the pandemic hitting the industry beginning in March, analysts were touting positive financial indicators that this year could produce an even greater rate and size of merger combinations. Obviously, things have changed dramatically across the industry but the underlying core need for more competitive institutions with more developed digital capabilities and a greater connection to consumer and business needs has arguably never been greater.

Topics: Bank Marketing, Bank Merger Marketing

For the last three months the BKM Marketing team has been working remotely, just as much of the country has. As Massachusetts prepares to enter phase two of reopening, we too are getting ready to slowly return to the office at our individual discretion. The truth is, today’s technology and our small size has afforded us the ability to continue to conduct business in much of the same way we would as if we were together in the office.

Topics: Direct Mail Marketing, Bank Marketing, Direct Marketing, Financial Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing Agency

The reality of addressing all of the moving parts needed to effectively communicate a pending bank merger can be daunting. The fact is that most banks don’t have the resources to dedicate to this “one-time project.”

BKM Marketing's Bank Merger Communications - Excelling Through Change is more than a how-to guide for navigating checklists of do’s and don’ts for merger communication. 

This ebook is intended as a resource for bank executives to think strategically about how to effectively plan and execute high impact communications to an array of audiences using all of the key elements of the two bank brands – acquirer and acquired – and build a solid foundation for post-conversion alignment focusing around our Key Takeaways:

1. Focus on Employees

2. Build an Iterative Communication Plan and Manage to it

3. Understand Your Audiences and Focus on What They Need to Know

4. Think Beyond the Merger

5. Conduct a Formal Post Mortem

Topics: Bank Marketing, Bank Merger Marketing

Pivoting. What bank marketers need to know.

No, this is not a how-to guide for what to do as a bank marketer in the light of an unprecedented reality for our financial system.  It is also not a silver bullet meant to supersede your institutional efforts for how to make headway communicating to customers what they should do and when.  This is a step-back to enable bank marketers to try to use the tools they have been using daily and hopefully move forward during uncertain times.  

Topics: Bank Marketing, Direct Marketing, Marketing For Banks, Financial Marketing, Bank Communications, Strategic Marketing, Marketing For Financial Services, Community Banks

During these uncertain times, I want to assure you that the BKM Marketing team continues to work hard for you, and we will continue to fulfill our daily commitments without interruption. We deeply appreciate the relationships we have built with you, and we understand this is a challenging time for your families as well as your brands and businesses.

Topics: Direct Mail Marketing, Bank Marketing, Direct Marketing, Financial Marketing, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing Agency

The promise of fintech can be exciting. It can improve both front and back offices. But bankers should use prudence when considering new technology.

Rick Hall, our Managing Director of the Banking and Financial Services practice at BKM Marketing, is a sought after expert for bank leaders who are looking to make investments in this area, particularly when it comes to investments in the area of digital marketing and communications.

Rick was recently published on BAI.org's Banking Strategies blog with some timely guidance to financial services firms about how best to go about making their next big investment in fintech. While every bank will have its own issues and needs, Rick outlines four questions every institution should be asking.

Topics: Direct Mail Marketing, Bank Marketing, Direct Marketing, Fintech, Marketing For Banks, Financial Marketing, Bank Merger, Bank Communications, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing Agency, Small Business Marketing, Marketing For Financial Services

We are pleased to announce that BKM's very own Bruce McMeekin recently published some guest contributed content that we think our readers will want to hear more about. His post, USPS Is Changing the Way Brands Use Direct Mail — and It's Free was recently published to Target Marketing. As he explains in his article, "Direct mail already powers marketing results that provide a high ROI for savvy brands that use the medium wisely. And with the U.S. Postal Service’s recent launch of Informed Delivery, these results can become dramatically stronger, without adding a penny to direct mail campaign costs." Read more from Bruce's article on Target Marketing and learn how you can start taking advantage of Informed Delivery from the USPS in your own business.

Topics: Direct Mail Marketing, Bank Marketing, Direct Marketing, Marketing For Banks, Bank Merger, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing Agency, Small Business Marketing, Marketing For Financial Services, Target Marketing

The path to increasing sales starts with effective customer and prospect engagement.

Here are six steps you can take to help understand and enhance connections with your audience, as recently published in MarTech Advisor by Bruce McMeekin, BKM Marketing’s Founder and CEO.

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6 Steps to Understand and Connect With Your Audience

Understanding how brands can engage consumers is critical to success. Here are six steps marketers can take to help them understand and connect better with their audience, says, Bruce McMeekin, Founder and CEO, BKM Marketing.

Topics: Direct Mail Marketing, Bank Marketing, Direct Marketing, Marketing For Banks, Financial Marketing, Bank Communications, Marketing Strategies, Strategic Marketing, Digital Marketing Agency, Small Business Marketing, Marketing For Financial Services, MarTech Advisor