Banks Aren’t the Bad Guy by:Karla Jo Helms

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How Involving Your Community Bank Is Easier Than You Think

When it comes to raising community awareness about a special interest, a local charity or a health concern, dont overlook your community bank. Thats right; community banks are in the business of doing business in the community FOR the community.

In fact, according to Robert Sumner, CEO of First National Bank of Pasco (FNB Pasco) near Tampa, Florida, Banking is a people business. Believe it or not, bankers get into the business to help people, as well as to make money.

Banks make great partners for a variety of reasons:

1.) Marketing without marketing: For one, they are often looking for ways to make their presence known in the community. Many small, local or community branches prefer to limit their marketing budgets to devote to direct customer concerns such as insurance, safety or program offerings, so sponsoring a local or charitable event gives them high visibility for low cost.

2.) At home in the crowd: Also, community banks want to work within their community to spread the word about their various services. Such banks thrive on close, personal relationships versus bulk deposits or banking programs, so community, school and charitable events just make good sense for banks. Here they can rub shoulders with potential customers in a non-threatening way and, frankly, let people know how they can help.

3.) A mutual relationship: Finally, banks lend credibility to your event while your event lends credibility to their bank. Seeing a bank logo on your giveaway tote bags, ball caps, stress release balls or pennants gives people the feeling that your organization is not only well-respected but well-backed. Likewise, community banks in particular thrive on being a part of the community they serve. Sponsoring your event isnt just a wise business decision for them; it just plain makes for good neighbors!

Now more than ever, banks are eager to help polish up their image in the community, in local business and in the local press. When its time for your next fundraiser, business or school partnership, head to your community bank first to utilize this vital community and business member.

In order to take advantage of your local community banks community interest, consider reaching out to their PR person before planning your next event. You never know when a single well-placed call could just result in your top-place corporate sponsor!

About the author

After handling the PR for an Inc 500 company for several years Karla Jo Helms was ready to launch out on her own allowing her to bring her unique take on the world of PR to businesses both large and small. Public Relations is a powerful tool that can garner wide acceptance and delve into arenas that marketing cannot touch, says Karla Jo, PR Strategist and Published Author. Helms got her start creating and implementing PR Strategies for entrepreneurs, which helped her develop a keen eye for how to hone in on the best use of PR and technology to increase the Return On Investment of ones marketing dollars. Her theory on how attaining critical mass by utilizing all areas of PR and Marketing in today's world allows her to put together complete strategies for clients that attain measurable results. A background in sales, business management and media relations has given her the well-rounded understanding of how to harness the power of PR to communicate to diverse groups of people...the end result being a wider sphere of influence and the invaluable commodity of goodwill garnered on a broad basis for her clients.

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