Western Independent Banker - May/June 2008 - (Page Cover2) “I’m fairly certain we’ll never build another branch again.” - Larry Daniel, Director of Retail Development First Arkansas Bank & Trust www.FirstArkansasBank.com powerful statement, indeed, from a $480MM community bank in Arkansas. Larry Daniel's postulation comes after months of routinely receiving six-times the number of DDA accounts through his FIRSTBranch online marketing system than through their newest branch. “Attracting core deposits is very difficult for community banks these days. Add to that the fact that expenses are rising as margins are shrinking, and a real online branch is the only way to compete against the big box banks,” explains Daniel. 200 DDAs online in seven days. Today, he’s reeling from the news that his bank’s FIRSTBranch from First ROI delivered 200 checking accounts online in just seven days — without the aid of traditional advertising. The Director of Retail Development of the $480MM bank continues, “Advertising in its traditional sense delivers little-tono ROI. It’s expensive and doesn’t get the deal done — it doesn’t sell. We realized that we needed an online strategy focused on driving revenue. First ROI delivered on our strategy with FIRSTBranch.” A FIRSTBranch, the fully-managed online marketing system from First ROI, translates the bricks and mortar branch into an online presence. And, until now, FIRSTBranch has remained the closely-guarded secret of successful community bank executives like Larry Daniel. From website development and SAS70 Type II hosting to traffic-driving Search Engine Optimization and geo-targeted Pay Per Click advertising, First ROI manages the entire online marketing program — from design and content changes to code upgrades to analytics and consulting. In this way, a community bank like First Arkansas Bank & Trust can realize amazing deposit success online — like 200 new checking accounts in one week. After all, just building and hosting a website is entry-level. As Larry Daniel will tell you, to gather deposits and grow your bank in today's market, your website must serve as a dynamic online sales tool and be fully supported by proper online marketing. Offers Daniel, “First ROI is our online marketing partner. They give us the competitive edge against the megabanks and the netbanks.” First Arkansas Bank & Trust has joined 300+ other community financial institutions that rely on First ROI for their traditional or interactive marketing initiatives. They do so for good reason — First ROI delivers results. To demonstrate their dedication to your bottom line, First ROI’s fees are tied to your success. FIRSTBranch accounts are priced at a fraction of standard ABA account acquisition costs. Even if it delivers no new accounts online in a given month, the only out of pocket expense is a nominal monthly fee — less than a run-of-the-mill web host. This success-based pricing is the reason First ROI confidently says that your results come first. Turn off what isn’t working and turn to the team of community bank online marketing experts at First ROI. Visit the website or call the number below today. Visit firstroi.com/wib or call (512) 342-9530. http://www.firstroi.com
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