Western Independent Banker - July/August 2008 - (Page Cover3)

“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

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Western Independent Banker - July/August 2008

Western Independent Banker - July/August 2008 Contents A Message from the President & CEO Getting Creative and Competitive with Leaders' Incentive Compensation Financial Covenants - What Good Are They Really? Homes Within Reach Revisiting Credit Quality and Risk Management Loan Yield Shock Wave - What Can You Do? What Lending Crisis? - Community Banks Flex with Lending Strength How to Fine-Tune ALLL During Uncertain Times Productivity, Technology and Export Growth Trump Housing's Fall in the Long Run - The Economy According to Brian Wesbury Distressed Real Estate Loans and Their Property Tax "Kicker" WIB Calendar Welcome New Members Index to Advertisers advertiser.com

Western Independent Banker - July/August 2008

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