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CREED Brings Crowdfunding to the U.S.

Posted by Wendell Brock on Thu, Dec 10, 2009

De Novo Strategy is a supporter of CREED and its nonprofit work; we invite you to participate in this project that CREED has just launched. It is a project that every entrepreneur should be a part of and enjoy supporting! Maybe a banker would catch the vision on and support this too!

CREED, a non-profit 501 (c)3 corporation, is launching a crowdfunding initiative to jumpstart small business in the U.S. Crowdfunding involves collecting small donations via grassroots marketing campaigns. The donations will be used to fund $5,000 in free start-up capital, awarded to the entrepreneur who sends in the most compelling business plan. 

Crowdfunding or crowdsourcing programs have been run successfully by two organizations in Ireland,Outvesting and iQ Prize. The two entities raised an aggregate 15,000 euros, by way of 50-euro pledges, to fund small business start-ups. 

CREED's effort will be similar. The non-profit is currently accepting $50 pledges, with a goal of accumulating $5,000. Once this pledge goal is reached, CREED will publish business plan submission guidelines and begin accepting business plan entrants. Everyone who pledges $50 to the effort receives one vote to help determine the best business plan among those entered. The plan with the most votes will be awarded $5,000 in start-up capital, with no strings attached. 

Please visit Crowdfunding to learn more about CREED's this great American opportunity.

Follow us at CREED

Topics: Banking, Marketing, De Novo Strategy, organizers, CREED, entrepreneur

Effective Solutions for Small Budgets

Posted by Wendell Brock on Mon, Mar 09, 2009


Community banks are constantly looking for ways to improve their operations, manage risk, and save money, all the while looking for ways to gain and strengthen customer relationships. Community banks differentiate themselves through local and personalized service, but face common challenges when competing with larger rivals. Size, influence, and access to resources are challenges you already know come with the territory. Successfully navigating these challenges are what make you a great community banker. 

It comes down to creativity and service execution. Community banks are not unlike the small business clients they covet. Both must be nimble and ready to respond to the dynamic needs of their clients. Technology accelerates this dialog and increases the demand on both sides of the relationship. Bringing smart solutions to the relationship is what a great banker does every day.

One area having a growing impact on small business is on-demand printing. Most of us are familiar with the common offerings when it comes to business printing. On one side you have a large commercial operation with sophisticated requirements and quantities - great for larger projects. And then you have the big box chains offering large quantity color copy services - great for quick, yet acceptable quality. On-demand printing is like a multi-purpose tool small businesses can use to execute highly customizable, commercial quality, print and direct mail campaigns from a web browser.

We really enjoy working with bankers who get excited about using a smart solution in a smart way. Working with a team of accomplished partners from the banking, print, and marketing industries we created an on-demand print solution for bankers simply called - ePrint. 

ePrint is an on-demand print and direct mail solution giving you the ability produce, ship, or mail quality print materials when and where you need them. Printed items can be personalized by staff and sent directly to bank customers as approved by management. The solution gives you the ability to manage multiple direct mail campaigns - simply upload files, an address list, schedule fulfillment, and complete your order. The service it creates is convenient and the print is competitively priced.

Although you can upload your own print-ready files you can also leverage several marketing templates, such as:

    * Birthday, Holiday, Thank You Cards
    * Invitations
    * Postcards
    * Announcements
    * Letterhead and Envelopes
    * Business Cards
    * Customer Welcome Kit
    * Brochures, Flyers, and more

ePrint delivers the customization and personalization needed to control your branding, marketing, direct mail, and budget more efficiently… you get the big bank capability on a community bank budget.

Learn more about ePrint at EmpoweredBanking.com.

Andrew Anson
EmpoweredBanking.com
planning + marketing + sales

Topics: Marketing, community banks, budgets, printing, ePrint

Why Branding?

Posted by Wendell Brock on Wed, Mar 12, 2008

By John Fronza 

If you do not have a branding consultant, you are the consultant.

You need to spend your time on raising capital and producing revenue; not designing a logo, writing copy, formatting brochures, and placing ads, or any of the many details required for a successful branding campaign.

We can handle everything from helping you name your bank and design your logo to designing your website and public relations. In the grand scheme of things you will have more time, raise your capital faster, and earn more.

Why do you need a branding campaign? How is the investment justified?

Your logo and marketing materials will be seen and have an impact on not only your Officers, Directors, Executives, and employees, but on your customers, potential customers, competitors, and the general public.

They represent you and your organization - your products and services as well as your professionalism, integrity, and ethics.

The image you develop now will be used throughout the life of your business and determine your business's level of success. If your image is one of a solid, stable company that delivers what it promises, you are more likely to be successful.

What do you think of when you see this logo?


Nike, of course. An established, reliable company that has used the same logo for many years.

This is what you want to accomplish - a sound identity.

Branding is an investment with a high rate of return. What can you expect your return on investment (ROI) to be?

Let's say that you would typically expect to spend six months raising the capital for your bank without any marketing materials or branding. During these six months your bank is not producing any revenue, you are still waiting to open your doors to customers, and each month that passes costs you $50,000. It has been proven that with the right materials, branding, and a proven process the capital raising time is shortened by fifty-percent. So, you have already saved $150,000.

Moving forward, your bank will be instantly recognizable to customers and potential customers resulting in more deposits and faster growth. You stand out amongst all of the other community banks. Why? Because customers and the general public instantly recognize your professional image which is consistent in every way relating to your bank.

Fronza Design's successfully proven program for de novo banks is a small investment to expedite the capital raising process, brand your bank, and ensure success.

Let us show you how to save time, money, and help you achieve your goal.

If you are in search of a $10,000 investor, you need to look like a $10,000 opportunity.

Fronza Design, LLC
125 Timber Oak Cove
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
678-377-3013
www.fronzadesign.com


Topics: De Novo Bank, Marketing, Bank Branding

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BankNotes© is published by De Novo Strategy as a service to clients and other friends. The information contained in this publication should not be construed as legal, accounting, or investment advice. Should further analysis or explanation of the subject matter be required, please contact De Novo Strategy at subscribe@denovostrategy.com.