The word “kinetic” may bring many different words and ideas to mind, such as energy, motion, technology, virtual reality or the latest video game. All of these words represent very innovative ideas charged with excitement and curiosity. I bet one of the last words that comes to your mind is “banking.” Kinetic banking…what on Earth?

Etronika, a software company specializing finance and banking, has transformed boring banking into something engaging and interactive. Kinetic banking allows users to physically interact with this motion activated interface. By clapping, swiping and waving, users can manage their bank accounts and conduct every-day banking functions.

Click here to see a video of Kinetic Banking in full action.

With a few quick waves and swipes, users can flip through their transaction history on credit cards, debit cards, and other current bank accounts. There’s also an international exchange rate option and the ability to send and connection information to your cell phone.

While the interface is fun to just watch, I can’t help but think, “How vital is this to our banking world right now?” Customers are all about convenience and speed. Online banking can happen in a matter of seconds while sitting at your work desk or at home. Out and about? No problem – mobile banking has you covered. Then where and when will interactive, kinetic banking have its place? Why pull it up on your television and go through the motions when you can sit and click in seconds?

Putting this technology in public places also has its downfalls, as a passerby could accidently activate an incorrect action by simply walking by, or someone could pass ten times in a row and see all your activity on the big screen.

While there are some kinks to be worked out, kinetic banking could offer countless new opportunities if it finds its niche in the market. If the technology could speed up bank lines by acting as a teller or perform actions mobile or online banking couldn’t, customers and banks could both greatly benefit from this technology.

Continually improving technology is vital for banks, but there has to be a need for it. The introduction of a new technology will only be successful if it meets consumers’ needs and improves their daily lives. Great advertising promotes a truly useful product.

Do you think Kinetic banking will have a future?

Growing up is hard to do. First, I learned that my future shopping experiences will be a new kind of stressful when (if) I have kids (see previous blog), and now my research drops another bomb on me. It has been recommended that my generation, Gen Y, save at least $2 million dollars to retire, if we even get to retire.

“For a Generation Y person who thinks she wants to retire at around age 70 who is going to have slightly above-average annual expenses, $2 million is probably the right number,” says Michael Farr, the president of the Washington, D.C., investment firm Farr, Miller & Washington and the author of “A Million Is Not Enough: How to Retire With the Money You’ll Need.” However, Farr also warns, “Most people who have high incomes and the ability to set aside $2 million will likely have more-expensive lifestyles.”

It’s not just one person who shares this advice for Gen Y. A survey of 226 registered investment advisers also agreed with Farr. Seventy-seven percent of the advisors suggested the $2 million goal and 68% suggested that Generation X also aim for the same mark.

So, where to start? Well, to reach $2 million by retirement, a 25-year- old will need to save $7,405 every year, or $142 a week, for 40 years assuming an 8% annual return. Woof. Good thing I’m only 23!

It’s questionable whether Gen Y will even be able to retire, ever. Social Security benefits are being pushed back to older and older ages and not all companies have 401K programs to help the saving process. And with the average life expectancy age lengthening, we could be working into our mid-70s, or until we bite the dust.

What can Gen Y and X do to help with the saving process? And how can banks encourage, make recommendations and give advice to their young customers? Here are a few tips for young adults.

1.  Set a worthy goal. Know what you want to be able to do in retirement, but what’s realistic with your current lifestyle.

2.  Take advantage of employer help. A 401K or form of retirement plan will cut back how much you need to save.

3.  Control costs. Minimize investment fees and expenses.

4.  Get a Roth IRA or 401k.

5.  Maximize Social Security. Make sure you have at least 35 years of earnings before you sign up for payments and carefully consider the age at which you decide to claim benefits.

6.  Don’t plan on retiring at 65. Men born in 1980 can plan for at least a 19.3-year retirement, and women should prepare for 21.2 years.

While browsing websites online, looking for inspiration to write this blog, a photo of one of my favorite musical artists jumped out at me. “Oh! What’s Jay-Z up to? And who’s that old, short guy smirking next to him? Is that…Warren Buffet?” At first, it seems like a strange combination. Is Warren Buffet making a cameo in Jay-Z’s next video? But the connection between these two gentlemen quickly dawned on me – entrepreneurial kings. And they’re merging their strengths to television, not for a news special or 20/20 episode, but to create a cartoon for kids.

Buffet originally created Secret Millionaires Club as an animated Web series, but now the show is making its TV debut on October 23^rd. The show teaches children about money, personal growth and business. In one episode, “Cancel my Reputation,” the Secret Millionaires Club learns how “to build a good reputation and why it’s important.” The episodes range in topics from the importance of not cutting corners, listening to your customers and having a mentor. An animated Buffet serves as a character, offering insight while still letting the gang resolve their own problems.

The TV series will open with a bang. Enter Jay-Z, who guest-stars as a businessman who praises hard work at school and gives tips on how to be successful. Awesome. Hopefully he will talk about how to start your own record label, entertainment company, clothing line and become part owner of a basketball team, too.

As I was reading the article, I thought the concept behind the show was great; to my knowledge, there’s not a TV show like it. But when I went to the website and saw the stock ticker going across the page, I thought, “There’s no way at age eight I would have had anything to do with this.” I could imagine my dad encouraging me to watch it, and then it turning into some sort of punishment. Plus, if someone said “Jay-Z,” to me, I would have thought they were mixing up the alphabet.

Educational programs are an excellent opportunity for a company in any industry to educate kids, but does it really work? Are kids drawn to purely educational marketing? Tying a celebrity to the education program can definitely add interest, but how many 6-12 year olds can relate to Jay-Z? When using a celebrity to endorse your program, make sure the advocate is relevant to the audience and appropriate for the topic. I think Jay-Z is a great spokesperson for business-related topics, but would be better at reaching high school and college students and young adults.

I think educational programming is extremely important, but also very hard to pull off successfully. I watched classics like “Magic School Bus” and “Bill Nye the Science Guy”, but it’s hard to say how a serious, financial cartoon will go over. What will it take to get kids to tune in? Or is Buffet yet again making another million dollar, smart decision with this cartoon?

Imagine sitting in a movie theater, impatiently waiting for previews to end and your featured film to start. A booming narrating voice catches your attention as a sensational, exciting action movie trailer begins. Flashing lights, dramatic colors and pulsing screen shots immediately catch your attention. But wait, is this…what…a bank commercial?

Click here to watch the commercial.

Kiwibank of New Zealand is aiming to push consumers to switch banks not through traditional marketing tactics, but in what seems like a launch for a new movie or video game. Green Ops: Operation Easyswitch closely resembles the video game Call of Duty or any spy/action flick, and has been all over the bank’s interactive YouTube channel. From a “first-person-shooter-point-of-view” style, visitors can see humorous clips encouraging them to switch banks, follow a team of Kiwibankers as they complete missions to save customers from bad banking experiences and link to a website to start the bank switching process.

The campaign is different and innovative, and it reaches the correct audience in an appropriate manner. There is a noticeable disconnect between young customers (16-25 year olds) and their banks. This demographic often sticks with the bank their parents use, and their parents might even still do a lot of their banking for them (deposits, savings, etc.) no questions asked. Starting a conversation with this age group welcomes the idea of choice and control. They don’t have to bank with their parents’ bank. By giving a thrilling twist to switching banks, the process seems more tangible and easier than what young consumers have been imagining.

This eye-catching, glamorous campaign easily grabs the attention of those hard to reach Millennials through a medium they know – video games and Hollywood. Humor and intrigue takes social media by storm, as younger age groups like to be in the “social media know” and be more apt to pass something great along through the grapevine. Banks successful at these practices will move toward being the “cool” bank to use by image-conscious Millennials.

While a Call of Duty–themed campaign may not be the right fit for all banks, it’s important to remember reaching certain audiences will require taking a leap of faith. Whether it’s trying a new medium, tweaking a message or coming up with a new, big idea, the right campaign will not only resonate with a certain demographic, but lead them to a desired action.

Moving into your first home is a rite of passage. There’s the never-ending purchases of kitchen utilities (because if a recipe calls for “minced onions,” you better pray there’s a mincer in your drawer), dealing with either too much “stuff” or the disappointment of having to buy a lot more, the daunting task of moving furniture around, picking out color schemes and of course, writing your first payment. All of it is so new and exciting, but also a monumental step that requires responsibility and commitment, which is exactly why Gen Y isn’t doing it.

The Census 2010 found that practically all of the 11 million unit household growth from 2000-2010 occurred among baby boomer and older households. Within the last few years of the decade, Millennials (those under the age of 35) drastically slowed their rate of household formation. Millions of Millennials continued living with their parents due to the struggling economy and rising unemployment rate. Millennials also avoided purchasing houses by renting.

Millennials outnumber baby boomers (84.7 million versus 81.5 million), but the number of baby boomer households (46.2 million) is still more than the number of Millennial households (23.5 million) and Generation X households (21.3 million ages 35 to 44) combined! With the average age of this enormous cohort at 20, it makes sense why the number of households is down and renting is up.

However, it’s not just Millennials who are nervous about buying a house because of the housing bust and recession. There is actually a renting boom among all age groups. People with tight credit, “foreclosure refugees,” and people who fear the failing housing market are all joining in on the rising popular trend of renting.

This unique household discovery means a few things for banks and how they position and market their mortgage plans and loans. First, banks should start targeting Millennials and creating services that will benefit and appeal to their generation. Millennials will start forming households soon due to either an improved economy or, in my opinion, getting sick of living with their parents. Bottom Line: they will eventually need to take the plunge of owning a home. And with Millennials being the largest demographic (and only predicted to grow because of immigration), the housing market will greatly be affected when they’re ready to buy.

Second, as baby boomers begin to age, another important cause of home sale growth could possibly occur. According the Census 2010, the age cohort of 65-74 years old will probably grow at least 5% per year until 2020. If the oldest segment of baby boomers decide to downsize or buy a second home, plan to see more optimism for the housing market as well.

With these opportunities arising, banks need to gain trust, push security and encourage potential home buyers to feel safe while investing in a home. By using appropriate marketing to each demographic and offering relevant services that match customers’ needs, banks could be a part of this sacred “rite of passage” of buying a first home.

If online and mobile banking didn’t make banking more accessible and convenient, then the new technology about to take ATM’s by storm will.  NCR Corporation, a global leader in ATM manufacturing, has created two new types of automated teller machines that will keep customers on their own schedules instead of the banks’.

Their first innovative update is the APTRA Interactive Teller, an ATM with two-way video and audio conferencing.   Consumers can choose to use the standard self-serve ATM or an interactive teller to help with many of the same services as a traditional teller. Customers who need bank assistance at unusual hours will reap the benefits of the APTRA Interactive Teller’s longer hours and more locations, saving a trip or phone call to the bank.

Scalable Deposit Module (SDM), NCR’s second ATM update, improves the efficiency of ATMs by allowing consumers to deposit both cash and checks through one deposit slot, all in one transaction. Consumers can simply put all of their checks and cash in a pile, slide them into slot, and the ATM will manage their deposit. The typical consumer can deposit five bank notes and two checks in 60 seconds.

Both ATMs are currently in testing and aim to improve customer experience, service and efficiency. While they definitely help consumers, banks will also see improvements like reduced operating expenses and overhead costs. These ATM innovations are evidence of the continuing trend of customer-focused service in the banking industry. Banks using the ATMs have another way to cater to their customers and put them in control of their day-to-day banking. Banks will need to educate their costumers about the improved ATMs and communicate their value to their target market.

Imagine leaving your wallet at home. No credit cards, no cash and definitely no checks to weigh down your pockets or purse. The only thing you do have is your phone. Soon this will be a reality with the introduction of mobile commerce and near field communication (NFC) technology. Near field communication technology essentially allows consumers to purchase products simply with the swipe of their phone. Despite obvious convenience advantages, mobile commerce is expected to revolutionize the way we purchase products and services, especially in the travel industry.

Earlier this month, Visa announced the release of their digital wallet, a service that allows Visa card holders to purchase products directly from their mobile phones. By incorporating instant purchasing capabilities with mobile devices, Visa has taken a huge leap in providing not only more convenient, but also more time saving services for card holders.

As we saw just last week, Google and Foursquare are both eager to implement NFC to make user check-ins more instant and less user intensive. By utilizing NFC, consumers once timid to try Google Latitude or Foursquare due to the networks’ premises of constant manual updating could now seamlessly check into locations and events without the touch of a button. This bodes well for those in the travel industry as vacationers, too, would be able to check in to attractions, dining locations or hotels without any extra effort.

Mobile commerce also creates greater opportunities for hotels and lodging facilities to reach weary travelers on the road. Expedia.com has already released a mobile app that not only uses a consumer’s GPS location to find lodging in their proximity, but also book rooms directly from their phone.

As mobile commerce develops and smartphones become more widely adopted by mainstream travelers, those in the travel industry must anticipate new consumer expectations. Just as the Internet ushered in the need for travel destination websites, so too will mobile devices lead to more  mobile services for consumers to research trips and book vacations directly from their mobile devices.

Those in the travel industry can prepare best by staying up to date on mobile commerce and anticipating what services consumers will want at their finger tips next.

The Internet and social media have fundamentally changed the pace of business, compressing time and rewarding speed. News breaks over minutes, not days. Companies can develop or refine products and services instantly based on customer feedback or events in the marketplace.

As a result, public relations has changed forever. Traditional media outlets are no longer the inpenetrable gatekeepers. Citizen journalists (whether they think of themselves that way or not) are reporting more updates from more locations than professional journalists could ever hope to cover. And businesses have an unprecented freedom to share their stories directly with key audiences – customers and potential clients.

This shifting landscape provides business with an opportunity never before seen. It’s called Real-Time PR… the mindset of finding and engaging with emerging story lines before they become old news.

Real-time PR was the topic of April’s L&S Boot Camp Webinar. Lawrence & Schiller’s Dave Haan, Director of Public Relations, and Lindsey Philips, PR Coordinator, presented the three “D”s at the foundation of real-time PR:

• Detect conversations about your brand
• Deliver the right messages to the right audiences
• Decrease your response time

What’s more important? Winning awards or reaching business goals?

At Lawrence & Schiller we love holding the hardware, but our emphasis has always been delivering results for our clients. Which makes this award season such a treat. Clients are seeing positive results and earning accolades.

Telly Awards

It started with “Hey Sara”, winner of a Silver Telly award for Midcontinent Business Solutions. The spot is part of a series produced for Midcontinent’s Phone & Data Services and Television Advertising Sales. The campaign has been so effective and recognizable, Midcontinent has extended it into 2011.

Pollie Awards

Billed as the “Oscars of political advertising”, the Pollie Awards are presented by the American Association of Political Consultants. Big budget commercials for campaigns in large states compete along small budget efforts from rural areas. Going up against the best in the business, two different commercials created by Lawrence & Schiller for the 2010 election earned special recognition.

• Gold Pollie – Television Ad, More Than 60 Seconds, “Meet Dennis Daugaard” – Dennis Daugaard for Governor
• Silver Pollie – Statewide, Republican, Non-Gubernatorial Race, “Elevator Speech” – Dusty Johnson for P.U.C.
• Honorable Mention – Governor, “Meet Dennis Daugaard”

Of course, the best result came in November when both Dennis Daugaard and Dusty Johnson won by large margins. If you’d like to hear more about the Pollie Awards, listen to this interview with John Pohlman and Micah Aberson who had the honor of walking on stage in Washington, D.C. to pick up the awards.

Addy Awards

Each year, ad agencies around the country enter their best work in hopes of winning an ADDY® award – one of the industry’s most recognizable honors. This year, Lawrence & Schiller’s clients won a total of 35 different awards.

Best of Show – Electronic
Great Western Bank | National TV Campaign | “Best of Both TV Campaign”

Best of Class – Non-Traditional Marketing
South Dakota Tourism | Non-Traditional Advertising | “Mt. Rushmore Macy’s Day Parade Float”

Best of Class – Television
Great Western Bank | National TV Campaign | “Best of Both TV Campaign”

Best of Class – Public Service
South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – TV | “Marked For Life TV”

Best of Class – Radio
Workplace Technology Center | Local Radio | “Sucky I.T.”

Gold Addy Awards

1. Great Western Bank | National TV Campaign | “Best of Both TV Campaign”
2. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – TV | “Texting TV”
3. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – TV | “Rollover TV”
4. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – TV | “Marked For Life TV”
5. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – Out-of-Home | “DUI/DOA Billboard”
6. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – Non-Traditional | “Helmet Tattoo Street Graphics”
7. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – Campaign | “Helmet Tattoo Street Graphics”
8. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – Non-Traditional | “Marked For Life Street Team”
9. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – Mixed Media Campaign | “Marked For Life”
10. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Elements of Advertising, Sound | “At The Scene Radio”
11. South Dakota Tourism | Non-Traditional Advertising | “Mt. Rushmore Macy’s Day Parade Float”
12. South Dakota Tourism | Consumer or Trade Publication | “Every picture tells a story”
13. South Dakota Tourism | Interactive Media: Online Campaigns | “Web banners/Website”
14. University of South Dakota | National TV Campaign | “USD – One Smart Move Campaign”
15. Workplace Technology Center | Local Radio | “Sucky I.T.”
16. Lawrence & Schiller | Self-Promotion Invitation | “Friday Evening HoHo”
17. Lawrence & Schiller | Self-Promotion Mixed Media Campaign | “Friday Evening HoHo”

Silver Addy Awards

1. Great Western Bank | National TV, Consumer Services | “Best of Both – Business TV”
2. Lowell Hanson | Interactive Media: Website, Consumer HTML, Products | “Flying A Ranch for Sale”
3. Sanford Health | Newspaper Campaign, Color | “Sanford Strip Ads”
4. Sanford Health | Local Radio | “When you’re ready for baby”
5. Sanford Health | Local TV: 60 seconds or Less | “When you’re ready for baby”
6. Sanford Health | Local TV: 60 seconds or Less | “This is what you do”
7. Sanford Health | National TV, Consumer Services | “Sanford Cancer Center – Never Fight Alone”
8. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – Poster | “Stomach Pump”
9. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Public Service – Campaign | “Someone Needs You Mom/Dad Billboards”
10. South Dakota Office of Highway Safety | Elements of Advertising, Cinematography | “Rollover TV”
11. South Dakota Tourism | Campaign: Consumer or Trade Publication | “Every picture tells a story”
12. South Dakota Tourism | Interactive Media: Website, Consumer HTML, Products | “TravelSD.com”
13. Vance Thompson Vision | Local Television, :30 or Less | “Masterpiece TV”

But best of all, are the stories reporting a drop in S.D. highway fatalities, and knowing the Office of Highway Safety’s campaign is playing a role. Or hearing how many people are noticing Great Western Bank’s Best of Both campaign. Or seeing all of the buzz generated after Mount Rushmore float appeared in the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day Parade. Because in the end, results for our clients are what matter most.

I was in a meeting the other day when a co-worker referred to my generation as the “me” generation.  She made a great statement by saying how 18-33 year-olds (also referred to as Millennials) are all about achieving greatness for themselves and not settling once they get it.  My co-worker was very accurate in her thoughts. I am motivated by how I can succeed and do something BIG with my life.

Then, a good friend passed along this article almost simultaneously by Yahoo! Finance which states, “THE lesson may be that entrepreneurship can be a viable career path, not a renegade choice — especially since the promise of ‘Go to college, get good grades and then get a job,’ isn’t working the way it once did.  The new reality has forced a whole generation to redefine what a stable job is.”

Perhaps Millennials have focused on themselves because of the reality of today’s business world.  If we want to achieve our dreams, we may have to discover our inner entrepreneur.  The good news is that this mindset will be an area of growth for banks.  As the number of Millennials who start-up their own businesses increases, they will need financing.  Targeting that “me” generation initially will allow banks to build relationships with young entrepreneurs at the start of their business careers.

Great Western Banks latest commercials do just that.  It shows a young woman who wants to start her own retail clothing store.  The commercial also highlights the fact that Great Western Bank has big bank opportunities with a small bank personality.  As an aspiring entrepreneur, this commercial really caught my attention and made me feel that when I am ready to take on that challenge of my own business, I will know a great bank that is available to assist my needs.  After all, it is all about me.

When I was younger, my Grandpa George would bring us quarters in baby food jars every time we saw him.  He always said, “This is for your college savings.”  At the time, it seemed like a million dollars.  But as I get older I think back and laugh – could a few quarters in a jar really make a difference?

Many young adults that are my age are more concerned about what they are going to do on a Saturday night and if they have enough funds to do so.  But, in the reality, the wise choice is to put that money in to savings.  CNBC released a great article about how many middle-class Americans won’t have enough to retire on and that they will have to work through retirement to make ends meet.  In fact, the average American has saved less than 7 percent of his or her future nest egg.

Young adults need to take heed of this problem.  Figuring out a well-set plan while young takes away the stress later in life.  Need some help figuring how much to start saving now?  A great resource is this financial calculator from CalcXML.

To be honest, retirement isn’t something that is at the top of my mind these days.  But, after reading this article, it really opened my eyes.  It is never too early to start putting my hard-earned cash in to a savings account or even a baby food jar.  I know my Grandpa George would be proud!

Living in Nashville, Tenn. for a year, I had to find somewhere to bank.  I asked for recommendations from co-workers and friends, researched ATM and bank locations, and reviewed various checking programs online.  To be honest – it was the worst experience I have ever had. For years I had the same bank in my small town in South Dakota.  Every employee knew me by first name and not just by a number.  They also called me when something suspicious came up on my statement.  I felt safe with my old bank and wanted the same feeling from a new one in Nashville.  Unfortunately, I didn’t find that level of service in Tennessee.  So I settled on the bank that gave me free online access and a debit card.  Reaching younger customers early and having that first checking account is important.  Maybe that is why I am still partial to my small town bank.  Maybe that initial imprint that a first bank leaves on young consumers is the real reason why it is so hard to switch to a new bank when it comes time to move on in life.

Tomorrow’s successful banks realize that developing a strong online and social media presence will be the key in attracting new consumers as today’s teens and twenty-somethings begin to grow and move around the country.   According to Adology, “nearly one in 5 U.S consumers aged 18 to 24 cited online video as an influence on their choice of banks.”  The article also mentions that other influences include support of a charity or cause (17%), recommendation by family and friends (15.4%), and sports sponsorship (12.6%).

Like Cinderella and the glass slipper, when making a decision where to go for graduate school, who to work for, and where to live, I want the perfect fit.  And it hasn’t been any different looking for the perfect bank. Every customer is different with different needs.  By ensuring younger customers feel at home, banks can develop a perfect fit that might last for lifetime.

With Black Friday coming this weekend and Christmas right around the corner, many have their gift lists all ready to go. But according to Forbes online, not budgeting for the little items can really make Christmas financially stressful. Americans will spend $170 this year on those little things like decorations, greeting cards, candy and flowers.

Many banks and credit unions are offering special programs to help their customers spend wisely this season as they buy gifts and decorate their homes. Great Western Bank is helping customers get cash back on holiday purchases with their Great Cash Rewards program. By using their debit cards, customers can automatically earn cash back for shopping at participating retailers, all year long. The rewards are deposited directly into a customer’s checking or savings account. No gift cards or vouchers – just extra cash customers can spend or save.

Great Western Bank is also making the holidays brighter this week with a special Great Cash Rewards promotion: the Great Holiday Shopping Weekend. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday (Nov. 26-29) customers can earn extra cash back and a chance to win a computer by registering their debit cards and shopping online through www.GreatCashRewards.com.

Deal hunting, coupon clipping, and avoiding shopping at the last minute are other tips that will help you keep your holiday season financially in check. Just remember to enjoy the real purpose of the holiday season and that it is always better to give than receive. Although a little cash back never hurts!

Advertising for some products seems to fall into a set mold. The same look, the same feel, the same promises permeate all of the industry leaders’ ads. All that differs in the spots is the logo.

Bank commercials are no different. They tend to have the same stiff, conservative and flat tone. They all promise great service and heightened security. Great Western Bank wanted to break the mold and convey that they aren’t your typical bank. Yes, they offer outstanding customer service and are one of the safest banks around, but what makes them stand out from the crowd?

Three new 30 second ads from Great Western Bank give the answer. Great Western Bank offers the best of both little and big banks. They are hometown, community banks headquartered in the Midwest with friendly service. But they also have the size and resources to offer more locations, lending power and sophisticated services to customers. A small town bank with big time service is helping its customers be greater.

Using green screen techniques and lots of post-production artistry, the L&S team created some energetic, stylish, fun and downright hip ads to show that Great Western Bank offers the best of both worlds. Take a look.

Some things, like porn and public relations, are notoriously difficult to define.

In 1964, Supreme court Justice Potter Stewart famously opined on the definition of obscenity when he wrote, “…I’ll know it when I see it…”.

I think the same can be said for PR. You may not be able to recite a textbook definition, but you’ll know it when you see it.

If something gets you talking about a company, its products, people or services, then in my opinion it’s PR. Sometimes a carefully crafted campaign sparks the conversation. Other times PR springs from an unexpected part of your business… like customer service.

Recently, while driving across South Dakota with my boss, we decided to refuel and grab some lunch in Oacoma. As I pulled off the interstate he specifically directed me to the Shell station which was located across the highway from the convenience store and fast food place we were planning to visit.

“Why not fill up where we’re going to eat?” I asked.

“Because the owners are great people and I like to give them business,” was his answer.

Sure enough, as soon as we walked in the owner gave my boss a warm greeting and even asked about his elderly parents who had stopped with him only once before! They talked about business, the weather and the upcoming election like old friends. I was amazed not only how the owner remembered a customer she only sees periodically but how many details she retained.

Great customer service? Absolutely. Good public relations? You bet.

It got a customer talking, starting a positive buzz that continues even now as their story spreads on this blog, Facebook and Twitter. And the next time I’m in Oacoma, you know I’m stopping at Dakota Shell.

That looks like the definition of good PR to me.

Feel in the giving mood?  With the holiday season right around the corner, many people are planning to donate to their favorite charity.  Unfortunately, in the past, not enough people have been following through on these charitable plans.

Giving in 2009 for the top 400 U.S. charities was at a 20 year low, according to The Huffington Post.  Despite the 11 percent decline in overall giving, the top five charities still held strong.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that the top 5 charities of 2009 were:

1.       United Way Worldwide: $3.84 billion

2.       Salvation Army: $3.11 billion

3.       AmeriCares Foundation: $1.15 billion

4.       Feed the Children: $1.24 billion

5.       Food for the Poor:  $1.07 billion

Charity Navigator gave these 2009 “Giving Statistics”:

• Total giving in the U.S. to charitable organizations: $303.74 billion
• Donations from individuals: $227.4 billion (75% of total giving)

Giving By:

• Bequest: $23.8 billion
• Foundations: $38.4 billion
• Corporations: $14.1 billion

Even though 2009 has gone down in history as a low giving year, 2010 could come on a little stronger.  Many businesses are helping see that through with customer incentive programs.  According to BusinessWire, U.S. Bank FlexPerks Visa will reward cardholders for their giving efforts.  Cardholders will receive triple FlexPoints for donations they make with FlexPerks Travel Rewards or Flexperks Select Rewards credit cards.  This program demonstrates U.S. Bank’s understanding of the importance of supporting communities, especially in a tough economy.

In our region, Great Western Bank possesses an example of corporate giving with their Greater than CD program.  For every Certificate of Deposit opened, they will donate back to the community at no cost to the customer.  Donations go to low income housing initiatives, organizations for children in need and financial literacy programs.  Their slogan is, “Together, we’ll make an impact much greater than we could alone.”

These are just two of many organizations and corporations that encourage giving back.  These are also great examples of how working together can make an even bigger impact than working alone. When businesses and customers work together, even greater results can arise. Look for opportunities to partner in giving this holiday season; make an impact on the community around you.

Practically everyone – and everything – has a Facebook page now. From your grandparents to your favorite restaurant and even “campfires,” it seems there is a page for all of our interests and connections. So, why does my bank seem to be missing from Facebook?

I decided to look into a few banks in the area, and my findings were rather unexpected and startling. The presence of local banks on Facebook is somewhat lacking.

A bank’s presence on Facebook makes perfect sense. What better way to connect and build relationships with customers, both current and potential. When engaging on a different, digital level, other than within the banking establishment itself, consumers will feel like they have a deeper relationship with their financial institution.

The amount of time people spend on Facebook is significant and growing every day, so there is a great opportunity to spread the word about your bank’s products and services. Let consumers know about the latest offerings, incentives and news going on with your bank. Get them talking, give them feedback and learn about their banking desires.

I personally want to do business at a bank that embraces technology and change, stays on the edge of the latest advancements and services and really shows that they want to build a deep, understanding relationship with me as a consumer.

U.S. Bank has a strong following and does a great job connecting with consumers online, offering polls, encouraging conversation and linking to services such as mobile banking and careers.

Charles Schwab facilitates discussions, informs consumers of their corporate social responsibility efforts and connects to its other social media presences on Twitter and YouTube. 

Another active social networker, Citibank, offers news of its latest offerings, connects to its blog and asks consumers to help in changing Citi for the future.

Local banks need to start building up their online presence, as Facebook is not just a fad anymore. With over 400 million active users, the service will be around for a while and only continue to advance.  The benefits of a social media presence may be surprising.

Let’s face it – money is being watched with a much more vigilant eye these days. And with the hectic lives we lead, it can often be stressful and tedious to be as heedful as we should be. However, with the technologies available today, there are no excuses.

Online banking is great, simply put. With many online services, consumers can set up automatic, recurring payments, so a payment should never be late or missed. Some online banking services allow users to set up email and text alerts to inform when balances are dipping, so the dreadful overdraft can be easily avoided. And just the simple ability to watch account activity is a great tool in itself.

The ability to do your banking via a mobile device is another revolutionary tool that should certainly aid in the fight to be more financially attentive. The on-the-go convenience comes in quite handy when you are on the road or remember you need to pay a bill while sitting through a four-hour meeting.

Budgeting is yet another area that has taken a turn for the better. With free online services such as Mint, you have the ability to track and record expenses and payments right at your fingertips. Knowing where you are spending and the frequency of those expenditures can really open up your eyes, allowing you to use your resources wisely.

And lastly, my new favorite service, BillMonk, masks the slight awkwardness of having to ask friends and roommates for money they owe. This free online service allows users to track, calculate and split expenses for a recent trip or monthly living. It also lets you keep track of non-monetary items, such as books and clothing you have loaned out. Furthermore, BillMonk also ties into Obopay, which is a mobile payment service that allows you to settle payments with friends via cellular devices for a small fee.

Online and mobile banking, email and text message alerts, budgeting tools and payment services are drastically improving our financial capabilities. Excuses are becoming harder to come by for missing a payment or losing track of expenses as services continue to evolve. With these services, our wallets should be getting a little heftier every day.

From Beiber Fever to Miley and the Jo Bros, teens are showing the rest of the world just how powerful and influential they really are. While we recognize this power, Socialwise is paving the way for financial literacy. This publicly traded company has started offering a few different services aimed at capturing the buying power of this young, potent group, while also instilling responsible spending habits.

Socialwise also aims to facilitate communication between tweens and teens and their parents. The first offering is BillMyParents™, an online service that teens can use when making purchases via the web. This service gives teens the ability to shop online, all the while allowing parents flexible control of the accounts and available funds.

Secondly, the BillMyParents™ Debit Card offers yet another payment option for those under 21. Again, this service still allows for parents to have control of the funds, but provides a little more freedom to the younger demographic for in person and online purchases.

Furthermore, Socialwise has partnered with social networking giants, Facebook and MySpace, to reach more of the market and allow for more eCommerce.

This is a genius idea and offering for this relatively unscathed market. Banking institutions have a great opportunity to expand into this market and harness the potential it possesses.

Thinking back to my adolescent buying days, I really could have used one or both of these services. And I am sure my parents would have appreciated it as well.

The usage of smartphones is increasing at a brisk pace, and so is mobile banking. A recent study by Mercatus shows that banks that offer mobile banking services can increase new customer acquisitions by nearly 60 percent. But why exactly is that?

Today’s society is fast-paced, convenience driven and desires to do everything on the go. So it only makes sense that banks offering convenient services such as mobile banking are reaping the rewards. Having the ability to access personal financial information via mobile devices allows for great flexibility and expediency. Consumers who opt in to this service no longer have to worry about being able to transfer funds or make a payment – they can now do it anywhere, at anytime, via their mobile device.

This study also shows that when choosing a bank, consumers prioritize mobile banking over the availability of online banking, easy access to ATMs and nearby branches. Consumers would rather have the option to bank from their mobile phone than have a bank branch or an affiliated ATM near them.

The fact that having mobile banking options plays such a large role in choosing a banking institution speaks largely to the reality that businesses need to stay fresh and on the cusp of digital and mobile offerings for consumers.

Other fascinating findings from this study include:

• Costs of acquiring customers decreases by as much as 20 percent based on the efficacy of mobile banking related marketing.
• Mobile users can be serviced at a 20 percent lower cost than a traditional bank patron.
• Mobile banking consumers tend to fall in the 18-39 year old range, as well as a higher income bracket.

So, not only can mobile banking be a rather lucrative offering for banking customers, but it can also lower costs associated with those customers. Mobile banking is the way to go – have you joined the revolution?