Befriending the Bank
Ideas For Use
Pearson stated that because pens are lightweight, they're easily used in in direct mail campaigns. Schnier recommended tying the promotion into a larger marketing message the institution is trying to convey, such as having great customer service or easy online banking. She provided a hypothetical example where a pen that uses wash-proof ink, such as Sanford's Uni-ball 207 Gel, pictured [above], could be used in check security demos. The ink in the pen is impervious to a fraud practice known as check-washing, where defrauders seize completed-yet-uncashed checks, chemically wash the ink off the desired fields, and re-enter the information they want. "Institutions across the country are conducting seminars on identity theft prevention," she said. "Each participant [could be] provided with a sample of the pen with the bank's logo and experience the impact that this simple promotional item can have on his or her everyday life."