BLF and F&M Bank Win ABA Bank Marketing Award
1/15/2008 - The American Bankers Association Marketing Network has recognized BLF Marketing and its client, F&M Bank, with a top Financial Marketing Award. The First Place award honored F&M’s GoldCrest Customer
(L to R): Jeff Bibb, BLF Marketing; Fred Landiss, F&M Bank; David Hoke, BLF Marketing
The ABA Marketing Network announced its top marketing award winners at an Awards Gala on Sept. 17, during the organization’s three-day annual conference in Baltimore. Jeff Bibb and David Hoke of BLF Marketing, along with Fred Landiss, F&M senior vice president, were present to receive the honor.
The 2007 ABA competition had 390 entries in 11 categories. A panel of financial services marketers and advertising professionals judged each category based on implementation of communications strategy, tone, message, positioning and overall quality.
F&M Bank’s GoldCrest Program was developed in cooperation with BLF Marketing as a way to recognize, reward and retain the bank’s customers with highest account balances. Since first implementing the F&M GoldCrest Program in 2004, BLF Marketing has rolled out similar programs with several community bank clients in other markets.
Jeff Bibb, BLF’s managing partner commented, “F&M Bank’s GoldCrest Program was developed to provide an imaginative, measurable and sustainable method to build deeper loyalty with the bank’s most sought after customers. While GoldCrest is good for the bank, it’s also great for customers because it rewards them with very attractive benefits and preferred pricing. F&M Bank’s customers love their GoldCrest status, too, with the number of qualifying customers having more than doubled in less than three years.”
F&M’s Landiss added, “GoldCrest has provided our bank with a tool for recognizing an important group of customers, and is also a method for communicating with them on a regular basis. Our GoldCrest customers appreciate and enjoy the extra perks they receive from this program.”
F&M Bank, headquartered in Clarksville, has assets of $590 million with 13 full service banking facilities in Montgomery, Stewart, Robertson, Wilson and Rutherford counties. In addition to Landiss, the F&M Marketing team members who have developed GoldCrest are marketing vice presidents Shela Williams and Khandra Smalley,
BLF Marketing provides strategic marketing services to clients in seven states. Founded in 1978, the firm specializes in marketing for banking and financial services, real estate companies, health care providers, business-to-business companies and professional service firms. BLF has offices in Clarksville and Nashville.
The BLF-produced video "Crossroads of Change, Clarksville, Tennessee 1861-1865," has been honored with two prestigious awards. The video provides a perspective of the impact of the Civil War upon Clarksville and its inhabitants during the years 1861 to 1865. 
From corporate branding displays ... to interactive museum exhibits ... to video that brings your unique story to life, BLF Marketing is prepared to help you achieve success.