Summer Marketing Ideas for Banks

• Help college students protect their credit as a summer marketing activity. Steve Allen/Photodisc/Getty Images

  In the summer, take advantage of the sunshine and warm temperatures with promotions and marketing activities that will keep your bank's customers engaged and interested. Look for opportunities that target families with college-bound students, and market specials that relate to seasonal projects or interests of people in your area.

Summer Savings Goals

• Focus on savings accounts by running a marketing campaign that promotes summer savings goals. You might set up a special account that's designed to help customers accumulate money toward a specific goal, like a vacation or a back-to-school wardrobe. To market the program, stuff a flyer or brochure in each statement envelope, send out emails to your paperless customers, and put up signs in the banks. By encouraging your customers to start thinking about savings during the summer, you can increase business and promote financial health year-round.

College Promotions

• When parents are enjoying their last months with children who've recently graduated from high school, you can focus your marketing efforts on getting ready for school in the fall. Help parents of college-bound students prepare their children for financial responsibility by holding credit seminars that address the basics of responsible credit management. At each session, discuss the things that soon-to-be college students need to know, like balancing a checking account, budgeting, managing credit, and the importance of maintaining a healthy credit score. By helping parents, you can build confidence and establish yourself as a credible source of financial expertise.

Home Improvement Loans

• Create a special home improvement loan that will attract people who are making repairs to their homes in the warm weather. You might offer a special low-interest rate for the summer months, for example, or provide the loan without interest until fall hits. By offering to help customers with seasonal projects, you can build relationships and increase business for your bank.

Wedding Gifts

• Summer is the prime time for weddings, and you can use this to your marketing advantage. For people who are planning for weddings in the upcoming year, you can advertise special savings accounts and mutual funds that are designed to put money away for the ceremony. You can also market financial products as wedding gift ideas that will have lasting value for the bride and groom, like stocks, bonds, IRA contributions, or certificates of deposit. Because financial planning associated with weddings can be confusing, using it as a part of your marketing plan can be effective in bringing in new customers who need this particular assistance.