HT Mobile Apps caught up with Mike Fleming, President and CEO of Litchfield National Bank, Litchfield, Illinois ($80 million in assets, 3 locations) about LNB Banker Jr.
How did you learn about Banker Jr?
I came across a very short write up in one of the national banking online daily news sites announcing the introduction of Banker Jr. The article caught my attention because, like most bank presidents, mobile banking and mobile apps were on my mind. What sparked my desire to learn more was that Banker Jr combined mobile, marketing, education and community support into one product.
As well, our bank is looking for ways to connect with the younger generation. I know my kids are all about game apps on their tablets and phones so mobile is definitely a way to reach younger clients. I picked up the phone and called Kathleen at HT Mobile Apps. Soon, we were one of the first banks in the country to launch Banker Jr for our community.
How does LNB Banker Jr fit in with your other financial education efforts?
While we don’t have a formal financial education program, we’ve been pleased that a couple of kindergarten teachers have begun to use LNB Banker Jr as a regular part of their curriculum to teach children money identification skills. All the fun sounds and images make their kids enjoy learning. We also introduce kids to LNB Banker Jr when they visit our bank for tours and field trips.
What kinds of things have you done to spread the word about LNB Banker Jr?
We have done a number of things to let people know about LNB Banker Jr. We let our customers know about our free app through lobby posters, statement messages, deposit receipt messages and our staff.
We created small cards with an activation code for LNB Banker Jr that we freely hand out at public events. We provide them for goodie bags at family events. When schools started back last summer, it was extremely hot. Our bank sponsored water bottles for all the children and included the cards with the bottles.
So, what’s the response been?
Response has been mixed both from our staff and our customers. Some, especially the younger generation, quickly embrace LNB Banker Jr as a powerful tool to teach financial concepts. slovakia . Others of an older generation are slower to try and recommend it. But the kids love it. They quickly pick up on how to use it and start playing right away.
What LBN Banker Jr has done very successfully is to help us break the ice to get started on mobile technology. Since mobile was unfamiliar to many of our staff and customers, we’ve needed to give them time to get comfortable with it. I’ve begun to see attitudes change to become more accepting of these new technology tools so I believe it’s only a matter of a little more time until mobile apps take off among our employees and customers.
Do you have any tips for others considering Banker Jr or launching it at their financial institution?
Banker Jr is an easy-to-implement mobile marketing tool that does much more than entertain. It is a good way to build awareness of your financial institution among young people who are your future clients.
Banker Jr is a tool that helps your bank stand out from the competition and show how you are keeping up with the times. We are the only financial institution in our market with an offering like LNB Banker Jr so that makes people notice us.
It’s a sound marketing investment as Banker Jr is always there, up to date and ready to use. Unlike ads that get seen once and forgotten, Banker Jr is a marketing tool that is available all the time.
Plus HT Mobile App team is great to work with and works hard to make their clients happy.
