Monday, June 06, 2005
A tag line is a terrible thing to waste.
I bank with BB&T, which happens to be the 9th largest financial holding company in the U.S. Most people don't know that. That included me until I looked them up for this post. Anyway, last week they sent me a flyer for their financial services. Down at the bottom was a bold line: "At BB&T Investment Services, you can tell we want your business."
I could see where they were going with that line -- service that stands out above and beyond the call of duty and all of that. But somehow, the line came across as soft, hokey and a little desperate.
It got me thinking, though. I wondered if all bank tag lines were as wimpy as BB&T's. So I looked up some of the big banks. I found out that not every bank uses a tag line, a fact that surprised me. But here are some of the taglines I did find:
Chase: Your choice. Your Chase.
Bank of America: Higher Standards
J.P. Morgan: World-class. Worldwide.
Bankers Trust: It's our name...and our promise.
Washington Mutual: We're really not like other banks
U.S. Bank: Other banks promise great service, U.S. Bank guarantees it.
Lloyds TSB -- it's your money, make the most of it.
HSBC -- The world's local bank
I think the problem I have with the BB&T line is that it overstates the obvious. Every bank wants my business, not just BB&T. Likewise, every bank promises exceptional service in one way or another, not just BB&T. For me, there's nothing compelling here.
I thought it was weak, too, when I first heard it. But now that it's been out there for a few months (or more?), it's grown on me. It's not been enough to convince me to give them my business, but I think it conveys a specific image pretty well.
: 10:20 AM
Citizens Bank
Not Your Typical Bank
Completely undifferentiating, in my mind. Everyone wants to be different in this most commoditized of categories.
Bank of America
Higher Standards
Quite nice, I think. It is a leaderly, aspirational statement that also manages to say something about financial performance.
Cambridge Trust
Welcome Back to Banking
A good line that conveys a sense of personal service; the way banking used to be. For full disclosure, this line comes out of my agency, so I won't claim objectivity.
: 10:42 AM<< Home
