• Setting a checking account advertisement as a display message on ATMs may intrigue customers.atm user image by Neelrad from Fotolia.com
  
  Checking account products --- that is, various forms of checking accounts --- are popular at banks because the accounts are so easily linked to debit cards. However, with so many banks in business, bank managers have to come up with ways to market checking account products competitively. This isn't always easy, as it can be challenging to market in a cost-effective way.
  
  

Direct Mail

• Direct mailing is one of the oldest marketing methods banks use. You can slip paper ads in with statements for other accounts or send postcards advertising the checking account products. This is a good option if you want to increase the number of checking account products you offer in a particular small region or at a particular branch, since an extensive direct-mailing campaign is expensive.
  
  

ATM Messages

• Most ATMs actually are controlled by small computers. You can program these computers to show whatever message you like to customers. Have the display message advertise what checking account product you are promoting, or list all the checking account product options. When people use the ATM, they will see the message before and after they complete the transaction. This is a good presentation method if your objective is to increase the number of accounts current members have.
  
  

Promotional Displays

• Promotional displays work well for in-bank advertising of checking accounts. Set them up near the teller counter so people have to see them as they go about their bank business. The display could be just a large easel with poster board, but you also can make a display of items the customers will get for free if they open the checking account.
  
  

Website Advertising

• With more and more people turning to the Internet for business and entertainment, online banking has become popular. Use this to your advantage and put a prominent advertisement for the checking account products on the homepage for your bank's website. The advertisement should be a link to a separate page where people can learn about how to open checking accounts. The good thing about this method of presentation is that you'll pay only the cost of the Web hosting and coding even though you'll reach a large audience.
  
  

Social Media

• Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are increasingly popular, as are mobile devices. Take advantage of this and create a Facebook and Twitter account where you can alert people about promotions for the checking account products. Send text messages to current customers; the text messages can contain links or URLs for your bank website and encourage customers to ask about the checking accounts. You also can use mass email, but with spam filters becoming tighter in terms of what they catch, other social media may be more effective.