I still don’t even understand the CBA ad that floats the concept of them having used an American ad agency. It was a joke? It shows what they would do to overcome an ill-informed agency? I just really don’t get it.
I think in reality, real CBA people did get pitched a series of ads from a half-brained agency but the real marketing staff actually were duped.
OR
The brief they gave the agencies was so stupid that the agencies could only come back with dross.

And why advertise anyway? The millions of dollars these ads cost will not be what encourages an individual or business to swap banks. They’d be better off to channel their shareholders’ money into supporting worthy causes and show that even though they have no brains, they at least have hearts!

This should be something we receive as an absolute standard. This is not a privilege!

Its pretty sad that today a company can try to differentiate itself by telling us they will keep their promises and give us good customer service.

“Thank you” to ‘The Greater’ Building Society who has the thoughtfulness to use Jerry Seinfeld in their ads, following in the ING/Billy Conolly tried and true formula…at least then I feel like they’ve made the effort to deliver their message in a way I at least find palatable

Bank West have the best Ads by far…I believe they even make some sort of effort to keep their promises too! But that’s just what I hear…I have no personal experience with them.

I wonder how many banks get their new business from referral? It seems to me the main reason people change banks is to get away from an unfortunate experience. A bit like incumbent governments that lose rather than oppositions that win. Banks never actually win new business, they just pick up what another bank loses.

Oh yes, and the ad is incredibly annoying. What is the child doing in the meeting anyway? What does b-b-basket-ball have to do with anything. How would a customer write anything meaningful on a ball, for Pete’s sake?

I have a better idea. Banks could provide suggestion forms, bricks and elastic bands at their branches. A dissatisfied customer writes the suggestion onto the form, wraps it round the brick with the elastic band, goes outside and “submits” their suggestion by throwing it through the bank’s shopfront window. The bank acknowledges receipt with the brief sound of breaking glass.

That ought to make them take notice.

While they’re at it, they could chuck one through the front window of the ad agency too.

between CBA’s ads (the one mentioned above, coupled with all the related ads) just makes all decision makers at banks look like halfwits. They want themselves portrayed as engaging snake oil salesmen to promote their services?? what?

And it is also the ANZ bank, where we are all meant to be amazed that an employee of their bank, who is high enough to be a boardroom decision-maker can actually come up with a good idea – THAT’S how they want to best portray themselves? Or another employee who can’t manage to open the door to his office. mmmm, good one ANZ, show your “Falcon” security system to be overly-complicated and not work anyway, GREAT advertising that.

And as for any bank claiming that they will promise to fix what’s wrong – we all KNOW that this means “Ooops, if we stuffed up, we’ll fix it (because legally we have to anyway), but if it is just something you think we SHOULD do, well haw-haw-haw that won’t happen because we own the bat and the ball in this game.” so what’s the point of the ad?

Dear CBA, I am not happy with paying an overdraught fee. Please promise to fix it so I never get charged this again. – Oh yeah, I’ll hold my breath on that one shall I?

Myself and many friends are caught up in the Storm Financial Scenario and we are all being totally screwed by the banks, ASIC and Financial Planners all of whom have lied cheated and to date are getting away with it. To top it off they are telling the general public how nice they are to sort out their mistakes and the public believe it, just wished it were true.

I believe the term “honest banking” or “trust me I am a financial adviser” are examples of an oxymoron.

There is nothing honest or trustworthy of any of them.

Cheers

That’s right spend vasts amount of money on advertising campaigns instead of making wrongs right and improve your true service and image through word of mouth from happier customers.