Ongoing Support

Your long-term profitability is just as important to us as your initial success. That's why our support continues for the life of your program. As a client, you'll receive:

• A post-implementation review of your program
• Periodic performance reviews and profitability analyses
• Program retraining (as needed)
• Evolutionary strategies to adapt to changing goals and market conditions
• Access to actionable market research
• Promotional marketing materials
• Field account executives and internal account managers dedicated to individual clients

If you'd like to learn more about a partnership with Affinion, contact us today.

In-Depth Support

Choosing to partner with Affinion means you'll receive our full support to introduce your value-added checking account to the market. Our support includes:

• Strategic Consultation, Profitability Review, and Research
• Value-Added Checking Benefits and Fulfillment
• Comprehensive Marketing Support

Strategic Consultation, Profitability Review, and Research

• Strategic Consultation - We will conduct a strategy meeting to outline the implementation, internal and external merchandising program, and product design. This full-day session involves all retail areas of your institution to ensure that the program meets your retail objectives.
• Pricing and Profitability Consultation - Pricing the package checking account properly is essential to success. Our marketing analysis team will provide detailed profit projections and pricing recommendations. Annually, the account executive will complete performance reports and relationship profit analyses to confirm the program is meeting your financial goals.
• Competitive Analysis - We will analyze your competitors' products and pricing to help you offer a program that's attractive to your customers.
• Implementation Assistance - An Affinion specialist will guide your program coordinator through the critical planning and startup period. We'll work with you to plan the kickoff, implement sales training, and coordinate the design, printing, and timely delivery of your program materials.
• Strategy and Implementation Manual - This manual includes information on all phases of the account's operation including kickoff, enrollment procedures, answers to many of the day-to-day questions that may arise, and employee training material. A valuable guide for your program's success, your operations manual provides a comprehensive resource for the ongoing operation of your program.
• White Papers and Guide Books - Research documents are available on a wide variety of topics. See what's available in our Client Resources Library section.
• Regular Communication - We'll share success stories and today's best marketing techniques through two quarterly publications. Financial executive publications are a rundown of current market trends and research to help you improve your overall packaged program, marketing techniques, customer service, and sales culture. Institution management publications are designed for your customer service representatives. This bulletin focuses on cross-selling tips, product information, and stories and letters we receive from Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) across the country.
• Ongoing Package Design - As your market situation changes over time, we'll provide business and profit reviews to ensure that you maintain optimum profitability and marketability. As your financial institution's goals change, we can upgrade and restructure your program to give you unique marketing advantages.
• Continuing Support - We don't stop once your program is in place. After the kickoff, you'll receive ongoing operational assistance from your personal client services account manager. We also have a team of account executives working across the country to help with the training and other on-site assistance.

Value-Added Checking Benefits and Fulfillment

• Choice of Benefits - We provide a portfolio of over 30 different value-added benefits and services you can choose from to design your package. Each benefit delivers your members savings, protection, or convenience to maximize customer uptake.
• Administration of Your Program Benefits - All member benefits are turnkey to eliminate development and support time. Member benefit fulfillment is provided by mail, toll-free telephone, or online (independent of or linked to your Web site).
• Quality Assurance Department - Our quality assurance department is staffed with professional member service representatives trained to respond with speed, accuracy, and friendliness to ensure members' satisfaction with the program benefits. The member service representatives are available via toll-free telephone each business day. Member service performance standards for each individual benefit are monitored by "mystery shopping" calls and a system of member comment postcards.
• Fulfillment Kits for Your Members - These kits contain supplies and information for your team to initiate a package membership. The kit is an invaluable tool for one-on-one sales presentations. We will produce a generous supply of fulfillment kits and deliver them to your institution.

Comprehensive Marketing Support

• Employee Training - At your request, an Affinion representative will facilitate training sessions that are compatible with your current training procedures. A training kit containing valuable product samples and sales tools is provided for each participant. No cost training on product knowledge and sales skills is provided for the life of your program. Our training sessions discuss how to effectively use your package program to increase the cross-selling of your institution's services. We focus on the strategic premise of the package, product knowledge, selling skills, and conclude with strong motivational concepts.
• Employee Incentives - You will receive consultation and planning for your sales incentive program - a critical ingredient to your success. With this proven program, you'll have the tools to build enthusiasm and support your selling staff. Referral cards can also be provided for your use.
• Media Support - Ready-to-use newspaper ads and radio spots are at your fingertips. Customizable TV ads are also available for license (separate fees apply).
• Direct Mail Campaign - A carefully planned and executed direct mail campaign is essential to the success of your packaged account. We provide a variety of tested creative packages in a quantity equal to your number of Demand Deposit Accounts (DDAs) each year.
• Point of Sale Materials - A variety of customized point of sale materials is available to create program awareness among your customers and your employees. You'll receive brochures personalized for your institution that provide essential information about the benefits offered in your program. We will also provide you with a wide variety of additional marketing support materials which may include in-lobby displays, lobby tent cards, lobby posters, lapel buttons, lanyards, Savers Club® Book display stands, indoor vinyl banners, and/or outdoor banners and multi-media tools.
• Benefit Promotional Kits - These kits let you promote the entire program by focusing on one benefit in the package. The following benefit kits may be used individually or as a series:
  • Savers Club® Book
  • Payment Card Protection
  • ID Network Safety Service
  • Sojourns® Travel Magazine
  • Medical Emergency Data Card
  • Online Local Savings
  • Remedy Check Protection™
  • Identity Theft Insurance
  • Get Up & Go
  • Discount Shopping Service
  • NetGain!
• Theme Promotional Kits - These promotional kits have what you need to create special seasonal campaigns highlighting the package checking program. Designed for the holidays, the summer travel season, or any time, these kits provide lobby materials and creative suggestions for capitalizing on opportunities to sell package checking accounts.
• Statement Stuffers - Several styles of customized statement stuffers are available as a promotional tool for the program. These pieces can also be used as teller and drive-through handouts.
• Aids for Creating Your Own Merchandising Materials - These guidelines and templates can help you create additional materials such as a customer switch kit or a sales newsletter.