Bank Marketing

INDEX
SR.
NO.

DESCRIPTION

Pg no.

Executive summary
1.

The Financial System

2.

Origin of The Word BANK

3.

Definition of Bank and marketing

4.

Finance and banking in India

5.

Users of Banking Services

6.

Meaning of Marketing

7.

Evolution of the marketing concept

8.

Marketing and Competition

9.

Marketing Concepts Its application to

Banking

10.

Meaning of Bank Marketing

11.

Market Research in Indian Banks

12.

Increasing Importance of Marketing in Banking

Industry

13.

Market Segmentation

14.

Marketing Mix for Banking Services

15.

Strategies for Segmentation

16.

Marketing Mix for banking services

17.

Strategies for effective bank marketing in India

18.

Technology in Banking

19.

What are customer services

20.

Case study

21.

Bank Marketing in the Indian Perceptive

22.

Future of Bank Marketing

23.

Conclusion

24.

Refrences

Bank Marketing

THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM

The financial system consists of variety of institutions, markets and
instruments that are related in the manner shown in the below figure,
it provides the principal means by which saying are transformed into
investment. Given its role in the allocation of resources, the efficient
functioning of the financial system is of critical importance to a
modern economy. Financial manager negotiate loans from financial
institutions, raises resources in financial marked and invests surplus
funds in financial market. In very significant way he manages the
interface between the form and its financial environment.
Financial System placed a very important role in the development of a
country. Through Financial System, entire money or money equals
are channelized in such a way so that each sector of economy like
industry, agriculture and services can be developed rationally.
Financial sector development is the locomotive force for economic
development of a country.

Bank Marketing

ORIGIN OF THE WORK BANK

According to some economists the word Bank has been derived from
the German word BANC which means a Joint Stock Firm while others
say that it has been derived from the Italian world BANCO which
means a heap or mound.
There is still another group of people who believe that word bank has
been derived from the Greek work BANQUE which means a bench.
In the olden days, Jews entered into money transactions sitting on
benches in a marked place. When a banker was not in a position to
meat his obligations, the on which he was carrying on the money
business was broken into pieces and the was taken as bankrupt.
Thus both the words Bank or bankrupt are said to have origin from
the word Banque.

DEFINITION OF BANK
According to Oxford English Dictionary, Bank is, An establishment for
custody of money received from or on behalf of, its customers. Its
essential duty is the payment of the orders given on it by the
customers, its profit mainly from the investment of money left unused
by them.
Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (Sec. 5(c)), has defined the banking
company as, Banking Company means any company which
transacts business of banking in India. According to Section 5B,
banking means the accepting of deposit of money from the public for

Bank Marketing

the purpose of leading or investment, which are repayable on

demand or otherwise and are withdrawable by cheque, draft, order or
otherwise.
Different economists, banking professionals and authorities explained
their viewpoint regarding bank or commercial bank. It has been rightly
said by A.K. Basu that a general definition of a bank or banking is by
no means easy, as the concepts of banking differ from age to age,
and country to country.

FINANCE AND BANKING IN INDIA

India is a vast country, Before 1947, undivided India was equal to
Europe excluding Russia in its area. It is situated in south of Asia. In
spite of a part of Asia, it is separated from it. It is separated by
Himalayas in North India. India has vast oceans in South, East and
West. Due to its vastness it is also called sub continent. That vast
country has given different names in different times. In Vedic period, it
was called Arya-V-arat. In Bir period and ancient period, it as called
Bharatvarash. Perhaps due to fame of king Bharat, it was called
Bharatvarsh. Greek called it Indus on the name of river Sindh.
Iranians called it Hindu. Chinese travelers called it Tienchu and Yintu.
Ipsing called Arya Desh and Brahmrashtra. Bible has called it
Hoddu. In medieval period, it was called Hindustan and Hind.
European called it India. After Independence, it is return as Bharat
Ganrajya or Indian Republic in Indian Constitution.

Bank Marketing

EVOLUTION OF THE MARKETING CONCEPT

The Role of marketing in the banking industry continues to change.
For many years the primary focus of bank marketing was public
relations. Then the focus shifted to advertising and sales promotion.
That was followed by focus on the development of a sales culture.
Although all the elements of the marketing concept customer
satisfaction, profit integrated framework, and social responsibility
will remain important, customer satisfaction must receive the greatest
emphasis in the years ahead.
The chief concerns of most bank executives still focus on legal and
regulatory issues, according to most surveys. Community banks are
particularly concerned with eliminating barriers that give unfair
advantages to financial services competitors, such as credit unions.
However, another concern pertains to technology: keeping nonblank
competitors out of the payment system.

Bankers Identify Near-Team and Long Term Concerns

1991
Maintaining profitability

2015
Service quality

Credit Portfolio Management

Maintaining profitability

Service Quality

Market / customer focus

Regional Economy

Operations/systems/technology

Cost

Management

Expense Credit portfolio management

reduction

Productivity improvement

Declining Earnings/ more failures

Investment to stay competitive

Market / customer focus

Stock market value

5

Bank Marketing

Capital adequacy

Asset/liability management

Stock market value

Electronic Banking

Industry Overcapacity

When this gateway system was first proposed, access to the Internet
was very new and few banks had the resources and knowledge to set
up their own direct-access lines for customers. Customers have
shown a growing interest in online banking services, and banks have
responded by quickly putting in place proprietary sites on the World
Wide Web and offering PC banking.
Within the next five years, 93 percent of community bank executives
surveyed say they plan to offer telephone banking, and 79 percent
plan to offer PC banking.
When asked which technology holds the most potential for the future,
bank executives identified call centers first. As customers continue
the transition the transition into a high-tech world in which they want
information and answers more quickly and accurately than ever
before, call centers offer the ideal bridge. With 24-hour access to
either automated information or live operators, customers do
everything from check their accounts to apply for a loan. Bank
executives also identified PC banking as having the most promise for
the future, followed by Interest access and broad function kiosks.

Bank Marketing

MARKETING AND COMPETITION

In view of the declining profitability and productivity of the banking
sector and extremely low rate of profit percentage, the determination
of the financial health of the system requires drastic remedial
measures not only to build up investor confidence but also to combat
competition from all over. It is time that the pros and cons of the
oncoming banking era are properly understood and advantage taken
of various opportunities. This will require an efficient marketing
approach to bank management in which target markets will be tackled
successfully along with effective satisfaction levels and in which the
usual basic elements product, pricing, promotion and distribution
will be taken care of in a proper format of an efficiently working
marketing organization.
The nationalised banks must face competition from private banks,
non-banking financial institutions, foreign banks and others. The
competition is in the fields of deposits and credits, foreign trade,
consumer

credit

and

miscellaneous

banking

activities.

The

competition will benefit customers and force the banking system to

raise its productivity, minimize expenses, and remain sensitive to
evolving

issues.

recommending

Narasimham

internal

autonomy

Committee
long

with

Reports

while

compliance

with

prudential norms suggested rule-based credit policies, fiscal balance

and a gradual movement towards liberatlisation.
To deal with the competition from foreign banks, the Indian banks
should go in for diversification and extension of services as well as
expansion of products and business. Economic freedom and
7

Bank Marketing

innovative spirit have contributed greatly to the success of the

market-oriented financial sector in the Western countries. Directed
credit and investment has done just the opposite. Interventionism is
not necessarily bad provided it is associated with a committed
leadership. Indian financial sector had for more than four decades,
neither full economic freedom nor a well disciplined interventionism
so that it cost operational flexibility as well as functional autonomy
both of which were concerned with profitability performance and
related factors.

MARKETING CONCEPTS
Its application to Banking, When we apply marketing to the banking
industry, the bank marketing strategy can be said to include the
following
i)

A very clear definition of target customers.

ii)

The development of a marketing mix to satisfy customers at

a profit for the bank.

iii)

Planning for each of the source markets & each of the use
markets (A Bank needs to be doubly market oriented it
has to attract funds as well as were of funds & services.

iv)

Organisation & Administration.

BANK MARKETING

Bank Marketing

We define bank marketing as follows: Bank marketing is the

aggregate of functions, directed at providing services to satisfy
customers financial (and other related) needs and wants, more
effectively and efficiently that the competitors keeping in view the
organizational objectives of the bank. Bank marketing activity. This
aggregate of functions is the sum total of all individual activities
consisting of an integrated effort to discover, create, arouse and
satisfy customer needs. This means, without exception, that each
individual working in the bank is a marketing person who contributes
to the total satisfaction to customers and the bank should ultimately
develop customer orientation among all the personnel of the bank.
Different banks offer different benefits by offering various schemes
which can take care of the wants of the customers.
Marketing helps in achieving the organizational objectives of the
bank. Indian banks have duel organizational objective commercial
objective to make profit and social objective which is a developmental
role, particularly in the rural area.
Marketing concept is essentially about the following few thing which
contribute towards banks success:
1)

The bank cannot exist without the customers.

2)

The purpose of the bank is to create, win, and keep a customer.

3)

The customer is and should be the central focus of everything

the banks does.

4)

It is also a way of organizing the bank. The starting point for

organizational design should be the customer and the bank
should ensure that the services are performed and delivered in
9

Bank Marketing

the most effective way. Service facilities also should be

designed for customers convenience.
5)

Ultimate aim of a bank is to deliver total satisfaction to the

customer.

6)

Customer satisfaction is affected by the performance of all the

personal of the bank.

All the techniques and strategies of marketing are used so that

ultimately they induce the people to do business with a particular
bank. Marketing is an organizational philosophy. This philosophy
demands the satisfaction of customers needs as the pre-requisite for
the existence and survival of the bank. The first and most important
step in applying the marketing concept is to have a whole hearted
commitment to customer orientation by all the employees. Marketing
is an attitude of mind. This means that the central focus of all the
activities of a bank is customer. Marketing is not a separate function
for banks. The marketing function in Indian Bank is required to be
integrated with operation.
Marketing is much more than just advertising and promotion; it is a
basic part of total business operation. What is required for the bank is
the market orientation and customer consciousness among all the
personal of the bank. For developing marketing philosophy and
marketing culture, a bank may require a marketing coordinator or
integrator at the head office reporting directly to the Chief Executive
for effective coordination of different functions, such as marketed
research, training, public relations, advertising, and business
development, to ensure customer satisfaction. The Executive Director
is the most suitable person to do this coordination work effectively in
10

Bank Marketing

the Indian public sector banks, though ultimately the Chief Executive
is responsible for the total marketing function. Hence, the total
marketing function involves the following:
a) Market research

i.e. identification of customers financial

needs and wants and forecasting and
researching

future

financial

market

needs and competitors activities.

b) Product Development

i.e.

appropriate

products

to

meet

activities

and

consumers financial needs.

c) Pricing of the service

i.e.,

promotional

distribution system in accordance with

the guidelines and rules of the Reserve
Bank of India and at the same time
looking for opportunities to satisfy the
customers better.
d) Developing market

i.e., marketing culture among all the

customer-consciousness Personnel of
the bank through training.

Thus, it is important to recognize the fundamentally different functions

that bank marketing has to perform. Since the banks have to attract
deposits and attract users of funds and other services, marketing
problems are more complex in banks than in other commercial
concerns.

MARKET RESEARCH IN INDIAN BANKS

11

Bank Marketing

After enquiring with all the public and 14 private sector banks whether
they had undertaken any market research studies. The following
board areas of market research were considered for the study:
(a) New service development,
(b) New service product acceptance,
(c) Research and development of existing financial service,
(d) Bank images study,
(e) Measuring banks advertising effectiveness,
(f) Measurement of market potentials,
(g) Market research of competitive service products,
(h) Customers opinion study,
(i) Customer profile study, and
(j) Market share analysis.
In response to the inquiry information was received from 17 banks.
Out of these banks, 14 are public sector banks and 3 are private
sector banks. Two nationalized banks and two private sector banks
informed that they have not conducted any markets research studies.
Information regarding Bankwise Market Research Studies
Bank
1. Allahabad Bank

Title of the Market

Remarks
Research Study
a. Survey
on
Customer Not
formal
Service

report

2. Bank of Baroda

prepared.
b. Marketing of deposits and MP
allied

services

residents

12

to

Ranade:

non- BMP Thesis.

customers

Bank Marketing

3. Canara Bank

opinion (1958)
a. Marketing research study For internal use
for

two

new

deposit only

schemes (1989)
4. Central Bank of a. Market survey of customer Conducted
India

services

by

the students of

b. Marketing

deposits BITS,

(Customers)

Pilani.

For internal use

only

service

(1986)
5. Indian Overseas a. Potential areas for future For internal use
Bank
business expansion
only
6. Oriental Bank of a. Study of customer service R
Upendran
Commerce

in

OBC

with

special MBP Thesis

reference to metropolitan
7. Punjab
Bank

branches (1989)
National a. Sample
survey
customers

on For internal use

responses only

(1987)

For internal use

b. Sample

survey

on only

customer service (1988)

Formal Report

c. Study on deposit linked

housing

loan

(1982)
8. Punjab and Sind a. Study
Bank

on

turnover

scheme
customer For internal use
(mail only

questionnaire based study

of customers who have
closed

their

accounts) J S Kalra:

(1989)

BMP Thesis

b. Changing Profile of Punjab

13

Bank Marketing

and

Sind

Customers

Banks
and

their

expectorations, a survey
9. State

Bank

Bikaner

based study (1988)

of a. A survey on customer For internal use
service, level of customer only
satisfaction and customer

10. Syndicate
Bank

expectations (1998)
a. Evaluation Study on the For internal use
quality of customer service only
(1989)
b. Marketing of bank service K M Kanath
with special reference to BMP Thesis
branches in Bombay city
of

11.

Syndicate

Bank-

customer service (1979)

Union Bank of a. Customer responses

India
12. UCO Bank

(Opinion) survey (1988)

a. Customers opinion study
(1989)

customer opinion (1987)

b. Improvement of customer
service in a metropolitan

14. Vijay Bank

15. Karur
Bank

only
For internal use
only

13. United Bank of a. Report of the survey on

India

For internal use

branch (1979)
a. Report of the customer

service survey (1988)

Vysya a. Study on the image of the
bank (1989)

14

For internal use

only
K P Ramesh
Rao
BNP Thesis
Formal Report
Undertaken by
a Consultant

Bank Marketing

Most of these market research studies were conducted for internal

use and no formal reports were prepared. It is important to note the
subject or issue researched by the bank. The most important subject
for market research in terms of the number of studies conducted, is
the customer service / customer profile opinion studies. Few banks
have conducted even more than one customer service / opinion
studies.

INCREASING

IMPORTANCE

OF

MARKETING

IN

BANKING INDUSTRY
The various other factors which have led to the increasing importance
of marketing in the banking industry are categorized as follows:
Government Initiatives
The Indian economy embarked on the process of economic reform
and various policy measures initiated by the government resulted in
the

increasing

competition

in

the

banking

industry, thereby

highlighting the importance of effective marketing. The Narasimhan

Committee Report evidence of the Governments desire to reregulate the banking industry so as to encourage efficiency through
competition. The Government initiatives include:
Deregulation of Interest Rates
The bank may reduce their Minimum Lending Rates so as to attract
customers (individual and corporate). Such reduction in lending rates
reduce the spread between the deposit rates and lending rates, i.e.
the banks margins would decline and they would have to increase

15

Bank Marketing

their volumes or provide attractive services so as to maintain profits.

This calls for bank marketing.
Increasing Emphasis on Bank Profitability:
With the Narasimhan Committee Report, banks have been directed to
improve their efficiency, productivity and profitability. Banks are
required to be self-sufficient. In fact, the report has adopted the BIS
standards of capital adequacy (though in a phased manner).
Foreign Banks
Foreign banks offer stiff competition to the Indian Banks and with their
superior services and technology offer them a competitive advantage.
Thus Indian Banks have to effectively apply marketing concepts to
attract customers.
Entry of New Private Banks
In the early 90s new competition emerged in the form of new Private
Banks, who brought along with them a high technology-based
banking matching with International Standards and have made a
significant dent in the banking business by capturing substantial
share in the profits of the banking industry.
Reduction of Statutory Liquidity Ratio:
With the Governments aim of reducing the SLR to 25 percent, the
banks will have surplus funds for which they will have to attract users.
Social Environment
Increasing Urbanization, Education and Awareness: The higher
literacy level, migration to urban areas and higher awareness due to
16

Bank Marketing

the boom in the mass media have important implications for the retail
banker. He needs to be conscious of the fact the increasing
proportion of people are aware of financial service and are, therefore
demanding and expecting higher quality services.
Increasing Urbanization, Education and Awareness: The higher
literacy level, migration to urban areas and higher awareness due to
the boom in the mass media have important implications for the retail
banker. He needs to be conscious of the fact the increasing
proportion of people are aware of financial service and are, therefore
demanding and expecting higher quality services.
Decline in Traditional Indian Values (Borrowing as Taboo), Rising
Consumerism, Rise in the Percentage of Working Women.
Technology Development
Modernization of Technology has facilitated the introduction of new
banking services as to attract new customers. An example of this is
the Automated Teller Machines or the facility of Any Time Money.
Also in foreign countries, banks are experimenting with money
transmission at Point of sale, e.g., petrol station linked with banking
network.
Credit is Easier to Obtain
Growing Importance of Non-Banking Financial Institutions: Fixed
Deposits being offered by the NBFCs are very attractive for the
public, because of the wide gap of interest rates offered by banks on
term deposits and that offered by the NBCSs. further, they offer a

17

Bank Marketing

variety of specialized services to their customers so as to attract and

retain them.
Disintermediation: The increasing role of capital markets in
mobilizing

funds

is

reducing

the

importance

of

banks

as

intermediaries. Companies are directly approaching the savers

through the capital markets. Mutual funds help in attracting the small
investors who do not want to take much risk.

MARKETING CONCEPTS ITS APPLICATION TO

BANKING
When we apply marketing to the banking industry, the bank marketing
strategy can be said to include the following:
i.

A very clear definition of target customers.

ii.

The Development of marketing mix to satisfy customers at a

profit for the bank.

iii.

Planning for each of the source markets and each of the user
markets (A bank needs to be doubly market oriented its has
to attract funds as well as users of funds and services).

iv.

Organization and Administration.

Consumer Behavior and Segmentation

Need for segmentation
Philip Kotler has described the dilemma of the seller (especially, a
seller dealing with masses, e.g. banks) as follows:

18

Bank Marketing

How the seller determines which buyers characteristics produce the

best partitioning of a particular market? The seller does not want to
treat all customers alike nor does he want to treat them all differently.
Banks deal with individuals, group of persons and corporates, all of
whom have their likes and dislikes. No bank can afford to assess the
needs of each and every individual buyer (actual or potential).
Segmentation of the market into more or less homogenous groups, in
terms of their needs and expectations from the banking industry,
provides a solution to this problem.
This involves dividing the market into major market segments,
targeting one or more of this segments, and developing products and
marketing programs tailor-made for these segments.
In the first segmentation, the market is divided from a unitary whole,
to groups of buyers who might require separate products and
marketing mix. The marketer typically tries to identify different
segments in the market and develop profiles of resulting market
segments.
The second step is market targeting in which each segments
attractiveness is measured and a target segment is chosen based on
tits attractiveness.
The third step is product positioning which is the act of establishing a
viable competitive position of the firm and its offer in the target
segment chosen.

19

Bank Marketing

In the process of segmentation, the market can be divided into major

segments which are gross slices of the market, or into smaller
specially formed segments, otherwise known as niches. Niche
customers have a specific set of needs which the markerter tries to
address. While a market segment attracts several competitors, a
niche attracts fewer competitors and therefore, a company should
clearly define its target segment and devise strategies to target the
customer, so that it has a competitive advantage in the segment.
These concepts can be applied in personal banking by an Indian
Bank. Traditionally, Indian Banks have not had any conscious strategy
for selecting customers from the personal banking area, apart from
some banks which have a geographic concentration strategy such as
concentrating on a particular region or state. These banks will have to
segment the market on certain basis, and identify market segments or
niches which they want to cater to. For example, a bank like SBI may
not be able to cater high income groups (say, managers, professional,
NRIs, etc. who earn above Rs. 4,00,000 p.a. and who want a higher
quality of products / services and who are willing to pay for them), as
the services required by such a profile of customers are entirely
different from the kind of products / services SBI can offer.
Initiation of Segmentation in India
Station Bank of India was the first Indian Bank to adopt the concept of
market segmentation. In 1972, it reorganized itself on the basis of
major market segments dividing customers on the basis of activity
and carved out 4 major market segments, viz. Commercial and
Institutional,

Small

Industries

and

20

Small

Business

Segment,

Bank Marketing

Agriculture, Personal and Services Banking. The objectives of this

scheme were:
Deeper penetration and coverage of market by looking
outwards.
Adequate flexibility of organization to accommodate growth and
rapid change,
Delegation of work for releasing senior management for more
futuristic tasks.
Criteria for Segmentation
Segmentation in a right fashion makes the ways for profitable
marketing. This helps policy planner in formulating and innovating the
policies and at the same time also simplifies the task of bank
professionals while formulating an innovating the strategic decisions.
The following criteria make possible rig segmentation.
An important criterion for market segmentation the economic system
in which we find agricultural sector, industrial sector, services sector,
household sector, institutional sector and rural sector requiring of
weightage while segmenting.
Agricultural Sector: In the agricultural sector, there are four category
rise since the needs of all the categories cants be identical.

21

Bank Marketing

The mechanization of agriculture, the improved or scientific system of

activation, the help of nature, the magnitude of risk, the availability
infrastructural facilities influence the level of expectations vis--vis the
needs and requirements. The banking organization are supposed to
know and under stand the changing requirements of different
categories of farmers.
Industrial Sector: The banking organizations subserve the interests
of the industrial sector. The large-sized, small-sized co-operative and
tiny industries use the services of banks. The expectations of all the
categories cants be uniform.

The banking organizations are supposed to have an indepth

knowledge of the changing needs and requirements of the industrial
segment.
Services sector: It is an important sector of the economy where the
banking organizations get profitable business. The two categories of
organizations such as profit-making and not-for-profit making are
found important in the very context.

22

Bank Marketing

The banking organizations need to identify the changing needs and

requirements of the services sector. With the frequent use of
information technologist and with the mounting pressure of inflation
and competition, we find a change in the hierarchy of needs.
Household Sector: This is also constitutes an important sector
where different income group have different needs and requirements.
in below figure we find the different segments of the household sector.

Household Segment: The high income group, middle income group,

low income group, substance level group and marginal income group
have different hierarchy of need which influence the level of their
expectations.

23

Bank Marketing

Gender Segment: In the gender segments, we find male and female

having different needs and requirements. The banking organizations
are supposed to identify the level expectations of both sexes.

Some of the women are housewives and therefore they have different
need and requirements whereas some of them are working ladies
having different needs and requirements.
In the profession segments, we find different categories of
professions an therefore we find a change in their needs and
requirements.

The technocrats, bureaucrats, corporate executives, intellects, white

and blue collar employees have different needs and requirements
and

therefore

the

banking

organizations

expectations.
24

should

know

their

Bank Marketing

Some of the organizations are known as cultural organizations, some

of them are not for profit making, some of them are philanthropic
and some of them are related to trade and commerce. The emerging
trends in the social transformation process determine the hierarchy of
needs.

Markets segmentation thus simplifies the task of understanding the

customers/prospects. The bank professional find it convenient to
formulate and innovate the marketing mix of world class which
simplify the process of excelling competition.
In the Indian perspective where we find agrarian economy
contributing substantially to the transformation of national economy, it
is pertinent that the banking organizations assign due weightage to
the rural sector of the economy where we find tremendous
opportunities.
The urbanization is likely to gain the momentum and villages,
outskirts of big towns and cities are to be developed on a priority
basis. Almost

all

the

organizations

25

are

to

get

tremendous

Bank Marketing

opportunities there. The marketing resources if of innovative nature

would make the ways for capitalizing on the same profitably.

MARKETING MIX FOR BANKING SERVICES

The formulation of marketing mix for the banking services is the prime
responsibility of the bank professional who based on their expertise
and excellence attempt to market the services and schemes
profitably.
The bank professionals having world class excellence make possible
frequency in the innovation process which simplify their task of selling
more but spending less. The four submixes of the marketing mix,
such as the product mix, the promotion mix, the price mix and the
place mix, no doubt, are found significant even to the banking
organizations but in addition to the traditional combination of receipts,
the marketing experts have also been talking about some more mixes
for getting the best result. The People as a submix is now found
getting a new place in the management of marketing mix. It is right to
mention that the quality of people/employees serving an organization
assumes a place of outstanding significance. This requires a strong
emphasis on the development of personally-committed, value-based,
efficient employees who contribute substantially to the process of
making the efforts cost effective. In addition, we also find some of the
marketing experts talking about a new mix, i.e. physical appearance.
In the corporate world, the personal care dimension thus becomes
important. The employees re supposed to be well dressed, smart and
active. Besides, we also find emphasis on Process which gravitates
our attention on the way of offering the services. It is only not
26

Bank Marketing

sufficient that you promise quality services. It is much more impact

generating that your promises reach to the ultimate users without any
distortion. The banking organizations, of late, face a number of
challenges and the organizations assigning an overriding priority to
the formulation processes get a success. The formulation of
marketing mix is just like the combination of ingredients, spices in the
cooking process.
THE PRODUCT MIX: The banks primarily deal in services and
therefore, the formulation of product mix is required to be in the face
of changing business environmental conditions. Of course the public
sector commercial banks have launched a number of polices and
programmers for the development of backward regions and welfare of
the weaker sections of the society but at the same it is also right to
mention that their development-oriented welfare programmes are not
optimal to the national socio-economic requirements. The changing
psychology, the increasing expectations, the rising income, the
changing lifestyles, the increasing domination of foreign banks and
the changing needs and requirements of customers at large make it
essential that they innovate their service mix and make them of world
class. Against this background, we find it significant that the banking
organizations minify, magnify combine and modify their service mix.
It is essential that ever product is measured up to the accepted
technical standards. This is due to the fact that no consumer would
buy a product which contains technical faults. Technical perfection in
service is meant prompt delivery, quick disposal, presentation of right
facts and figures, right filing proper documentation or so. If computers
starts disobeying the command and the customers get wrong facts,
27

Bank Marketing

the use of technology would be a minus point, and you dont have any
excuse for your faults.
PRODUCT PORTFOLIO: The bank professional while formulating
the product mix need to assign due weightage to the product portfolio.
By the concept product portfolio, emphasis is on including the
different types of services/ schemes found at the different stages of
the product life cycle. The portfolio denotes a combination or an
assortment of different types of products generating more or less in
proportion to their demand. The quality of product portfolio determines
the magnitude of success. It is excellence of bank professionals that
help them in having a sound product portfolio.

28

Bank Marketing

We find the composition of a family sound, if members of all the age

groups are given due place. Like this, the composition or blending of
a service mix is considered to be sound, if well established and likely
to be profitable schemes are included in the mix. It is against this
background that a study and analysis of product portfolio is found
significant. The bank professionals are supposed to perform the
responsibility of composing the same. A sound product portfolio is
essential but its process of constitution is difficult. An organization
with a sound product portfolio gets a conducive environment and
successes in increasing the sensitivity of marketing decisions. The
banking organizations need a sound product portfolio and the bank
professionals bear the responsibility of getting it done suitably and
effectively.
If the banks rely solely on their established services and schemes,
the multidimensional problems would crop up in the long run because
when the well established services/schemes would start saturating or
generating losses, the commercial viability of banks would of course,
be questioned. The banking organizations relying substantially on a
profitable scheme and ding nothing for new scheme likely to get a
profitable market in the future is to face is to face a crisis like
situation. It is in this context, that we find designing of a sound
product portfolio essential to an organsition. We cant deny that the
product portfolio of the foreign banks is found sound since they keep
their eyes moving. The innovation, diffusion, adoption and elimination
processes are taken due care. The public sector commercial banks
need to innovate their service and this makes a strong advocacy in
favour of analyzing the product portfolio.

29

Bank Marketing

DESIGNIGN AN ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE

In the formulation of product mix for the banking organization, the
designing of package is found important. In this context, we find
packaging decision related to the formulation of a mix of different
schemes and services. Developing an attractive package required
professional excellence and therefore, the bank professionals are
required to be aware of the different key issues influencing the
formulation process. What the package should basically be or do for
the particular target. We re aware of the fact that a number of
schemes and services are included in the service mix of bank product
and all the services or schemes cant be preferred by all. Of course
we find some of the public sector commercial banks now evincing
stage. This makes it essential that a bank manager thinks in favour of
developing

a package. The importance of packaging cant be

underestimated considering the functions it performs and the effects

which we witness in the process of attracting and satisfying the
customers. In addition to other aspects, it is also pertinent that a bank
manager is familiar with the package developed by the leading
competitive banks since this would help them in innovating the
package. It is an important component of the product mix and a bank
manager while formulating or designing a package needs to assign
due weightage to the formulation process. While developing a
package, it is essential that the packages offered are efficacious in
establishing an edge over the packages of competitors. Thus needs
and preferences of the target market in addition to the packages
offered by the competitors need due weightage while designing a
package.

30

Bank Marketing

In the designing process the bank professionals can make a package,

an ideal combination of both, the core and peripheral services. The
main thing in the process is to make it profitable, convenient and
productive to the customers so that they prefer to transact with the
bank. For the bank professional, it is an important persuasive efforts
that helps in increasing the business even without developing or
innovating the services or schemes.
PRODUCTR DEVELOPEMNT: In almost all the services, the
development of a product is an ongoing process. The banking
organizations also need to develop new services and schemes. We
cant deny that the development of product specially in the banking
services is found diffcult since they dont have any discretion,
however they can do it, of course in a limited way. By minifying,
combining, modifying and magnifying, the banking organizations can
give to the services or scheme a new look. The regulations of the
Reserve Bank of India, no doubt stand as a barrier but professionally
sound marketers make it possible even without violating the rules and
regulations. The banking organizations in general have been found
developing product by including some new properties or features.
Generally we find two process for the development of product. The
first process is found proactive since the needs of the target market
are anticipated and highlighted. The second process is reactive and in
this context the banks respond to the expressed needs of the target.
PROACTIVE PROCESS: In the pro-active process, we find product
to market needs. This makes it essential that the branch managers
are aware of the changing needs of the target market. There are six
stages for the development of the product, such as idea generation,
31

Bank Marketing

screening of the concept, assessing of market potential, analyzing the

cost, test marketing and final commercial launching. The bank
professionals have to be careful at all the stages so that whatever the
services or schemes are developed are found instrumental in getting
a positive response. The customers and competitors help bank
professional substantially in generating a new idea. The screening of
the product concept focuses on the process of narrowing down the
list of the ideas generated to a small number of concepts.
The assessment of market potential is the third stage in which we find
scanning of the market potentials at the apex level. The branch
managers can assess the potential sin their command areas.
The fourth stage draws our attention on analyzing the cost on the
basis of a cost-benefit analysis and the fifth stage before launching is
test marketing which is found instrumental in minimizing the risk
element. And finally, we find commercial launching. The Reserve
Bank of India is also required to make the regulations liberal so that
the pubic sector commercial banks get an opportunity to make their
services or schemes internationally competitive. The unfair practices,
illegitimate steps should be checked but fair practice should
essentially be promoted to make the business environment
conductive.
PROMOTION MIX
In the formulation of marketing mix the bank professionals are also
supposed to blend the promotion mix in which different components
of promotion such as advertising, publicity, sales promotion, word-ofmouth promotion, personal selling and telemarketing are given due
32

Bank Marketing

weightage. The different components of promotion help bank

professionals in promotion the banking business.
Advertising: Like other organizations, the banking organizations also
us this component of the promotion mix with the motto of informing,
sensing and persuading the customers. While advertising, it is
essential that we know about the key decision making areas so that
its instrumentality helps bank organization both at micro and macro
levels.
Finalising the Budget: This is related to the formulation of a budget
for advertisement. The bank professionals, senior executives and
even the police planners are found involved in the process. The
formulation of a sound budget is essential to remove the financial
constraint in the process. The business of a bank determines the
scale of advertisement budget.
Selecting a Suitable vehicle: There are a number of devices to
advertise, such as broadcast media, telecast media and the print
media. In the face of budgetary provisions, we need to select a
suitable vehicle. The latest developments in the print technology have
made print media effective. The messages, appeals can be presented
in a very effective way.
Making Possible creativity: The advertising professionals bear the
responsibility of making the appeals, slogans, messages more
creative. The banking organizations should seek the cooperation of
leading advertising professionals for that very purpose.

33

Bank Marketing

Instrumentality of branch managers: At micro level, a branch

manager bears the responsibility of advertising locally in his / her
command area so that the messages, appeals reach to the target
customers of the command area. Of course we find a budget for
advertisement at the apex level but the business of a particular
branch is considerably influenced by the local advertisements. If we
talk about the cause-related marketing, it is the instrumentality of a
branch manager that makes possible the identification of local events,
moments and make advertisements condition-oriented.
Public Relations: Almost all the organization need to develop and
strengthen the public relations activities to promote their business.
We find this component of the promotion mix effective even in the
banking organizations. We cant deny that in the banking services, the
effectiveness of public relations is found of high magnitude. It is in this
context that we find a bit difference in the designing of the mix of
promoting the banking services. Of course in the consumer goods
manufacturing industries, we find advertisements occupying a place
of outstanding significance but when we talk about the service
generating organizations in general and the banking organizations in
particular, we find public relations and personal selling bearing high
degree of importance. It is not meant that the banking organizations
are not required to advertise but it is meant that the bank executives
unlike the executives of other consumer goods manufacturing
organizations focus on public relations and personal.
Personal Selling: The personal selling is found instrumental in
promoting the banking business. It is just a process of communication
in which an individual exercise his/her personal potentials, tact, skill
34

Bank Marketing

and ability to influence the impulse buying of the customers. Since we

get in immediate feed back, the personal selling activities energies
the process of communication very effectively.
The personal selling in an art of persuasion. It is a highly distinctive
form of promoting sale. In personal selling, we find inter-personal or
two-way communication that makes the ways for a feed back. There
is no doubt in it that the goods or services are found half sold when
the outstanding properties are well told. This are of telling and selling
is known as personal selling in which an individual based on his/her
expertise attempts to transform the prospects into customers.

Dynamics of Personals Selling

The dynamics of personal selling are found instrumental in activating
the selling activities. Sales preparations are considered most crucial
for the actual sales. Pre-sale activities and post-sale services cant be
left neglected to improve the marketing activities. The customers may
be interested in knowing the main features of the services, how a
particular service would help them, rationale behind the technical
services and proof in regard to its uses. The pre-sale activities would
bring the positive results, if preparations are adequate.
Some of the customers are found highly aware of the developments,
they are found well informed. On the other hand, we also find other
category of customers who are in dark. Here, the branch managers
are expected to match the level of awareness of customers. As for
instance, Mr. A goes up the matrix but Mr. B has not enough time for
the branch managers. The branch managers are supposed to prepare
35

Bank Marketing

a synopsis of their sales talk. Not surprisingly the highly aware

customers are found in apposition to make independent decisions
and know all about. While selling to the less aware customers, the
managers should stress on the main features of the services and the
expected benefits of these services.

Sales Promotion: It is natural that like other organisations, the

banking organizations also think in favour of promotional incentives
both to the bankers as well as the customers. The banking
organizations make provisions for incentives to the bankers and call
this bakers promotion. Like this, the incentives offered to the
customers are known as customers promotion. There are a number
of tools generally used in the different categories of organizations in
the face of the nature of goods and services sold by them. The gift,
contests, fairs and shows, discount and commission, entertainment
and traveling plans for bankers, additional allowances, low interest
financing and retalitary are to mention a few found instrumental in
promoting the banking business.
As and when the banking organizations offer new services and
schemes, the tools of sales promotion are required to be innovated.

36

Bank Marketing

This is with the motto of stimulating the new and old customers. An
important thing in the very context is the changing needs and
requirements of customers/prospects. The bank professionals bean
outstanding task of studying the competitors strategies which would
he them in initiating the process of innovation. Here it is important to
mention the promotional incentives to the customers would focus on
decisions related to the selection of a tool. There are a number of
considerations to streamline the process. The bank professionals are
supposed to study the market conditions and make necessary
suggestions, specially regarding the incentives.
It is a blending process and bank professional have to be sure the
whatever the provisions, they make are fulfilled on priority basis. More
incentives more efficiency or a vice-versa conditions more efficiency,
more-incentives motivate bankers substantially.
Word-of-Mouth Promotion: Much communication about the banking
services actually take place by word-of-mouth information which is
also known as word-of-mouth promotion. In the banking industry, we
find use of different components of promotion and in the context it is
essential that we also talk about word-of-mouth communication which
makes the process of influencing the prospects effective by
sensitizing the word-of-mouth recommendations. The persons
engaged in communication, the hidden salesforce who play an
incremental role in increasing the demand. An important question
regarding the word-of-mouth communication is related to its intensity
of sensitizing the persuasion process.

37

Bank Marketing

The problem before the bank professionals is to identify the persons

to be included in the list of word-of-mouth promoters. It is supposed
that a bank manager is well aware of the social composition of his/her
command area. The oral publicity plays an important role in
eliminating the negative comments and improving the services. This
helps you know the feed back which may simplify the task of
improving the quality of services.
It is important that a branch manager has an in-depth knowledge of
his/ her command area and a list of word-of-mouth promoters is
prepared. Organizing dinner, offering to them a gift and seeking their
cooperation are the process to use this tool of promotion. A satisfied
group of customers is considered to be the most successful hidden
promoters. A branch manager showing his/her excellence in
improving the quality of services in his/ her command area,
establishing an edge over the services of the competing banks,
promoting LGD marketing (lunch, golf, dinner marketing) successds
in instrumentalising the word-of-mouth promotion. It is against this
background that this component of the promotion mix is found getting
due place.
In this component of the promotion mix, we find two important
considerations, first the bank professionals are required to make it
sure that the promised services reach to the ultimate users and
second, the word-of-mouth promoters are offered small but new
incentives which have not been offered by their competitors. The list
of word-of-mouth promoters is to be based on a survey result or on
the personal experiences of a branch manager. A revision in the list is
made possible as and when circumstances necessitate so. The
38

Bank Marketing

innovative peripheral services offered by the banks are well publicized

and the word-of-mouth promoters focus on the same intelligently.

THE PRICE MIX

In the formulation of product mix, the pricing decisions occupy a place
of outstanding significance. The pricing decisions or the decisions
related to interest and fee or commission charged by banks are found
instrumental in motivating or influencing the target market. The
Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Banking Association are
concerned with the regulations. The rate of interest is regulated by the
RBI and other charges are controlled by the Indian Banking
Association. To be more specific in the Indian setting, we find this
component of the marketing mix significant because the banking
organizations are also supposed to subserve the interests of weaker
sections and the backward regions. The public sector commercial
banks in particular are supposed to play developmental role with
societal approach. It is natural that this specific role of the public
sector commercial banks complicate the problem of pricing.
Pricing policy of a bank is considered important for raising the number
of customers vis--vis the accretion of deposits. Of course, there are
a number of factors to influence the process but it is also right to
mention that the key role in the entire process is played by the
Reserve Bank of India. A National Consumer Survey Conducted by
the L.H. Associates reveals that the quality of Consumer service was
one of the three top issues and the consumers ranked the quality of

39

Bank Marketing

their bank relationships as even more important than the fees

charged for the services. To be more specific when we find a number
of domestic and foreign banks working in the Indian economy, the
Reserve Bank of India bears the responsibility of making the business
environment conductive. The non-banking organizations and foreign
banks have been found attracting customers by offering to them a
number of incentives. The potential customers or investors frame their
investment plans in the face of pricing decisions made by the banking
organizations. While formulating the pricing strategies, the banks
have also to take the value satisfaction variable into consideration.
The value and satisfaction cant be quantified in terms of money since
it differs from person to person, keeping in view the level of
satisfaction of a particular segment, the banks have to frame their
pricing strategies. The policy makers are required to be sure that the
service offered by them are providing satisfaction to the customers
concerned. The pricing decisions may be to bit liberal, if the potential
customers are found shifting to the non-banking investments. In this
context, it is pertinent that pricing is used as motivational tool.
The banking organizations are required to frame two-fold strategies.
First, the strategy is concerned with interest and fee charged and
second, the strategy is related to the interest paid. Since both the
strategies throw a vice-versa impact, it is pertinent that banks attempt
to establish a correlation between the two. It is essential that both the
buyers as well as the sellers have a feeling of winning as shown in
figure.
The banks have to take the value satisfaction variable into
consideration while designing the pricing strategies. McIver and
40

Bank Marketing

Naylor opine that a marketing manager has to regard price as a

variable to be traded off against product quality and promotion rather
that as an absolute where the lowest price is not desirable.

The RBI has to be more liberal so that the public sector commercial
banks make decisions in the face of changing business conditions.
There is no doubt in it that the commercial banks bear the
responsibility of energizing the social marketing, they are also
supposed to bear the social costs. It is also right that the foreign
banks have been found making the business environment more
competitive. These emerging trends necessitate a close look on the
pricing problem. The policy makers find it difficult to bring a change
since the regulations of the RBI make things more critical. The
expenses are not regulated by the RBI and the banking organizations
are forced to increase the budgetary provisions. The sources of
revenue are regulated which complicates the task of bank
professionals. This makes it essential that the Reserve Bank of India,
the Government of India and the banking organizations thing over this
complicated issue with a new vision.

41

Bank Marketing

THE PLACE MIX

This component of the marketing mix is related to the offering of
services. The two important decision making areas are making
available the promised services to the ultimate users and selecting a
suitable place for bank branches.
The selection of a suitable place for the establishment of a branch is
significant with the viewpoint of making the place accessible and in
addition, the safety and security provisions are also found important.
The banking organizations are not free to open a branch since the
Reserve Bank of India regulates the subject of branch expansion but
so far as the management of branch is concerned, the branch
managers have option to select a place which is convenient to both
the parties, such as the users and the bankers. In the Indian
perspective, the protection to the banks assets and safety to the
users and bankers need due weightage. The vulnerable area or
regions need adequate provisions to make the branch safe. The
management of office is also found significant with the viewpoint of
making the services attractive. The furnishing, civic amenities and
parking facilities cant be overlooked.
Another important decision making area is related to the offering of
services. This draws our attention on the behavioural profile of
bankers. The bankers in general and the front-line-staff in particular
42

Bank Marketing

bear the responsibility of making available the services-promised to

the ultimate users without any distortion often a gap is found
generated by front-line-staff that makes an invasion on the image of
bank. The bank professionals or a branch manager is required to be
sure that whatever the promise have been made regarding the quality
of services are not distorted. The RBI and the different public sector
commercial banks are required to manage the distribution process
intelligently and professionally. Thus, the place mix is found to be an
important decision making area which requires due attention, both at
macro and micro levels. If the banking organizations sell the promises
it is essential that the end users get the same without any distortion.

THE PEOPLE
Sophisticated technologies, no doubt, inject life and strength to our
efficiency but the instrumentality of sophisticated technologies start
turning sour if the human resources are not managed in a right
fashion. Generation of efficiency is substantially influenced by the
quality of human resources. It is against this background that a
majority of the management experts make a strong advocacy in
favour of developing quality people and late, the people management
has been include dint he marketing mix of organizations is general
and the service generating organizations in particular.
Not only the public sector commercial banks but almost all the public
sector organization and albeit other government departments, of late,
have been facing the problem of quality people resulting into
inefficiency, deceleration in the rate of overall productivity and
profitability or so. The front-line staff are rough and indecent, the
43

Bank Marketing

branch mangers are helpless and even the bankers have been found
involved in the unfair practices. The public sector commercial banks
need to assign on overriding priority to the development of quality
people majority of the management of the experts have realized the
significance of quality people in the development of an organization
and the boardrooms are also found changing their attitudes. The first
task before the banking organisatoins at the apex level is to overhaul
the recruitment processes. While fixing criteria for selection, they
need to assign due weightge to the ethical values. The education and
training facilities are required to be innovated. The process of
identification and inculcation need to be managed carefully.
The foreign banks and the private sector commercial banks reward
for efficiency and at the same time also demotivate the inefficient
bankers. This helps them in improving the efficiency of even the
inefficient people. The development of human resources makes the
ways for the formation of human capital. Incentives, of course, inject
efficiency and the organizations offering more incentives succeed in
motivating the people.
Having better and cost-effective control over operations.
Enriching the job content of employees at all level (by reducing
the drudgery of mundane operations and increasing the
analytical content of their work).
Improving the quality of decision-making, a must in the fast
changing environment.

44

Bank Marketing

Thus, the key focus areas in which information technology can be

employed are:
Automated processing of back-office operations like processing
of forms, policy customerization and product selection, pricing
and preparation of quotations, etc.
Computer assisted telephone and intelligent voice processing
for customer call handling, new business marketing or handling
after office hours enquires.
Image processing for documents storage and retrieval, folder
management (or all documents related to a customer), and
workflow management for the movement of documents with the
bank.
Artificial intelligence and expert systems for complex decisionmaking like the appraisal of the creditworthiness of clients,
designing of innovative instruments and strategy formulation.
Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) for the
systematic use of information which would facilitate the crossselling of products.
Electronic

Data

Interchange

(EDI)

for

company-wise

communication and inter-connection of systems for the benefit

of both the banks MIS and the customer.
Office Management Systems for accounting and administrative
support.

45

Bank Marketing

All the above systems should be client-based systems and not lineof-business systems since these would provide better marketing and
service to clients, facilitate cross-selling and customerization of
schemes and hence, a better packaging for the product. This would
help Indian banks thing customer.
All these would, thus, help in the effective management of time.
Recourse to mechanized systems like ledger posting machine, cash
counting machine and cheque sorting machine would result in
reduction in the number of tedious and routine jobs to be handled
manually saving time for the people to focus on the customer.

STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVE BANK MARKETING IN

INDIA
Introduction: Since the inception of globalization in India, banking
sector has undergone various changes. Introduction of asset
classification and prudential accounting norms, deregulation of
interest rate and opening up of the financial sector made Indian
banking sector competitive. Encouragement to foreign banks and
private sector banks increased competition for all operators in
banking sector. The protective regime by the authority is over. Indian
banks are exposed to global competition. Even competition within the
country has increased manifold. The almost monopoly position
enjoyed by the public sector banks of India is no more existence.
Under this development Indian banks needs to reinvent the marketing
strategy for growth.

46

Bank Marketing

The spread of the bank in Indian rural and semi urban areas are
highly different from state to state and region to region. Many states
have fewer networks of bank branches in the rural areas. Under such
scenario different marketing approach for different areas is required. If
the bank follows the same marketing strategy for all areas the
success would be difficult.
Marketing approach for urban area: The urban areas of India are
developed taking into account all parameters of development. The
level of income of the people, the literacy rate and level of education
as well as awareness of the people about rights of the customer are
higher than that of the rural and even semi urban areas. Thus here for
effective bank marketing different approach is necessary than that of
rural areas.
The marketing strategy should be based on customer service and
the use of modern technology in banking. Under competitive
environment for the success of the business, better customers and
retaining existing customers is possible only with customer service.
Use of modern technology in urban areas will also go long way for
marketing of banking services. Technology based service like credit
card, debit card, ATM, anywhere banking, internet banking, and
mobile banking are necessary for urban areas. This is because it
enables customers to perform banking transactions at their
convenience. Business hours of a bank are also an important factor
for urban banking. India many private sector banks, especially cooperative banks and now even some of the public sector banks have
also started this practice and they find it successful. To attract
business and wholesale customers, banks need to adopt technology
47

Bank Marketing

based product and service which is suitable to such class of

customer. For instance RTGS, collection of out station cheques,
issuing the cheques at par at any branch in the country, cash
management facility, DD butiques etc. are necessary.
Another strategy for effective marketing is bank need to change the
focus from the traditional banking to universal banking. In urban areas
the extend and variety of economic activities demands that one
institution should meet all financial need of a customer. Under such
an expectation of people universal banking would prove successful
approach for bank marketing. The term universal banking in general
refers to the combination of commercial banking and investment
banking, i.e., issuing, underwriting, investing and trading in securities.
A universal bank is a supermarket for financial products. Under one
roof, corporate can get loans and avail of other handy services, while
individuals can bank and borrow.
For increasing customer base and retention of the existing cliental
universal banking approach is effective strategy. Universal banking
offers number of benefits to customers as well s the banks. For
instance, economies of scale arise in multi-product firms because
costs of offering various activities by different units are greater than
the costs when they are offered together.
Universal banking with focus on retail customers made the ICICI
banks to acquire first position in Indian banking sector. Universal
banking approach is beneficial to bank also. For banks economies of
scale relate to cost-savings through sharing of overheads and
48

Bank Marketing

improving technology by jointly providing generically similar groups of

services. Since universal banking basically provides financial services
the inputs like manpower, infrastructure is more or less same.
Necessary changes in the inputs can be made easily. For instance
training can be given to staff for providing different financial services
to customers. Moreover the most important benefit for the bank is that
it is useful to increase the fee based income of the bank. Financial
sector passing from lower interest rate regime at present and added
to this the process of disintermediation is affecting the main and the
traditional source of income for the banks i.e. interest income. All
banks are striving hard to increase their fee based income to improve
their bottom line. Universal banking can help the banks here
positively.
Marketing approach for rural areas: Prior to nationalization of
banks in 1969, the rural areas were virtually without banking facility.
At that time unorganized sector was dominating in the rural finance.
After nationalization of banks in 1969 branches of the banks were
started gradually in the rural areas also. To day more than 50 percent
branches of the banks are found in the rural areas. However, the
distribution of banks in the rural areas is highly uneven. Here banks
have to face competition with the unorganized sector. Moreover the
rural banking is highly regularized activity by the Government in India.
Lending as well as interest rate is regularized. Thus under such
environment different marketing approach is required. For effective
rural marketing product development, promotion and communication
is important. All these parameters banks have to balance with socioeconomic factors prevailing in the rural areas. Bank need to innovate
product that could attract the depositors. Various loan schemes that
49

Bank Marketing

are suitable for them for getting funds at right time and also they find
convenient to repay. For instance traditional saving bank account may
be given fixed deposit concept that once a particular limit of balance
is reached the funds from saving account is automatically coveted
into fixed deposit attracting higher interest rate.
Banks need t develop some scheme which would attract them to
bank with. For loans and advances products which are suitable to
tarmers, small traders, small scale agro based rural industries are
already in existence. Banks need to see the how value addition can
be mad to these existing scheme. Banks also needs to tie up with
Non Government Organisations and various Self Help Group for
different types of loans, micro financing etc. This will help the bank for
building good image and reputation in the rural areas over and above
the business. Another potential area which can be explored by the
banks in the rural area is retail banking. With the steady increase in
the income of the rural people there is ample scope for retail loan
products like housing loans and loan for consumer durables.
Marketing through customer services in rural areas is different from
that of urban areas. Here personalized banking is the success mantra
for banks. Because of high level of illiteracy people prefer to
undertake banking transaction themselves. They hesitate to depend
upon technology based service. For effective marketing in rural areas
bank should have staff with right soft skill like concern for customers
problem, positive attitude, good communication and negotiation skill.
At every level of dealing with the customer bank need to educate
them for banking activates and process. To attract the customers from

50

Bank Marketing

the unorganized sector most important factor is to provide. The

borrower the required finance of right amount at right time.

Conclusion:
Banking sector has undergone various changes after the new
economics

policy

based

on

privatization,

globalization

and

liberalization adopted by Government of India. Introduction of asset

classification and prudential accounting norms, deregulation of
interest rate and opening up of the financial sector made Indian
Banking sector competitive. Encouragement to foreign banks and
private sector banks increased competition for all operators in
banking sector. Banks in India prior to adoption of new economic
policy was protected by Government and was having assured market
due to almost state monopoly in banking sector. However, under the
new environment, Indian banks needs to reinvent the marketing
strategy for growth. In India geographical development is not even
throughout the country, there are full-fledged urban areas covering
the metropolitan cities and other big cities. On the other hand there
are underdeveloped rural areas too. For effective bank marketing
different approach for different areas is required. In urban areas
customer services is of paramount importances as the level of literacy
and therefore awareness of the people is more. Also technology
based marketing would have higher degree of success due to typical
urban life style of the people. Universal banking providing all financial
service under one roof will have more success in urban areas. In the
rural areas for bank marketing personalized banking will go in long
way. Also banks need to offer innovative tailor made deposits and
advances products to suit individual customers. Delivery of advances
51

Bank Marketing

of right amount of right amount and at right time is essential in rural

marketing.

TECHNOLOGY IN BANKING
Technology is proving to be a vital tool in enhancing banking activities
around the globe. The advent of ATMs, and Internet Banking are key
pointers to this. The role of an information system can in no way be
underestimated. The expanding role of information systems have
aided banks achieving Anytime, Anywhere and Anyhow banking. The
improvement in telecommunication infrastructure is redefining the
was banking is being conducted.
Information Technology made its presence felt in banks in India a few
decades ago. However, it is still being used as a support systems.
Most of the software packages used in bank work on stand-alone
systems and are not integrated.
Banks in India need to have an integrated systems that takes care of
all the front-office and back-office operations. However, Indian banks
should not be content with the integration of their activities. Banks in
advanced countries are planning to have global electronic banking.
Electronic banking or e-Banking is a generic name for a range of
technologies that allow the electronic exchange of information related
to banking transactions.
As Electronic Networks become more robust and widespread, they
are beginning to attract the attention of retail banks like ATMs and

52

Bank Marketing

phone banking. However they tend to be viewed merely as one more

cheap distribution channel. Accordingly banks are replicating the
branch banking experience online, even to the extent of creating 3D
virtual branches for their customers to navigate through. Such an
approach is characteristic of early attempts to use new technology
platform.
Indian Banks Cash in on Delivery Channels
From the staid over-the-counter delivery mode to ATMs, tele banking,
Net banking, and now mobile banking the number of delivery channel
deployed by banks has increased by leaps and bounds. Srikanth R.P.
& Chitra Padmanabhan look at the evolution and impact of various
delivery channels in the Indian banking scenario and forecast which
delivery channel could be the next killer app for banking players.
While today each and every bank touts The customer is King
mantra, it was a quite a different story not so long ago. Customers
patronizing PSU banks were greeted with the typical babu culture,
where getting even a cheque encashed used to take ages.
Customers had to adjust their schedule to the bank and very rarely
was it the other way around. A person in a city like Bombay usually
had to wait for a weekend to deposit a cheque, because by the time
he reached home, the bank would have closed. Today, while the
timings of banks have not changed drastically banks have become
more customer friendly. Now power has shifted into the hand of the
customer.

ATM (AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES)

53

Bank Marketing

Traditionally, banking players relied extensively on their reach to

effectively put emerging banks out of competition. This forced new
banks develop strategies, that could help them reach out to endcustomers cost effectively. The solution came in the from of a delivery
channel known as Automated Teller Machines or ATMs. And when
new private banks started installing ATMs across the length and
breadth of the country, customers started flocking in droves. A case in
point is ICICI Bank. During the liberalization of the banking sector,
ICICI Bank which did not have a huge national network, realized that
it could use IT to enhance its value-added offerings.
Says O.P. Srivastava, head of the retail channel infrastructure group
at ICICI Bank, When the banking sector was liberalized we knew that
to get a lead over the well entrenched PSU banks, we had to take the
help of delivery channels like ATMs. This was the only way to counter
the reach of national players. ICICI Bank is the most aggressive
deployer of ATMs and has seen its base surge from 125 ATMs in
January 2000 to 1,200 ATMs today. Such has been the impact of
ATMs that ICICI Banks customer base has grown from two million to
five million in the last two years. Srivastava attributes this increase to
the increase in ATM outlets.
HDFC Bank, is the other big player from the banking industry which
has aggressively used ATMs to its advantage. Says Mudit Saxena,
vice-president for retail marketing and head of Net Banking at HDFC
Bank, The average per-day transaction at an HDFC Bank ATM is
350-400, with some ATMs recoding as many as 700 transactions per
day. Other tech savvy banks like UTI Bank and ABN Amro Bank
have also become extremely aggressive in installing ATMs.
54

Bank Marketing

In the case of UTI Bank, the ATMs have added a fillip to the banks
customer base. Says V K Ramani, president for IT at UTI Bank,
Form the first year of ATM installation, we have seen a surge in our
customer base. Currently, we have 647 ATMs servicing a base of 1.3
million customers. Over 90 percent of cash withdrawals are done
through ATMs. The number of ATM transactions have also increased
from one million in September 2001 to over 2.5 million in September
2002. With growth figures like this, its no wonder that every branch
manager wants an ATM installed in his area of operations.
Alok Shende, Industry manager for IT practice at Frost & Sullivan,
summarieses the evolution of the Indian banking industry perfectly
when he says, Banks followed two broad approaches when adopting
technology. The first approach was evolutionary. Banking players who
had large brick and mortar legacy particularly the public sector banks,
kept the banking channels intact and automated the bottleneck
points. This approach was adopted by around 80 percent of the
industry. However, some banks adopted a revolutionary approach and
changed the banking scenario altogether. State Bank of India is a
good example of the evolutionary approach, whereas HDFC Bank
and ICICI Bank, are good examples of the revolutionary approach.
Some banks have gone a step ahead and share their ATMs with
other banks. For instance, ABN Amro Bank has a private ATM sharing
agreement with UTI Bank.
Banks are also developing new strategies to leverage their ATM
outlets. For instance, rather than set up a branch in every suburb,
ICICI Bank has hit upon a ratio of 8 ATMs to one branch office, thus
55

Bank Marketing

effectively reaching out to a large customer base, at a substantially

lower cost.
ABN Amro launched Royalties, Indias first banking rewards
programme. In the programme, the customer gets rewarded every
time he uses any of the banks electronic access channels. If the
customer bites the bait, it not only reduces the work load, but also
translates into huge cost savings.
As PSU banks gear up to win back their customers through the
aggressive deployment of ATMs, the already vibrant ATM market has
got a further boost. In India, ATM manufacturers like NCR and HMA
Diebold are extremely bullish, as India is the fastest growing market
for ATMs currently. India has close to 7,500 ATMs and analysts
predict the market to grow at a rate of 60-70 percent year-on-year.
Looking at the boom in ATMs NCR has decided to invest $6 million to
set up its ATM manufacturing plant in India.
Says Lars Nyberg, chairman and chief executive officer of NCR,
India is undoubtedly the hottest market for ATMs today. Our decision
to manufacturer in India is to accelerate supply to the local market.
Initially, the manufacturing facility in Bangalore will have a capacity of
produce 8,000-10,000 ATMs per year. The potential of the Indian
market has prompted NCR to design at ATM specifically for the Indian
market.
Total cost advantage
While ATMs do help banks to attract customers, there is also one
more critical aspect to consider the immense cost savings from
56

Bank Marketing

which a bank can benefit due to a transaction taking place over an

ATM vis--vis a branch. Typically, it costs a bank close to Rs. 50 per
transaction if conducted in a branch. The same if done an ATM costs
about Rs. 15. A look at the volume of ATM transactions conducted
reflects the level of success of this delivery channel.
Internet Banking
The other important delivery channel, from a banks perspective &
Internet banking. The adoption of Internet banking by the banks
customers is important since the costs per transaction are even lower
than those of an ATM. A net-based transaction costs the bank only
around Rs. 4. Thus, banks are trying to get customers to switch over
to this mode of banking registered users for Internet banking in India
at over two million currently.
It represent a significant opportunity for banks. In addition, as a
delivery channel, Internet banking does not require physical
infrastructure, thus saving on prohibitive real estate costs.
Private banks like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, UTI Bank and ABN Amro
Bank have seen a steady surge in the number of users registered for
Internet banking does not require physical infrastructure, thus saving
on prohibitive real estate costs.
Most banks today have facilities to enable internet banking customers
to pay insurance premiums and utility bills over the Net. Though
Internet banking as a concept has not caught the fancy of a majority
of customers as yet-even the small percentage that does use it,
makes a difference to the overall cost. Almost all leading banks in
57

Bank Marketing

India are hoping that just as ATMs saw a period of inaction before
they were accepted by Indian masses, Internet banking too would be
adopted once customers are comfortable with the technology. For
instance, in 1998 India had just 500 ATMs today it has close to 7,500.
Roadblocks
While Internet banking is a potential and powerful delivery channel, it
has failed to make a significant impact due to a variety of reasons.
RBI in its report, Trend and progress of Banking in India, 2001-02,
says Internet banking has failed to take off due to a combination of
psychological, technological and socio-economic factors. Further, the
report

states

that

additional

hurdles

relating

to

legal

and

infrastructural problems have also affected growth.

Although the government has made considerable progress in
initiating a trust environment, with some Public Certification
Authorities (PCA) already licensed to operate, the adoption of trust
technology is still a daunting factor for many users. What needs to be
developed is a simple way of integrating trust into online banking
services.
Says Shende, The compelling restraint for the user is the fear of
security breaches. As long as the perceived notion that the Internet is
not a safe place to conduct financial transactions prevails, large scale
adoption will be challenging. In addition, the low penetration of PCs
and access to the Internet are crucial issues which act as roadblocks
in the adoption of Internet banking.

MOBILE BANKING
58

Bank Marketing

Whats M-Banking?
M-Banking allows a customer to request for account balance, cheque
books, cheque status, demand drafts, and bankers cheques as well
as stop payments, make fixed deposits enquiry and transfer bills
online. HDFC customers, for instance, can pay their Max Touch and
BPL Mobile both provide cellular services Bombay State Electricity
Supply, and Maharashtra State Electricity Board bills. Says Shyamlal
Saxena, 33, Vice President (Liabilities Product Management), HDFC:
WE are, in a sense, content providers of banking information.
Is it Better?
M-banking is no different from Net Banking, in fact it has many
limitation. You still cannot transfer fund from one bank to another and,
given the high air-time charges, it works out much more expensive
than Net Banking. And for the mobile phone to access a site, the
contents must be in Wireless Markup Language.
Once the mobile users population grows, access rates will fall,
allowing customers to use more air-time. By then, the Reserve Bank
of India would also have put its own gateway in place to do online
what it does today on paper.
M-banking uses two kinds of communication technologies. One is
WAP (Wireless application Protocal) and the other is SMS (Short
Messaging Services). WAP is more user-friendly, as it allows
download of graphic information. SMS, in contrast, allows text-only
access. But as the time taken to download text is much les compared
to graphics, SMS is cheaper to use.

59

Bank Marketing

Future Delivery Channels

Among all the delivery channels used by banks today, ATMs remain
the most successful, followed by telephone banking and Internet
banking. But the biggest potential could lie in mobile banking. With
cellphone tariffs falling and increased bandwidth, the potential for
banking player to tap this channel is enormous. Says Raman, The
future delivery channel will have various mobile portals using
technologies such as GRPS. The customer would prefer to do
banking transactions not only anytime, anywhere, but also through
any device. With the current rate of evolution in the wireless industry,
the mobile channel is poised to become the defacto banking channel
within the next three years.
One more important factor to consider in the evolution of delivery
channels is the requirement of a multi-channel architecture which
should support all future delivery channels, while also seamlessly
integrating with existing delivery channels. This is the reason why a
majority of banks still have not launched Internet banking as a
feature, since most do not have backend integration. Effectively, this
means that if a person holding an account with the bank wants to
apply for a loan, he would have to enter the same details already
disclosed earlier to the bank. This is where players like HDFC Bank,
Citibank or ICICI Bank hold an edge, as they have an end-to-end
integrated system already in place. This gives them the ability to
cross-sell their products, based on the customer profile they have
with them.
one more delivery channel which will increase in the future is the
deployment of call centres. For instance, looking at the cost
60

Bank Marketing

effectiveness of call centres, ICICI Bank has commissioned the

country's biggest call centre in the banking sector (1,100 seats) in
Hyderabad. This is to be followed by a 600-seat call centre in
Mumbai)
As a delivery channel gains ground, it can be used to sell products of
other vendors too. For example, the SBI ATM at CST railway station
in Mumbai dispenses season tickets too. Analysts believe that as
banks discover the marketing power of ATMs, one would see a trend
where ATMs would be used to deliver products of other vendors as
well. ICICI Bank has gone one step further by allowing devotees of
Tirupati to offer payments to the temple at Tirupati temple through
their ATM.
This could be the future of ATMs, where more non-cash transactions
will be done. Some banks are even toying with the idea of selling
movie tickets through ATMs. Going forward, as the volume of noncash transactions increase, one can see a trend where banks
maintain kiosks instead of ATMs, as there might not be a need for
all the features of an ATM.
Says Chopra of ABN Amro, "The next five years will see a marked
shift, wherein customers will show a preference for non- branch
delivery channels. Also, the large number of customer calls will also
necessitate use the of toll free numbers.
Irrespective of the delivery channel, one thing is clear-it's boom time
for customers, as banks try a variety of options to lure them

61

Bank Marketing

Who knows, the next time you go to deposit your cheque, you just
might fill in 'Virtual' in the space reserved for 'Branch.

BANK MARKETING IN THE INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

The level of income, expectations, the rate of literacy, the geographic
and demographic considerations, the rural or urban orientation, the
changes in economic systems the frequent use of, technologies are
some of the key factors governing the development plan of an
organisation. To be more specific in a welfare country like ours, the
public sector commercial banks are supposed to playa decisive role
in fuelling the processes of socio-economic emancipation. This makes
it clear that the banking organisation need a new vision, a new
approach and an innovative strategy. They are supposed to bring
about greater mobility in the financial resources to cater to the
changing socio-economic requirements. Willingly or unwillingly, they
have also to bear the social costs by advancing credit facilities to the
weaker sections and the vulnerable regions. The foreign banks and a
few of the private sector commercial banks have been found making
sincere efforts to improve the quality of their services. The customers
in general appreciate the functional style and service mix of foreign
banks. This makes a strong advocacy favour of practising marketing
principles in the public sector commercial banks.
The nationalisation of the Reserve Bank of India is a landmark in the
development of Indian banking system which in a true sense paved
avenues for qualitative-cum quantitative improvements. Acquisition of

62

Bank Marketing

extensive powers of supervision and control by the Reserve Bank of

India under the Banking Regulations 1949 opened new vistas for the
expansion of banking facilities. The structure of public sector bank
was further strengthened in 1959. To curb concentration of economic
power and promote a judicious use of the financial resources for the
economic development activities, the banking system was regulated
and supervised by the RBI subsequently in 1969 the Government
acquired a direct control over a substantial segment of the banking
system signifying its commitment to reshape the banking system so
as to meet progressively and serve better the needs of the
development of economy in conformity with the changing national
policy and objective. The fruitfu11 results of nationalisation of 14
commercial banks in 1969 encouraged. government to nationalise
more commercial banks in 1980. These developments necessitated a
fundamental change in the functional responsibilities of the public
sector commercial banks. Here it is pertinent to mention that
nationalisation was with the motto of improving the quality of services
but the public sector commercial banks started disappointing the
masses. Of late, the quality of services is so poor that customers in
general are found dissatisfied. This makes it essential that the
Reserve Bank of India and the policy makers of the public sector
commercial banks think in favour of conceptualising modern
marketing

principles which would bring a radical change in the

process of quality upgradation.

The first task before the public sector commercial banks is to
formulate the marketing mix which suits the national socio-economic
requirements. They need to synchronise the core and peripheral
services in such a way that product attractiveness is increased
63

Bank Marketing

substantially. To be more specific the peripheral services need

frequent innovation, since this would be helpful in excelling competition. The personal selling and public relations activities need an
intensive care. It is pertinent to mention that the leading foreign banks
have been found promoting telemarketing and the public sector
commercial banks need to make it possible. Since we have world
class communication technologies, the task is easier. The word-ofmouth promotion also needs due care and for that we need to
improve the quality of services vis--vis the cooperation of opinion
leaders. The Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Banking Association need an attitudinal change. The boardrooms also need to
change their attitudes. The gap between the services-promised and
services-offered is required to be bridged over. This requires
professional excellence. The professionals need to make possible a
fair

synchronisation

of

performance-orientation

and

employee

orientation. This is not possible unless the banking regulations are

made liberal. The quality of people/employees serving the banking
organizations needs an overriding priority. The bankers need to know
about the behavioural management. The front-line-staff need
empathy in their behaviour. This requires intensive training facilities.
The domination of trade unions is required to be minimised. The
contractual job system needs due attention. The bank professionals
need to assign due weightage to their physical properties. They are
supposed to look smart, active and attractive. Thus we need multidimensional changes which make a strong advocacy in favour of
implementing the innovative marketing principles.
In view of the above, it is right to mention that in the face of new
perception of quality developed by the foreign and private sector
64

Bank Marketing

commercial banks, the public sector commercial banks have no

option but to improve the quality of services. The marketing principles
bear the efficacy of initiating qualitative improvements. It is against
this background that we go through the problem of bank marketing.
Of late the foreign banks have been found promoting the use of
sophisticated information technologies. This makes it essential that
we realise gravity of the situation and make possible a rational use of
technologies which is not to aggravate the problem of retrenchment.
The marketing principles would be helpful in making an assault on the
multi-dimensional problems. Of course, we find good auguries
because the policy makers have been found exploring ways for implementing the marketing principles but till now, the efforts are at the
very nascent stage. It is high time that the public sector commercial
banks conceptualise innovative marketing for bringing the banking
system on the rail.
The first thing is that the future of bank marketing is gonna be
fabulous. If you are thinking to go for field than you must...You can
study the charts how it rose since last 5 years and you will he
impressed. In past bank were not in competition with each other in
India but now they are and thats where bank marketing is coming
up...eg. In Ahmedabad ICICI rose by 70% in terms of advancing
loans to local public...Sales guys are doing very well.,This is going to
rise until 80% of Indians are not having credit cards.. Compare the
banking to developed countries and you will find bank marketing in
India to be great.
The bank of the future has to be essentially a marketing organisation
that also sells banking products. New distribution channels are being
65

Bank Marketing

used; more & more banks are outsourcing services like disbursement
and servicing of consumer loans, Credit card business. Direct Selling
Agents (DSAs) of various Banks go out and sell their products. They
make house calls to get the application form filled in properly and also
take your passport-sized photo. Home banking has already become
common, where you ~an order a draft or cash over phone/internet
and have it delivered horn. ICICI bank was the first among the new
private banks to launch its net banking service, called Infinity. It allows
the user to access account information over a secure line, request
cheque books and stop payment, and even transfer funds between
ICICI Bank accounts. Citibank has been offering net banking to its
Suvidha program to customers.
Products like debit cards, flexi deposits, ATM cards, personal loans
including consumer loans, housing loans and vehicle loans have
been introduced by a number of banks.
Corporates are also deriving benefit from the increased variety of
products and competition among the banks. Certificates of deposit,
Commercial papers, non-convertible Debentures (NCDs) that can be
traded in the secondary market are gaining popularity. Recently,
market has also seen major developments in treasury advisory
services. With the introduction of Rupee floating rates for deposits as
well as advances, products like interest rate swaps and forward rate
agreements for foreign exchange, risk management products like
forward contract, option contract, currency swap are offered by almost
every authorised dealer bank in the market. The list is growing.
Public Sector Banks like SBI have also started focusing on this area.
66

Bank Marketing

SBI plans to open 100 new branches called Personal Banking

Branches (PBB) this year. The PBBs will also market SBI's entire
spectrum of loan products: housing loans, car loans, personal loans,
consumer durable loans, education loans, loans against share,
financing against gold.
The bank of the future has to be essentially a marketing organisation
that also sells banking products. New distribution channels are being
used; more & more banks are outsourcing services. ICICI bank was
the first among the new private banks to launch its net banking
service, called Infinity.
Products like debit cards, flexi deposits, ATM cards, personal loans
including consumer loans, housing loans and vehicle loans have
been introduced by a number of banks.
Public Sector Banks like SBI have also started focusing on this area.
SBI plans to open 100 new branches called Personal Banking
Branches (PBB) this year. The PBBs will also market SBI's entire
spectrum of loan products: housing loans, car loans, personal loans,
consumer durable loans, education loans, loans against share,
financing against gold.

67

Bank Marketing

CASE STUDY

68