Customer Appreciation Case Study
BankFinancial: Adding Family Interaction to a Community Customer Event
BankFinancial used Dale across multiple community events at two different locations. After two years of Halloween events at its Downers Grove branch, where Dale helped attract families into the bank from the city’s downtown celebration, BankFinancial later brought him to its Chicago Ridge location for a customer appreciation event.
The Event Need
Use Family Entertainment to Create a Reason to Enter, Stay, and Interact
BankFinancial first used Dale during a Halloween event in Downers Grove that was part of the city’s larger downtown celebration.
Dale was stationed inside the bank as an attraction for families already walking through the downtown event. As families came inside for the balloon entertainment, BankFinancial staff had an opportunity to hand out children’s banking information and encourage parents and kids to learn about opening a youth bank account.
BankFinancial used Dale for that Downers Grove Halloween event for two years. The relationship later continued at the Chicago Ridge location, where he was hired for a separate customer appreciation event with a broader mix of family activities.
In Downers Grove, the entertainment helped create foot traffic into the branch. In Chicago Ridge, it became part of a larger customer appreciation experience.
Dale’s Role
Turn Entertainment Into a Useful Part of the Bank’s Event Strategy
At the Downers Grove Halloween event, Dale was positioned inside the bank so families coming through the city celebration had a reason to step off the street and enter the branch.
Once families came inside, BankFinancial staff could interact with them directly, distribute children’s banking flyers, and introduce the idea of opening a bank account for a child.
At the later Chicago Ridge customer appreciation event, Dale’s role shifted. Instead of primarily helping draw families into the branch, he became one of several family attractions supporting the overall customer experience.
Dale worked the Downers Grove Halloween event for two years and was later brought to the Chicago Ridge location for a different customer appreciation event. That repeat use is stronger proof than a single successful booking.
Value to the Event
The Same Entertainment Served Two Different Business Purposes
BankFinancial used Dale differently depending on the event. In Downers Grove, the entertainment helped attract families into the branch. In Chicago Ridge, it supported a larger customer appreciation experience.
Created Branch Foot Traffic
At the Downers Grove Halloween event, the attraction gave families already downtown a reason to enter the bank.
Opened a Customer Conversation
Once families were inside, staff could distribute children’s banking information and talk with parents about youth accounts.
Adapted to a Different Event
At Chicago Ridge, Dale shifted from a traffic-building role to being one part of a broader family-focused customer appreciation event.
The Result
Two Years in Downers Grove — Then a Different Event at Chicago Ridge
BankFinancial used Dale for the Downers Grove Halloween event for two years, placing him inside the branch as part of an effort to attract families participating in the city’s downtown Halloween celebration.
The relationship later expanded to a different BankFinancial location in Chicago Ridge, where Dale was hired for a customer appreciation event with other family attractions.