ING DIRECT (“ING-D”) Case Study
Course: Marketing Fundamentals
Submission Date: 17th November 2009
Executive Summary
ING-Direct (ING-D) is a marketing orientated bank that has launched into established markets in the last decade using differentiation as a way to build competitive advantage.
This report splits into Section A, based on information provided by the ‘ING Direct USA – Rebel With A Cause’ Case Study by IMD International, and Section B which critically assesses the ING-D website.
Section A
The Nature of the ING-D’s Value Proposition
Customer Value Proposition Creation
By engineering processes and products from the customer inwards, ING-D aimed to construct a customer value proposition that offsets
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Previously these banks had core strategies of targeting specific markets. They focussed on their main product offerings such as Checking Accounts, and on branch network service provision.
However, because ING-D’s success many of the established banks implemented new competitor target strategies in which they went head-to-head with ING-D and the other new entrants, internet banks, which had been attracted into the direct market.
ING-D’s competitors fall into two key groups;
Bricks & Mortar
The traditional banks such as Citibank & HSBC have principally eroded ING-D’s unique selling propositions through the availability of high interest savings accounts.
They had the advantage of building on existing relationships and offer the convenience of being a one-stop-shop for customers. As holders of the primary checking relationship this has been a credible market position which has resulted in savings balances switching from ING-D.
Internet
Internet competitors have operating models more like the “no frills” approach adopted by ING-D.
The main competitive threat has been around interest rates but they also attacked ING-D’s brand values and personality, such as the use of less formal marketing messages and communication channels.
Impact
The result of these strategic changes has been a proliferation of ‘me too’ savings products from a range of providers which have created price competition, choice and consumer
Armstrong’s team used branch-level data from the CSI system as the primary source of research. As a result the concept of “comfortable banking” is directly translated into customers satisfaction during their interaction with tellers in the bank, since almost every criteria in the CSI is measuring representative service behaviors. One thing that the team failed to see is that “comfortable banking” could include a much wider scope of services that customers value therefore consider important to their experience: the products itself and services provided outside the bank for instance. According to Armstrong, “comfortable banking” positioning stands for the branding of the overall experience TD Canada Trust delivers to its clients. The financial products, as the core business of any banks throughout the world, should be counted as part of the service, too.
The CFPB said the bank imposed the goals on its staff because it "sought to distinguish itself in the marketplace as a leader in 'cross-selling' banking products and services to its existing
Thus, each bank needs to differentiate their product offers to customer, strengthen their portfolio, and improve services, etc depending on its strategies.
CIBC has focused its core business on retail and business banking, wealth management, and whole sale banking. They have shown a proven track record of providing there customers with financial services and advice through a group upwards of 1100 branches worldwide. Strategies CIBC has portrayed is to continually find new ways to enhance the experience of the client and to stimulate safe revenue growth. CIBC has put emphases on creating deep meaningful relationships with all clients, constantly trying new ways to improve service and sales prospects and to create relationships with new clients while retaining existing clients for a long period of time (CIBC).
Citibank developed two different strategies for each market segments, some of the strategies for MNCs are secure platforms to access services, local and global which can offer fast and worldwide capabilities. Also provide fraud and identity theft protection, showing the advantages of online real time banking
Our new strategy was to look at our customers’ total holding and figure out how to deepen their relationship with the bank if they had potential. “Case study page 8”
They have been able to generate different sources of revenues through commercial banking, credit card and retail financial services, which separates them from competing with some investment banking companies. The accounts, products and features the company offers sometimes have fees which it is willing to waive. Since the company wants the “share of wallet” of high balanced customers, it will take such actions. This action of course has the potential to deepen relationships. In the article by author Charles Keenen he states, “According to Bancography, a consulting firm in Birmingham, Ala., a customer who has just one product with a bank will stick with that bank for about 18 months, but add even one product - a savings account, perhaps - and the average jumps to four years. Customers with three products will stay with the bank for about 6.8 years.”
Building brand awareness, gaining trust, and improving consideration among potential bank customers for opening new checking accounts is the role of offline and online advertising in acquiring checking account customers. Another role that offline and online advertising plays in acquiring checking account customers for the bank is by being a gateway for other lines of businesses within the banks entity. As a way to maximize the global awareness of the BBVA brand, they adopted the trade name BBVA Compass in 2009.
Nipissing Bank, one of Eastern Ontario’s premier financial institutions, was established in 1986 in Ottawa Ontario. Working with corporate, personal, and commercial customers they established about 25 retail branches mainly in Ontario and provide many financial services such as general banking, trust, insurance and wealth management. Though as time went on more competitors moved in and as is usually the case, Nipissing Bank has been pressured to gain more customers and retain their current clientele. By 2008, Nipissing was struggling to maintain their clients using their current marketing tools. Their manager of administrative services, McKenzie Scott, is making an attempt to improve these efforts and has a few options with which to
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To maximize the amount of business from each customer, banks bundle banking products. If one holds more than one savings account and multiple loans, he often earns benefits of interest.
Barth, Chris. "ING Direct Gets A New Name Following Capital One Acquisition."Forbes.Com (2012): 18. Business Source Premier. Web. 8 Nov. 2013.
Wells Fargo scored high on Strategic Direction due to their clear strategy of focusing on selling new goods and services to their existing customer base, which is called cross selling. Somehow this strategy has worked for Wells Fargo unlike their competitors. The three banks do not seem to have large international recognition, majority of their business is based in the United States.
This report discusses moving from words to action and how Wells Fargo can generate buy in throughout the changes discussed. This report will discuss the option of bringing in a consultant and phase in of proposed changes. Change is ongoing and even after implementation there is a need for review and follow-up. Wells Fargo has begun to make changes which will be reviewed for effectiveness and efficiency throughout the sections of this paper.
National, Inc. will continue to specialize in serving individuals who have less than perfect credit or who are self−employed and cannot qualify for conventional loans. The company was formed to provide loans to this niche market. The company utilizes the most current technology to enable it to not only provide competitive pricing but also excellent service. In the future, we plan to offer complementary products such as secured credit cards and debit cards, insurance, and other investment tools. It is rare in today 's business world to find a true market void. That is exactly what National has done. It has combined the latest in technology with an unfilled need and promises to deliver a high quality product at a competitive price. Our services have limited competition in Washington and even nationally because of the nature of our clients. We have built an excellent reputation in the area and wish to capitalize on it to enter the national marketplace. To reach an even larger market we will develop and utilize a web page on the Internet.