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Kennett National Bank is
the Best Bank in Town
From the Daily Dunklin Democrat
2006 Progress Edition.
Written by: Deanna Coronado
During a time in which many
people are asking themselves
not what they can do for
their bank but what their
bank can and will do for
them, one local bank provides
the answers that people
want to hear. Kennett National
Bank believes it is the
best bank in town, offering
the best products and loan
rates along with unparalleled
customer service.
This year is an exciting
one for the only locally
owned bank remaining in
Kennett. Mostly because
of the positive customer
response the bank has seen
since focusing its attention
and efforts on rewarding
its existing customers for
their ongoing dedication
and involvement and providing
new customers with a sense
of true security and comfort
in choosing KNB as their
bank.
According to Chief Executive
Officer David Dalton, "Kennett
National Bank is honestly
the best bank in town and
there is no reason for anyone
to deal with any other bank."
Some of the reasons for
Dalton's confidence in KNB
include the "Totally
Free" slogan adopted
recently by the bank. The
Totally Free Checking for
business and personal accounts
benefits customers in a
variety of ways.
The new program was adopted
in November 2004 and became
official in 2005 requiring
no minimum balance, no monthly
service charge, no per-check
charge, unlimited check
writing, easy-to-balance
monthly statements and return
of check images for easy
record keeping. The program
also offers a free ATM/Debit
MasterCard along with free
online banking and free
bill pay.
In addition to totally free
checking, the bank offers
six other competitive types
of accounts that appeal
to people with different
particular needs and which
includes many of the features
of the free checking accounts.
Another interesting fact
about the programs and accounts
offered through KNB is that
although the bank is locally
owned and has most of its
ATM machines conveniently
located in your neighborhood,
the bank will refund up
to $10 of ATM transaction
charges per month if
customers uses an outside
ATM machine and is charged
a fee.
The large array of products
offered by KNB also includes
the new "Totally Free
Rewards" program that
accompanies the bank's totally
free checking. When a customer
opens a Totally Free Checking
account they instantly receive
a free gift, such as a three-piece
luggage set from American
Traveler. Even if they are
not interested in the gift
they have the opportunity
to wait until a new gift
is advertised or they can
choose to get points that
can be used to get bigger
prizes which can be redeemed
at the KNB Rewards website.
Additionally, the program
benefits customers who use
their Debit MasterCard only
five times within the first
full month of activation
by rewarding them with one
of 12 big gifts, absolutely
free. As in the opening
of a new Totally Free account
customers can also select
points rather than a gift
and accumulate them for
bigger rewards.
Dalton said that another
portion of the Rewards program
includes Tell-A-Friend vouchers
which are given to customers
during any transaction for
the purpose of referring
a friend as a new customer
to the bank.
"The Tell-A-Friend
program offers a unique
benefit to our existing
customers as well as our
potentially new customers
by providing them both with
a reward for their business,"
Dalton said. In three easy
steps both parties are rewarded.
Step one includes the current
customer filling out the
slip and providing it to
a friend who is looking
to open a new account. Step
two includes the friend
opening a new checking account
with KNB and the bank validating
the form. The third and
final step is simple, collect
your reward. With gifts
rotating every six weeks
and ranging from sporting
goods and electronics to
jewelry and vacations, both
parties involved in the
Tell-A-Friend program stand
to receive a substantial
reward for choosing Kennett
National Bank as their financial
institution.
"We have re-structured
and updated our accounts
to appeal to the 21st century
consumer and honestly we
are head and shoulders above
the other banks," Dalton
said. People have responded
well to the services, according
to Dalton, and the entire
program has been a lot of
fun for both the bank and
its customers.
Rodney Rouse, who has been
in banking for 22 years
and with KNB since 2003,
said that much of the banks
success has surfaced because
of the new management team.
"The new management
team has brought forth a
lot of new and interesting
ideas that has helped us
capitalize on being the
only locally owned bank
remaining in Kennett,"
he said.
Rouse also confirmed Dalton's
statement that KNB is at
the top of its game in offering
the best loan rates and
services.
"We are under everyone
else in terms and are interested
in helping build a good
loan portfolio," he
said.
According to both Rouse
and Chief Financial Officer
Julie Lynn, who has been
involved in banking since
1989, the bank has made
huge efforts to achieve
success through their emphasis
and commitment to serving
the customer.
"We promise our customers
commitment to always keep
the loan rates competitive
and we have made good attempts
to change the perception
of the community and our
reputation from the past,"
Rouse said.
In terms of loans, it is
safe to say that the bank
has been fairly busy. By
re-establishing and reconnecting
with customers in terms
of loan relationships the
bank has achieved a 15 percent
loan growth in the last
year according to Rouse
who calculated the numbers
at his desk. A portion of
this growth has evolved
from existing customers
and the other comes from
new customers who have taken
out new loans.
A major example of the determination
this bank has shown to connect
with the people is in the
recent appointment of Jan
Baker as the new accounts
and business development
coordinator. According to
Dalton, Baker, who has been
in banking for 30 years
was brought in as a loan
officer but is extremely
experienced in all aspects
of banking.
"She is a well-rounded
individual and we felt that
the best way to utilize
her was to place her on
the front line in business
development so that she
could focus her efforts
solely on the customer,"
Dalton said.
Baker's role is to coordinate
all departments and services
in such a way that there
is less stress and responsibility
for the customer.
"I really try to question
the needs of our customers
in depth so that we can
service those needs in the
most efficient way,"
Baker said.
Baker also explained that
even when a new customer
arrives at the bank to open
a new account she asks them
questions that can give
her an idea of what their
future banking needs may
consist of in terms of loan
needs and additional services.
"It has been overwhelming
the number of people that
have responded to our new
programs and overall efforts
to make banking with us
a positive experience,"
Baker said.
According to Baker the key
to success is, and always
will be, in KNB's extensive
customer service and in
making an effort to genuinely
focus attention on each
customer individually in
terms of their needs.
"We are trying to build
relationships that are meaningful
and I am proud to be a part
of that," Baker said.
"This bank has been
very supportive of me and
of this community, I guess
I'll always be here." |
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