Statistics, Facts, & Such

According to a recent survey by the Promotion Marketing Assn. of America(PMAA), the most fickle consumer group includes middle-aged college graduates with an income of more than $45,000 a year.

The PMAA also learned that almost 75% of 500 consumers surveyed bought a new brand or new product when a coupon was offered. 82% checked ads for coupon offers. With statistics like these, banking's marketing departments may be the next to offer coupons!

Business TV(BTV) is gaining popularity as a training tool for some of the major corporations. Done live, the session is picked up in locations all over the country, and then questions and interaction takes place by telephone.

The Wharton Business School, in a recent study, found that videos can increase information retention by up to 50% when compared with printed materials. This could soon be the major training tool of the banking industry.

A report on money laundering by the Group Seven Financial Action Task Force reports that in U.S. currency, 454 currency notes in any denomination weigh one pound. In $10 bills, that would be $4,540: in $20's-$9,080: in $100 bills-$45,400. One hundred pounds of $100 bills would equal $4,540,000. If you ask Santa for a pound of money, specify which denomination!

In the first upbeat news we've seen about bank shares in a long time, the American Banker reported on Oct. 25 that insider buying of bank shares was higher in September, 1990 than at any time since the 1987 market crash. When shares are purchased on a large scale by insiders, it is considered a strong signal by outside investors who feel that management wouldn't invest if it thought the company was not going to be profitable. Let's hope the trend continues!

Copyright © 1990 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 1, No. 11, 11/90