(20 March 2008 – Australia) The new advertising campaign from CBA appears to be having an impact on businesses, as shown in the latest East & Partners’ Business Banking Sentiment Index (BBSI) for February 2008.Of the 750 plus businesses questioned, 2.6 percent recognised CBA’s advertising
in February 2008. This represents a significant improvement on last month’s
figure of 1.9 percent and also represents the highest single increase, in almost
two years, of businesses recognising CBA’s advertising.
However, while this increase is significant it still means that only a small
percentage of businesses recognised CBA’s advertising, especially when this
figure is compared to CBA’s peers. The NAB, for example, has advertising recall
of above 30 percent, which is a clear indication of the gap that CBA needs to
fill.
Thus far, CBA’s advertising campaign has not signalled a significant boost in
their overall recall as a business bank. CBA’s mind share (the first business
bank that a company can recall) fell slightly and has not yet arrested the long
term downward trend.
East & Partners’ financial markets analyst, Peter Drennan, said “Advertising is
an important first step in establishing or increasing market presence, but needs
to be converted into mind share and eventually market share to be considered
effective”.
The advertising campaign from CBA seems to have had the biggest impact in the
SME segment of $5 million to $20 million turnover businesses, where advertising
recall percentage doubled in one month to 2.8 percent, a figure not seen since
November 2006.
Regarding the overall sentiment towards the banks, things are looking positive.
In February, overall sentiment has increased for the fourth consecutive month to
42.2 (from a possible low of 10 to a high of 100).
Demand for more banking products also continues to increase, seemingly
undisturbed by the current market, although slowing in its positive movement.
“Despite current interest rate rises and write downs from banks, businesses have
felt no impact in their sentiment towards banks and are indicating that they are
still looking for growth with more banking products”, Mr Drennan added.
About East & Partners’ Business Banking Sentiment Index
The East & Partners’ Business Banking Sentiment Index is a monthly survey of
business customer sentiment towards banks, providing a monitor of customer
satisfaction, loyalty, advocacy and empathy towards business banks. Each month
East & Partners’ research team conducts telephone interviews with a sample of
750 businesses nationally, turning over A$1 to 100 million per annum,
comprising:
| • | Micro Business | 190 | A$1 – 5 million turnover enterprises |
| • | SME | 280 | A$5 – 20 million turnover enterprises |
| • | Lower Commercial | 280 | A$20 – 100 million turnover enterprises |
For more information please contact:
Tanya Glazer
Marketing Communications
East & Partners
t: 02-9004 7848
m: 0404 474 446
e: tanya.g@eastandpartners.com