Branding Expert Ed Delia to Speak to New Jersey League of Community Bankers

Whitehouse, New Jersey – Ed Delia, president of Delia Associates, a New Jersey-based branding and communications firm, will present Brand Power: How to Turn Your Bank Into a Highly Profitable Brand at the New Jersey League of Community Bankers’ annual marketing conference, Wednesday, May 23, 2007, at Forsegate Country Club, Monroe Township, NJ.

Delia’s presentation will include expert advice to assist banks in taking their business to the next level of growth through unique retention and prospecting tactics.

“Because community and regional bank branches in New Jersey have grown at such a phenomenal pace, branding has become a key element in attracting and retaining customers,” said Delia. “With a unique branding strategy, these branches can effectively compete against their larger counterparts to survive and thrive as an essential part of their communities.”

Delia will present concrete action steps that banks can take to accomplish this that center around what he calls “the two essential ingredients for growth: keeping the customers you have, and attracting the customers you want.”

His presentation will focus on:

•How to create a message of distinction
•How to establish a truly unique value proposition that empowers customers
•How to compete against large banks and non-traditional competition such as consumer businesses in the banking realm
•How to offer customers a solution that is far superior than any other financial institution for meeting their distinctive needs

According to Delia, there is prime opportunity for banks to stand out by becoming industry and community educators, delivering a high-touch, personal experience while acting as an expert knowledge base about money management and maximizing wealth. Banks can also differentiate themselves through innovative solutions, or by leveraging technology in an uncommon way to add value to money management.

“Marginal money-saving offers or slightly lower rates will not convince an individual or business to go through the trouble of changing a closely held, high-value service. That’s why finding a competitive niche is essential in today’s market,” said Delia. “With big banks infiltrating the market and mergers outpacing new bank formation, community banks must become much more than a place to store money. They must offer financial advising, broker insurance, information security for online transactions, and cutting-edge products. Branding is vital in communicating such offerings and standing out among the competition.”

Ed Delia is president of Delia Associates, a brand development, business and technology marketing firm that helps clients identify, create and launch a distinctive brand identity to achieve market leadership and new business growth. Ed is the second-generation owner of the firm that was founded by his father, Michael A. Delia, in 1964. In recent years, Delia Associates has integrated a number of web-based branding tactics to help niche businesses achieve a competitive advantage. Ed is a frequent speaker on the topics of branding and technology-driven marketing, is president of the New Jersey Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), and, in 2006, was named one of New Jersey’s 40 Under 40 by NJBiz and Outstanding Business Person of the Year by the Somerset Business Partnership.

The New Jersey League of Community Bankers is a trade organization representing 69 savings and community banks throughout New Jersey, with over $60 billion in assets, over 500 branch offices, and more than 8,000 employees.

For more information, please visit: www.delianet.com.

PRESS CONTACT: Trish Hamer; T: 908-534-9044; thamer@delianet.com