FirstBank Launches New Campaign Promoting Colorado Businesses

Bank Invests in Advertising to Help Other Businesses Get Bigger

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Oct 25, 2013, 08:00 ET

LAKEWOOD, Colo., Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstBank Holding Company, Colorado's second largest bank by deposits, has launched a new outdoor advertising campaign which, instead of touting the bank's services, is advertising local small business customers such as pharmacies, roofing companies and bakeries.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131025/LA04087)

FirstBank's new advertising campaign features enlarged versions of customer business cards on billboards throughout Colorado. The bank aims to help boost its customers' visibility and sales, without increasing their marketing budgets. (PRNewsFoto/FirstBank) (PRNewsFoto/FIRSTBANK)

The "We Help Business Get Big" campaign, which officially launched this week, features enlarged versions of customer business cards on billboards throughout Metro Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley and Windsor. The campaign aims to help boost the customers' visibility and sales, without increasing their marketing budgets.

"Colorado's economy is comprised mostly of small businesses," said John Ikard, CEO of FirstBank Holding Company. "This is a state where many entrepreneurial spirits live and have founded companies that are helping Colorado grow and attract new talent and residents. Our new campaign will hopefully not only highlight our support of our customers, but the state's small business community as a whole."

In addition to outdoor billboards, FirstBank will also be promoting its business customers through its Facebook, Twitter and Google+ channels, as well as spotlighting select businesses on the bank's highly visited blog at efirstbankblog.com.

FirstBank stands by a long-held philosophy to "always do what's right," and this marks the second time the company has contributed its own advertising funds to promoting its small business customers. In 2009, during the height of the Great Recession, the bank launched its "We Care About Small Business" campaign, which advertised microbusinesses like babysitting, piano lessons and math tutoring—ventures that are typically too small to afford big public promotions.

Beyond promoting its customers, FirstBank is also a major supporter of nonprofits in areas where its employees live and work. The bank contributed more than $4.6 million to charities in Colorado, Arizona and California last year.

FirstBank offers a full range of personal and business accounts and services, including free business and personal checking. The bank also offers mortgages, home equity and commercial loans.

About FirstBank
FirstBank operates more than 115 locations in Colorado, Arizona and California. FirstBank is the largest locally owned banking organization in Colorado, serving more than 600,000 customers.
Since 2000, FirstBank has contributed more than $40 million and thousands of volunteer hours to charitable organizations.

FirstBank is unique in that a majority of its stock is owned by management and employees. For more information, go to www.efirstbank.com.

SOURCE FirstBank