Farm Week Is Marketing Opportunity for Nebraska Banks

Nebraska farm banks are harvesting marketing opportunities from National Agricultural Week, which started Sunday.

In a state where nearly every bank does some agriculture lending, showing support for the farmer couldn't be more logical, said Kerry Jorgensen, director of marketing for the Nebraska Bankers Association.

The group recently encouraged its members to celebrate publicly the week's federal designation, said Ms. Jorgensen, a former Agriculture Department employee.

To help small banks, the association distributed camera-ready newspaper advertisements to its members saluting Nebraska farmers. Banks that otherwise might not have the capability can just add their logos for local use, she said.

The trade group also suggested other ways for banks to capitalize on the week. Ideas included displaying Nebraska-grown products in the lobby, sponsoring a farm outlook seminar, or making presentations on the relationship between agriculture and banking.

And to win points through people's appetites, the group suggested that banks pick up restaurant tabs for coffee and doughnuts for local farmers or host pancake breakfasts or potluck suppers.