ABA publishes the 2012 Bank Marketing Survey Report.

• Position: At Your Service - Brief article

IN A SURVEY OF 259 BANKS NATIONWIDE, the majority reported a decrease in their marketing budgets in 2012 compared with the previous year. This is one of the highlights of the ABA's 2012 Bank Marketing Survey Report, recognized as one of the industry's most comprehensive sources of information on banks' marketing expenses. The report is of interest not only to marketers, but also to CEOs and chief financial officers. The ABA says that the report is the invaluable resource that banks need to determine where they stand in relation to peers and the industry.

This year's survey analyzes data drawn from a broad sample base of 259 banks nationwide, with assets ranging from $25 million to $20 billion. Tabulated by asset size as well as by region, the results enable bankers to make specific comparison of their bank's performance with those of similar institutions. The survey provides detailed information on expenditures in 32 marketing categories, including advertising, public relations, sales promotion and market research. Staffing levels, performance management, cross-sales, market segmentation and direct...