Monthly specials on loans and deposits.

• Position: Ideas That Work

Here's a roundup of innovative marketing ideas from banks throughout the nation:

Prime Time Tuesday. Automobile dealers stay open late during their periodic sales; why not banks?

Charter One Financial in Cleveland did it during the first half of the year and brought in more than a billion dollars in new retail and small-business deposits. The competitively priced Loan and deposit product offers vary from month to month, but sale day is always held on the third Tuesday of each month in all of the bank's 450 retail offices.

"This is one of those great, simple ideas that has proved to be an important way of communicating our commitment to the best products at the best prices," says Charter One executive vice president Mark Grossi.

Financial Health Fair. You've probably been to one of those health fairs, where they check your blood pressure and look for cancerous moles. Rahway Savings Institution recently conducted a financial health fair. Instead of passing out leaflets on diabetes and West Nile Virus, the institution offered information on such topics as identity theft, alternative investments, reverse mortgages, privacy rights, Long-term care insurance and 529 investment accounts. The local police department also participated.

The...