RMS Expands BankingBonus(TM) Debit Activation and Usage Features; Bank Partner Appoints Product Manager to Tailor Platform to Fee and Retention Drivers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2006--Bank incentive company Rennhack Marketing Services (RMS) has expanded its Web-based rewards platform BankingBonus(TM), launched earlier this year, to more proactively drive and track debit card usage and activation, as well as cross-selling for banks.

After appointing Paul Ott to BankingBonus Senior Product Manager this week, the company announced it has customized the retention platform as a deliverable program for banks to drive fee income from debit cards, cross-selling, employee motivation and customer referrals. James Gresham, chief executive officer, said these areas are key to the bottom line for banks because they build incremental fee income, decrease attrition, enroll and engage frontline staff, and increase acquisition by accelerating word-of-mouth.

“The BankingBonus Debit Card Application will increase the interchange fees, one of the few fees not paid by customers, for our bank clients, because using incentives helps increase the number of transactions per debit card customer”

"The BankingBonus Debit Card Application will increase the interchange fees, one of the few fees not paid by customers, for our bank clients, because using incentives helps increase the number of transactions per debit card customer," Gresham said. "Additionally, by developing a Cross-Sell Application with similar incentives, banks can retain customers - if a bank gets one cross-sell in addition to the checking account in a household, then it significantly reduces the chance of that household leaving the bank."

Ott joins RMS with more than 25 years experience in banking and bank marketing. Along with enhancing the Debit Card and Cross-Sell Applications for BankingBonus, he will also put in place a measurable ROI tool to help banks track both employee and customer retention through the platform.

BankingBonus provides banks of all sizes access to a fully developed rewards program for customers, as well as an incentive program for frontline employees to improve customer service. With BankingBonus, banks can build a branded online presence where customers and employees can redeem points for brand-name merchandise, gift cards and personal leisure rewards using points earned or awarded for specific behaviors like debit card activation or usage.

"We knew BankingBonus would fill a void where banks are fighting to keep the customers they're working so hard to win, as well as the employees who can help in that effort," Gresham added. "Since our February launch, we've signed up a dozen banks, and expect more to take advantage of the offering with these focused applications."

For further information, banks can visit www.bankingbonus.com to sign up for an online demonstration or call 817-481-6516.

About RMS

Rennhack Marketing Services (RMS) has supported the financial services community with branded merchandise-based incentive programs that attract and retain customers since 1976. The company now supports banks, thrifts and credit unions in all 50 states, and has realized double-digit growth since 2000. Its ConsumerTrac(TM) national consumer research and newly launched BankingBonus(TM) platform ensure banks will compete effectively for banking customers while building existing customer and employee loyalty. Visit www.rennhack.com for more information.