The ABA School of Bank Marketing moves to Southern Methodist University

ABA Bank Marketing, Dec, 2007

The ABA School of Bank Marketing and Management (SOBMM) will have a new home in 2008.

The school will be held May 3-9, 2008, at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas. The campus is located in the University Park section of the city, convenient to both Dallas/Fort Worth and Love Field airports, and a short ride to the downtown.

The school is designed to offer a learning environment that lives up to the standards of the ABA's executive education programs. Lessons learned by marketers at the school provide invaluable knowledge as these marketers continue their career path, according to school officials. The school's partnership with SMU will complement these learning objectives, and will benefit students for years to come, say school officials.

Students are taught by a faculty of industry experts and experienced instructors who are leaders in their fields. Each course if evaluated annually by an advisory board of senior marketing professionals to reflect changes in the industry. The curriculum is completed in two intensive one-week sessions. Between Years One and Two, students complete a marketing plan or research report that can be utilized by their organization. As many school graduates will attest, part of the value of attending the school is the network of professional colleagues each student develops. The two-year curriculum will also prepare marketers to sit for the Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP) designation.

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All classes will be held in the Collins Executive Education Center and the Cox School of Business, both of which offer state-of-the-art learning facilities. The entire campus offers wireless Internet capability. To ensure comfortable accommodations, all students will stay at the Radisson Hotel Central Dallas, which is located adjacent to the campus.

Members of the ABA Marketing Network are eligible for a substantial discount on SOBMM tuition fees.

Founded in 1948, the SOBMM is the only national bank marketing education institution of its kind and has an industrywide reputation for excellence.

Applicants should have at least a few years of bank or marketing experience prior to attending the SOBMM. The school is not designed for absolute beginners.

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The first year's SOBMM instruction is centered on three topics: marketing planning, research and return on investment (ROI).

The second year deals with teaching marketers how to become credible members of the bank's management team. In groups, students work through a simulation of managing the financial side of a bank. In the process, they learn the terminology and business decisions needed to run a successful bank. Students also learn about asset-liability management, profitability and strategic issues. How to implement a bank brand is also covered in the second year.

The tuition fees cover all coursework, materials, housing and most meals, and are the same for years one and two. The annual price for an ABA bank member is $2,995; for an ABA Marketing Network member, $2,895. The nonmember price is $3,995.

For more details, visit www.aba, com/Events/SBMM.htm. If you have questions about the school, contact Daisy Johnson, telephone: (202) 663-5367; toll-free telephone: (800) BANKERS, extension 5367, e-mail: daisyj@aba.com.