CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans of America's national pastime and their friends will get the opportunity to earn a "signing bonus" this month when Bank of America launches its third season as the Official Bank of Baseball™. Through the Bank of America Refer-a-Fan™ program, baseball fans who refer a friend or family member to open a new Bank of America checking account at any banking center in the U.S. can get $25 for themselves, and their friends can get a bonus, too.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060405/CLW041LOGO)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050720/CLW086LOGO-b)
The Refer-a-Fan program runs throughout the month of April, and coincides with the start of the 2006 Major League Baseball season. Bank of America is celebrating the fan promotion with special banking center appearances by former Major League players and in-stadium marketing activities in conjunction with the bank's sponsorship of the Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.
"We are proud of our association with Major League Baseball and the 10 Clubs with whom we have sponsorship relationships," said Rick Parsons, Brand Marketing Executive, Bank of America. "Our customers have a real affinity for baseball, so providing them with this special offer is just one way we're developing benefits that deliver added value and match their personal interests."
As the Official Bank of Baseball, Bank of America has national sponsorship agreements with the four leading organizations that represent America's national pastime-Major League Baseball®, Minor League Baseball™, Little League Baseball® and the National Baseball Hall of Fame® and Museum. Bank of America's deep-rooted support for baseball includes banking sponsorships with 10 Major League Baseball Clubs and 68 Minor League Baseball teams. Additionally, Bank of America's completed merger with MBNA further expands its support of baseball with affinity credit and debit card relationships with 23 Major League Baseball Clubs.
Through its integrated association with the game, Bank of America is able to connect with a wide range of customers in a variety of ways. Among the activities that the bank is pursuing during the 2006 season to engage baseball fans at all levels include:
As the Official Bank of Major League Baseball, Bank of America will
continue its presenting sponsorship of the National League and American
League Player of the Week® awards. This marks the third consecutive
season that Bank of America has supported the award, which honors the
accomplishments of the Leagues' best players on a weekly basis
throughout the season.
In May, the Bank of America Neighborhood Champions program will begin
its second year with the rollout of a new online nomination process.
The program offers a way for communities to honor teachers, police
officers, firefighters and healthcare professionals as "neighborhood
champions." The program is coordinated through the bank's association
with 68 Minor League Baseball teams, and provides these professionals -
typically among the least likely to qualify for and own a home in the
communities they serve - with access to the bank's Neighborhood
Champions™ mortgage product, helping them to realize their dream of
home ownership.
As the Official Bank of Minor League Baseball, Bank of America will
implement a new program in May - Small Business month - that celebrates
the impact small businesses have in our nation's communities. The Bank
of America Small Business MVP program recognizes businesses for their
commitment to the neighborhoods in which they are located. Small
Business MVP's will be honored during on field ceremonies by 17 Minor
League teams in California and Florida, and have the opportunity to
throw out the game's first pitch and use a ballpark suite to entertain
their own clients.
As the Official Bank of Little League Baseball, Bank of America will be
among the sponsors honoring the 2.7 million Little League players and
the one million volunteers who help them play each season during the
organization's first International Opening Day Celebration. The event
on April 7 in New York City launches Little League's 68th season, and
will include a game with current Little Leaguers, celebrity coaches, a
musical tribute to the new season, and the Little League Pledge. Later
this season, Bank of America will launch a number of new programs to
help Little League districts throughout the country raise money for
their organizations.
Bank of America will produce 10 "Higher Standards" Hall of Fame moments
for broadcast and other use. The vignettes will feature Hall of Fame
players and managers and some of baseball's most exceptional
achievements, helping to promote history, honor excellence and connect
generations to our country's national pastime.
"By teaming up with baseball at all levels, Bank of America continues to support programs that benefit and build excitement for fans across the country," added Parsons. "We are proud of our sponsorship of baseball, and find it to be a terrific marketing platform from which we can connect with our customers, associates and the hundreds of communities we support."
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving 33 million consumer relationships with more than 5,800 retail banking offices, more than 16,700 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than twelve million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 150 countries and has relationships with 98 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 85 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
http://www.bankofamerica.com/
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060405/CLW041LOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050720/CLW086LOGO-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
SOURCE: Bank of America
CONTACT: Joe Goode of Bank of America, +1-617-434-7314, or
joseph.l.goode@bankofamerica.com ; or Susan Goodenow of Major League Baseball,
+1-212-931-7878, or susan.goodenow@mlb.com
Web site: http://www.bankofamerica.com/
