Clarke American Aims for Check Account Openings with Enhanced Order Process

SAN ANTONIO - Clarke American is aiming to keep pace with the growth of the small business market with a new check order enhancement. The check provider is enhancing its EXPERTSolutions Program, which will ensure business account holders get the right products for their needs by following up with those who may not have placed a check order at account opening. EXPERT CallBack, a new outbound calling capability, improves the capture rate by following up and engaging small business owners, the company said. Through an automated system, a financial institution can capture a referral that may have otherwise walked out of the branch and refer the order to Clarke American. A branch associate can take the check order; connect the account holder with an EXPERT Solutions professional by phone. If the account holder is not yet ready to order, the branch associate can capture the order through an outbound phone call to the account holder made after the account is opened. The business check order capture rate at the branch is only about 25% nationally, said Fred Hagerman, Clarke American vice president of customer marketing. "If the business owner doesn't order checks when the account is opened, they are less likely to take advantage of products and services available through their financial institution," Hagerman said. "The financial institution not only loses valuable profitability with the order, but also risks losing valuable business and future growth opportunities." Clarke American produces more than 10 billion personal and business for more than 4,000 banks, CUs and other financial institutions nationwide.