Although on most days private banks make you want to hate them for the high interest rates and rolling over the little man, today there is reason to rejoice in their existence.
Toronto Dominion Canada Trust, a Canadian Bank turned their ATMs into "Automated THANKING Machines" to express its gratitude to its clientele. Last week, ATMs in four branches in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver, did not just spit out cash; they also began speaking to customers, thanking them for banking with TD and dispensing personalised gifts.
David Reilly, Senior Manager , Customer Experience at TD Bank invited all customers to their branches and join the festivities of "Customer Appreciation Day."
We want to thank YOU for being amazing TD customers. Joint the festivities at your TD branch today. #TDThanksYou pic.twitter.com/8Yok4e7WGY
— David Reilly (@DavidReilly_TD) July 25, 2014
Thousands of customers who were in TD branches at 2pm EST on Friday were given $20 bills and people using phone and online banking service were told that they would receive a deposit directly into their accounts. "We know Canadians have a lot of choice when it comes to where they bank, and we wanted to say that we appreciate that they continue to choose TD," Tim Hockey, President and CEO, TD Canada Trust said to Forbes.
The bank also pre-selected more than a dozen regular customers at their local branches who they knew would be "particularly delighted by a special experience," Chris Stamper, SVP Corporate Marketing at TD Bank Group, told BuzzFeed. "Our local branch employees know their customers really well and often have close relationships with them. Some have been through tough times and some are just wonderfully kind and caring people."
The campaign has struck a chord on social media with people giving extremely positive feedback.
Doesn't feel like Christmas is 5 months away..sweet campaign by @TD_Canada #TDThanksYou http://t.co/aMRTVVhYhB — Kirstine Stewart (@kirstinestewart) July 25, 2014
Try to watch this without crying...Makes me extremely proud to be a @TD_Canada customer! #TDThanksYou https://t.co/0NG2JqhazM
— Natasha Koifman (@natashankpr) July 25, 2014
This is absolutely brilliant #marketing, in part b/c it doesn't come off as such. Brilliant @tdthanksyou http://t.co/plJbGHg5i0 #TDThanksYou — Rich Razgaitis (@RichRazgaitis) July 31, 2014
I've seen this video at least three times, and it still gets awfully dusty in the room every time #TDThanksYou http://t.co/EnGqxQayhA
— Louis Butko (@lbutko_19) July 31, 2014
The YouTube video posted on the bank's channel scored more than 3,184,084 views in just seven days, even attracting over 8,896 "thumbs up".
The video starts with the message: "Sometimes you just want to say thank you." Customers are startled as the ATM in their branch starts "conversing" with them on a first-name basis and asks them if they know what an "ATM" stands for. After explaining that "T" stood for "thanking" today, the machine starts giving out special gifts for each customer.
A little boy who got $20 bill was too excited to speak and waved it around for everyone to see, while one happy man took a selfie with the machine. An older lady was surprised when she got roses from the ATM.
Kristy got two piggy banks with thousand dollars each to start an RESP for her children, and tickets to Disneyland, because TDB knows kids aren't going to appreciate an RESP yet. A clearly emotional Kristy told an employee of the bank that she has never been able to take her kids for an outing.
If Michael Jobin was happy after receiving his own Blue Jays jersey, he was exuberant when Blue Jays player Jose Bautista came out to visit him and said he was to throw out the first pitch at a Blue Jays game.
The Jobin boys enjoying the TD Comfort Zone at the Jays....just before the pitch!!! #TDThanksYou pic.twitter.com/aK9XCJHze8
— Kathleen Jobin (@KatJob5) July 26, 2014
The most touching bit was when Dorothy, whose daughter is battling cancer and just underwent an operation on Tuesday in Trinidad, got two tickets to visit her there. Not many would be able to resist shedding tears as she reads the message, "She's a lucky woman to call you her mum."
The video ends with a compilation of various customers' unforgettably lively reactions and the message: A thank you can change someone's day. #TDThanksYou.