I am looking for ideas for customer appreciation day. Is anyone willing to share what their bank does? Cookies and free pencils seem a little inadequate.

We do a hot dog cookout in the parking lot. Hot dogs, brats, salads, pop. All the employees do the cooking and serving.

We have a Cust. App. Day once every month. Cookies, punch, balloons. When we're doing a product or promotional launch, we give away stuff - coins, hats, mugs, DVD players; you name it, we've given it away before.

This November we're doing a promotion where we're giving away turkeys! Yes, turkeys, butter ball turkeys! Freezer in the lobby, 7 foot inflatable turkey in the lobby. The jury is still out on how effective it will be. But so long as we have fun with it, the customers will too.

We have done the hotdog tailgate in conjunction with the big football game between our 2 state rival teams. We have also washed car windows in the drive-in and we've served hot chocolate in the drive-in. I've heard of a bank that does a movie night in their lobby.

You could do check card cash back for a day and give $1 per check card purchase. We are doing it for a month and giving a quarter for each purchase.

Can you tie it in with a charity event in your community? Like free tickets to the community playhouse or bring in a toy for a needy child and get a logo baseball hat. You could give away tickets to the local high school football game and have a special roped off section for your customers.

Free popcorn and soda is always good. You could do something for kids like come in wearing a Halloweeen costume and get a treat from the tellers. Or bring your report card and get a quarter for every A.