At age 80, Bessie Brown has seen a myriad changes in Nashville. For the past third of those years, the local native recalls banking solely with First American Bank. But as First American branches and products officially change over to AmSouth Bank across Middle Tennessee this weekend, Brown admits barely noticing the AmSouth Center sign as she entered the former First American Center downtown last week.
Nothing never changes, nothing stays the same.
Brown's views were shared by several other First American customers, who beginning Monday will all have accounts and relationships with AmSouth Bank. Bank officials said the change has gone well in other areas and they hope local customers barely notice the rollover here. But customers are getting plenty of reminders from other Nashville area banks seeing opportunity to win over First American clients concerned about change. The Bank of Nashville, for instance, kicked off an eight-week marketing push on May 2 that highlights both its smaller bank image and products such as Internet banking. The two-month campaign, which kicked off at the end of last month, includes television, radio and newspaper ads, as well as billboards and direct mailings.