Case Study: Farmers Bank of Willards

www.fbwbank.com

The Story

With a 101-year history on Delmarva, Farmers Bank of Willards has a longstanding commitment to the Eastern Shore. Their active involvement in community initiatives, like their 3.21 Race for Down Syndrome Awareness, is as important to them as their dedication to providing the Eastern Shore with a locally focused and trusted financial institution. 

Farmers Bank of Willards partnered with D3 nearly two years ago to strengthen and modernize its overall marketing strategy. What began with social media, digital advertising, and email marketing has grown into a comprehensive marketing partnership focused on building awareness, engaging the local community, and supporting the bank’s continued growth. As the partnership evolved, D3 also helped refresh the bank’s digital presence, creating a more cohesive experience across its marketing channels.

As longtime, locally-based companies, Farmers Bank of Willards and D3 have shared values that helped the two teams quickly establish a foundation of trust. With Farmers Bank of Willards’ deep roots and D3’s tight anchors to the Eastern Shore, we easily understood each other’s audience, priorities, and path forward. 

Our Journey

From the beginning of the partnership, Farmers Bank of Willards and D3 have focused on building a marketing strategy that reflects the bank’s longstanding connection to the Eastern Shore while reaching today’s customers in the places they spend their time. That strategy has included social media, digital advertising, email marketing, SEO, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and ongoing content development, all working together to strengthen the bank’s visibility and connect with its communities.

As many area banks get bought out by large corporations, Delmarva residents and business owners are searching for a longstanding local bank that’s committed to the Eastern Shore. With so many people and entities in need of a trusted partner, D3 helped Farmers Bank launch its “Switch Kit” to make transitioning accounts simple.  

Social media has become an important part of that strategy. Through ongoing analytics and performance reviews, D3 and Farmers Bank of Willards have been able to identify what resonates with their audience and build on it. The focus remains on purposeful, community-focused posts that highlight the people, businesses, events, and values that make the Eastern Shore home.

Consistent communication has been a key part of the partnership. Regular conversations and team meetings give both teams the opportunity to share ideas, review performance, solve problems, and adjust the strategy as needed. That collaborative approach has allowed the marketing program to evolve alongside the bank and respond to what its customers and communities are looking for. 

For D3 and Farmers Bank of Willards, staying independently owned does not mean going it alone. Through shared values, open communication, and a commitment to purposeful marketing, the partnership continues to support the bank’s growth while helping it stay connected to the communities it serves.

Testimonial

“Our company has partnered with D3 on a wide range of marketing initiatives, and they have been an invaluable partner in helping us modernize and strengthen our overall marketing strategy.

From building and managing our website to social media, Google Ads, and other digital marketing efforts, D3 has the knowledge and expertise to support the full spectrum of a company’s marketing needs. Their team is well-versed in the many areas of digital marketing, which was especially important for our organization as we transitioned from more traditional marketing channels, such as television and radio.

D3 has helped us evolve our marketing approach, strengthen our digital presence, and better connect with our customers. With their guidance and expertise, we feel well-positioned to continue growing and establish ourselves as a market leader in our area.

We highly recommend D3 to any organization looking to modernize its marketing strategy and take its digital presence to the next level.”

-Jamie Lewis