The Bank of Columbia was recently featured in a special section of Forbes after being selected by Advent Media Group through what the company described as an independent research process highlighting standout regional banking institutions.
According to information provided by the bank, the feature appeared as paid advertising content within the magazine after the local bank was invited to participate because it met certain criterial and qualities required to be involved in the promotion.
Tony Pesavento, business manager for Advent Media Group, said the company produces “locally-curated advertising features” in national consumer publications such as Forbes and Fortune.
“We selected Bank of Columbia because you exemplify the qualities we look for in standout regional banking institutions,” Pesavento said in a statement provided by the bank.
Among the factors cited were the bank’s community ties, personalized customer service and support of local businesses and economic development.
Pesavento also pointed to the bank’s 160-year history, local leadership structure and community involvement as reasons the institution was selected for the feature.
“Your 160-year history, truly local leadership, and support of many pillars of your community, signaled to Advent a bank with a strong reputation and deep community commitment,” he said.
Bank officials noted that the published article was written by a journalist working with Advent Media Group following interviews with bank representatives. The bank provided photographs for the feature, which were taken by Alex Stratton of Alex Stratton Photography.
Bank of Columbia was offered a page in Forbes Magazine’s special advertising section by Advent Media Group based on their independent research of Bank of Columbia. Although the space was paid for by Bank of Columbia as part of the special advertising section, the space is not offered to every financial institution. Based on the details below, we were given the option.
It is important to note that we did not write the published article. We were interviewed by their journalist and they composed the article. We did provide the images which were taken by the talented Alex Stratton of Alex Stratton Photography.
This is the guidance we received related to the coverage and the reason Advent Media Group reached out to Bank of Columbia to offer the space and story, written by their staff appearing in Forbes Magazine:
From: Tony Pesavento
Business Manager
Advent Media Group
“Advent Media Group is an independent media company that produces locally-curated advertising features in national consumer magazines like Forbes and Fortune magazines. While it runs inside of these magazines, these are clearly labeled advertisement sections and are not part of the editorial content created by the publications’ staff. This is paid-placement which would probably affect your newspaper coverage.
We selected Bank of Columbia because you exemplify the qualities we look for in standout regional banking institutions, which are:
strong community ties
reputation for personalized service
provides a meaningful role in supporting local businesses and economic growth
Specifically, your 160-year history, truly local leadership, and support of many pillars of your community, signaled to Advent a bank with a strong reputation and deep community commitment.”
