Our mergers & acquisitions group has seen it all

We've laughed. We've cried. We've worked late nights, weekends, and holidays. Over 15 years, our M&A group - strategists, managers and coordinators, database experts, designers, art directors, copywriters, production experts, and mailhouse professionals have seen it all. And helped solve it all. To date (knock on wood) we have not missed a single deadline, or made a communications mistake. If you are merging or acquiring, we hope you'll call us. If not, at least print out this "pitfalls" list and stick it on a wall near your desk. Seeing these common mistakes may help you avoid them. DO NOT:

1. Underestimate the time and resources needed for planning, organizing, and producing customer communications (your staff will be doing double-duty)

2. Assume that the staff at the acquired bank will be helpful and quick to respond with the information you need (find a way to light a fire - the motivation just won't be there)

3. Stick to the basic, legally required communications, with no marketing thought (and watch about 20% of your acquired customers walk out the door)

4. Use a mailhouse that hasn't done this type of work before (they will make mistake #1)

5. Mail to households instead of TINs (that will get you some irate calls!)

6. Ignore the fact that customers will open accounts after the final data cut

7. Forget that your competitors will be working hard to pick off customers