STRATEGIC PARTNERS
December 10, 2001
PITTSBURGH -- The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC - news) has become a "Founding Partner" with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Heinz Field.
Under the exclusive marketing agreement, PNC Bank will provide nine ATMs at the new 65,000-seat Heinz Field, as well as special offers that will enable PNC customers to get the Steelers' name and logo on debit cards, personal checks and checkbook covers.
With nine machines, it is believed PNC will have the most bank-owned ATMs in any U.S. sports facility. By comparison, Cleveland Browns Stadium (73,000 seats) has three ATMs and the University of Michigan football stadium (107,000 seats) has four ATMs.
Noting that PNC has had a relationship with the Steelers for more than 50 years, James E. Rohr, PNC's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "This is teamwork between two of Western Pennsylvania's most respected organizations, both of which are successful, national brands in their industries -- PNC as a leading financial services company, and the Steelers as one of the best and most popular NFL franchises."
Rohr said PNC's "Founding Partner" status and marketing agreement with the Steelers will bring name recognition to the PNC brand. "With guaranteed soldout attendance at Heinz Field and large TV audiences locally and nationally, we will enhance awareness of PNC as a national franchise and as one of Pittsburgh's leading corporations."
Also as part of the partnership, PNC will be known as "The Official Bank of the Pittsburgh Steelers," and PNC Bank branch promotions will give new and existing customers the chance at regular-season tickets at the soldout stadium.
PNC signage will appear on the scoreboard and ATMs, and PNC will receive other advertising opportunities. The bank also will sponsor the PNC Bank/Joe Greene Great Performance Award, an annual honor which is given to the team's top rookie.
PNC has more than 3,200 ATMs throughout the U.S. Services offered include check cashing to the penny at 230 ATMs and postage stamp purchases at 15 ATMs.
