<p>In the European Union the borders are being wiped out and this is creating new business markets for companies that before never had dreamt of going international. Today we see it as natural that companies act world-wide to gain success and increase the growth and profit. They need to do this to be competitive on the ever changing market that we have nowadays. One of the most important things to have in mind when thinking of expanding to other countries is which entry mode to choose. There are several ways of entering a market and if you do it right you might be very successful, but if you do not spend time on this decision the internationalization process can become very short and the company can lose a lot of capital. With this thesis we want to investigate how two large Scandinavian banks made their presence into the Baltic market in the mid 90’s, which kind of entry modes they went for and if one of them made a wiser choice than the other. In the thesis we have also gone in to the factors that have been of high importance when making the decision on why they chose the Baltic market and also which kind of entry mode. Our main findings after having made this thesis is that it was the profit and growth potential that was the main driving force for establishing on the Baltic market, but also the short distance and the low costs of going in on the market. The choice of entry mode differs between the two banks and that was expected since they have different strategies when going international. And even the know-how of the market in question and resources of the company have been important factors.</p>

<p>Question: What different factors affect the SMEs to choose a specific bank?</p><p>Purpose: The purpose with this research is to find out how SMEs perceive the value and brand of the bank they are using for the financial services of their business. We will strive to find out how they perceive their banks and what underlying factors that affected their choice of bank the most. </p><p>Method: We have used a quantitative method and a deductive approach for this thesis. Hypotheses were created with theory as a base and tested on a sample population containing micro companies in the community of Halmstad, Sweden. The data were compared with mean, standard deviation and variance using SPSS. Cronbach’s alpha and Pearson’s correlation were used to improve reliability and test the correlation between statements used in the study.</p><p>Theoretical framework: The theory is based on Aaker (1991) and Keller (1993) and their research and theories about branding, surrounded by findings done by other researchers within the subject. The factors circling the brand phenomenon are explained; awareness, association, attitude, loyalty and activity. The bank industry and SMEs will be introduced to the reader, why branding becomes so important when dealing with services and the bank sector. </p><p>Empirical framework: The empirical findings contain the data collected from the survey handed out to the sample population. The findings are explained in tables and diagrams and are further used to compare with previous research and come up with a conclusion.</p><p>Conclusion: The most significant finding in the study is the importance of a personal contact at the bank, the micro company’s personal relation with one or more employees on the bank. Banks are not at all seen as unique in their supply of services, so the personal connection is an important factor which leads to loyalty. The respondents are satisfied with the performance of their banks, the supply of services covers their need. The micro companies do want the best possible solution to their specific situation, however, they do not seek for that optimal solution actively.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1973. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 167-179). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1983. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-105). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1983. / Vita. Bibliography: leaves [282]-290.

Question: What different factors affect the SMEs to choose a specific bank? Purpose: The purpose with this research is to find out how SMEs perceive the value and brand of the bank they are using for the financial services of their business. We will strive to find out how they perceive their banks and what underlying factors that affected their choice of bank the most. Method:We have used a quantitative method and a deductive approach for this thesis. Hypotheses were created with theory as a base and tested on a sample population containing micro companies in the community of Halmstad, Sweden. The data were compared with mean, standard deviation and variance using SPSS. Cronbach’s alpha and Pearson’s correlation were used to improve reliability and test the correlation between statements used in the study. Theoretical framework: The theory is based on Aaker (1991) and Keller (1993) and their research and theories about branding, surrounded by findings done by other researchers within the subject. The factors circling the brand phenomenon are explained; awareness, association, attitude, loyalty and activity. The bank industry and SMEs will be introduced to the reader, why branding becomes so important when dealing with services and the bank sector. Empirical framework: The empirical findings contain the data collected from the survey handed out to the sample population. The findings are explained in tables and diagrams and are further used to compare with previous research and come up with a conclusion. Conclusion: The most significant finding in the study is the importance of a personal contact at the bank, the micro company’s personal relation with one or more employees on the bank. Banks are not at all seen as unique in their supply of services, so the personal connection is an important factor which leads to loyalty. The respondents are satisfied with the performance of their banks, the supply of services covers their need. The micro companies do want the best possible solution to their specific situation, however, they do not seek for that optimal solution actively.

Abstract Experienced the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the economic recession in Europe and the United States, the international banking industry generally believe that personal credit is more able to withstand the test of the economic cycle than company credit. Mean while, as the interest rate differentials continued to reduce, the company loan business is no longer contributed good profit, the commercial banks are forced to develop a variety of both the interest rate differentials and non-interest rate differentials business in the personal financial services in order to increase the diversification of the income. In today's M-based society trend, the growth of personal wealth and financial needs of individual customers have brought sustainable development for the commercial banks by providing a stable market and earnings, in addition to the widely use of the network of information technology, as well as the merger of the financial industry, have expanded the personal financial services space, and enhanced the personal financial services revenue comparison. It can be said that personal financial business is very important for the domestic banks. In consolidating the foundation of the traditional business, the domestic commercial banks start to focus on the new service areas, new service varieties, new benefit growth related service (such as personal financial management, personal consumer loans, housing loans, fund agent and so on) as the development priorities. At the same time, generally increase the personal finance center, finance department stores, financial services center as the main focus to meet medium high end customer demand in the operation layout. Since the government opened 16 new banks in 1991, the financial markets become over competitive, resulting in too many banks fight for the same market. Along with the ever-changing international economic situation, the domestic economy is suffered a long-term downturn, the industry's operating environment is getting worse everyday. Under these circumstances, how to build up good customer relationship and differentiate from the competitors are the immediate tasks for the domestic banks. Customer Relationship Management is the art of modern management science and advance information technology, is the business to re-establish a ¡§customer-centric¡¨ development strategy, and base on this, develops all business processes including judgments¡Bchoice¡Bcompetition¡Bdevelopment and maintaining customers. From the beginning of the establishment of customer database, including records of contact interaction¡Bthe customer basic information for further analysis with the use of analytical tools, in view of ¡§sections¡¨ contribution factors to distinguish customer base, the use of different services and products to meet the needs and establish long-term good relations. By providing tailored services under the premise that privacy is not infringed, finally measure with the relevant indicators to see if it achieves the effective customer management objectives. Customer relationship management of commercial banks as a new management model, is an advanced concept of development strategy and operational performance, but also a new kind of business model and management practice; also directly reflected in the means of modern information technology, including business operations¡Bcustomer information and data analysis as the main contents of the software and hardware systems, it is an unified technology platform and information service system for the bank to operate activities with the customers in full contact¡Bfull-service under the highly digitization, information technology, electronics and automation conditions. This research plans to utilize customer demand end and the bank execution end, through a variety of different asset size customers and different types of banks, to do in-depth interviews to understand customer expectations for the serviced-bank and the banks direction & correctness in customer relationship management. Interviewees including the industry (5), science (1), consumers (9), each with in-depth interviews to collect data analysis.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Proofschrift--Nederlandsche handels-hoogeschool to Rotterdam. / Includes bibliographical references.

Inaug.-Diss.--Basel. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 149-150.