General: ABA Bank Marketing runs feature articles dealing with trends, "how-to" topics and other issues of interest to bank marketers. We have a recurring feature entitled "Fundamentals," which provides elementary, introductory information on certain bank marketing topics. The writing style is bright, stylish and easy-to-read.

Contributors: Some articles for ABA Bank Marketing are contributed by bank personnel, banking industry service providers, marketing educators and consultants.

Paramaters: Articles must be issue-oriented. They cannot directly promote any product offered by the author. They cannot mention the author's company or any of the company's products or services by name within the text. Articles will be edited and, in some cases, rewritten for clarity, style and brevity. Articles must be new. If the article is based on a previously written article or on a speech, it must be reworked so that it sounds like fresh material. The article cannot be merely a word-for-word transcript of a talk given at industry conferences. The article cannot have been published previously in another banking industry publication. The final headline is determined by the editor.

Special Information for Service Providers: We give preference to articles that are written jointly by the service provider and a banker. We also look for articles in which bankers are invited to write a sidebar giving a case study involving their bank. In any case, articles by service providers should be oriented specifically toward the problems and needs of banks or thrifts and should cite specific examples, anecdotes or case studies involving banks or thrifts.

Audience: Our readers represent banks of all asset sizes. The majority of them, however, consist of community and regional banks (under $5 billion in assets). Article topics should be oriented with this audience in mind.

Length: Should be at least 1,250 words long, but no more than 2,000 words.

What Contributors Receive: There is no payment for contributed articles. However, the magazine will give the author a byline and publish a brief identification of the author and the company that he or she represents. A website, e-mail address or telephone number may also be included at the end of the identification to allow reader feedback to the article. The identification will appear at the end of the article. The author will receive three copies of the magazine in which the article appears. (It is also possible to purchase bulk reprints. Discounts are available to the authors of articles.)

Procedure: Prospective contributors should query the editor with a description of the proposed article. Queries can be sent by mail, fax or e-mail. The editor may request a one-page summary or outline prior to agreeing to read a manuscript. Queries should be sent to: