Banker elevates the wine and dine concept

Eric Peters, market president of First Federal Bank of Florida in Sarasota, thinks he's on to something sweet in the game of how community banks can be markedly different from competitors.

Peters' pitch: He drops off a bottle of personal private-label wine to clients the bank targets. So private, in fact, Peters and his staff will find a picture online of a local CEO or president of a company the bank wants to do business with. They print the picture and put it on the front of the bottle with a note that says this wine was made especially for you. “We seem to get an appointment that way,” Peters tells Coffee Talk.

The wine is from Goodfellas Cafe & Winery in Sarasota. Peters, who launched the program a few months ago, buys the wine by the case from Goodfellas. Selections include white, merlot and sangria.