OMT Pay goes zero

OMT Pay is here again... This time aiming to portray their zero fees from wallet to wallet. OK, I may be biased but the yellow really interests me especially when the situation in Lebanon is not that optimal, I love that color in ads. And so OMT or any of its derivatives catches my attention immediately. Now, the zero fees, well, let's make it a balloon... You know those inflatable balloons used for birthdays and all... Maybe they could have dared more using other "zero" shapes (you know such as round antique frames, and such elements). But the ad in itself is clean and clear and says what it does on the tin.

With Lebanese people fleeing banks towards solutions such as OMT, and cash, no wonder OMT is everywhere now.

OMT, be lazy says Joefish

OMT is back at it with Joefish! There is an OOH campaign for as far as the eye can see, but also an ultra cute video (which I really loved in terms of atmosphere - here). Now the OOH is part of the TVC in terms of stills and yes it kind of portrays the ad but I still like the TVC better as it expresses better the moodiness and... laziness effect. I mean why do today what you can put till tomorrow? And who wants to - God forbid go to a bank, or even an OMT branch - when you can do it straight from your phone, while enjoying the "dolce far niente" (sweetness of doing nothing). I am not here to argue.

For OMT time to ski!

And here they are, right bang on the Mzaar ski station OMT goes - apparently everywhere. And by this I mean their branding is literally all over inside, outside, on the walls, before you go on the lifts. And of course this comes with a strategic cashback offer of 20%. This, from what I understood from Joe Fish is just a small sample of what is to come later. But as is this is a show of force for a brand that has come to replace banks in Lebanon due to the fact that we are now a cash economy. 

OMT goes for zero fees for Lebanese transfers

I have previously explained why OMT has gone to replace banks for the Lebanese and how it actually came to become their most trusted financial partner (here). Which is why, an ad placed on the side of a bridge on the highway is bound to attract attention - and this one says that they have obliterated fees from the transfers in LBP pound inside Lebanon. If you think this does not mean much, think again - people are transferring sums to their family members, loved ones, business partners inside the Lebanese territory more than ever at this point. 

The Lebanese economy is now predominantly a cash economy - from my doctor doing his new clinic to the grocery store next door. Here's a funny story - just yesterday I was at my bank and there has been a new card waiting for me since my old one expired. I declined to take the new card because it was useless, and my banker also said "don't bother with it, just sign here the new contracts for your withdrawals in cash". When your banker tells you that your local card is worthless, it is something one needs to think about - hence OMT and their ad. 

Sendwave joins the club

So here's another service for sending money... At this point the whole economy is being supported by them. What's with the banks financial crash and it wiping people's assets with it, now is the time to deal with different methods and means. So Sendwave has to already fight already existing and well-established brands who already have people's credibility and trust (something banks sorely lack at this point).

OMT - now sponsoring Beirut Marathon.

Well, OMT is now sponsoring Beirut Marathon. I said it before (here), Lebanese now trust OMT more than they trust banks. Interestingly, usually it was banks that would sponsor the Beirut Marathon - big, fat, Alpha banks. But what's with banks being in taters now it is OMT that is taking their place as the main sponsor of the even. I actually like the ad they are doing - you know "I am Beirut" overlaid on the capital's map. I mean not just they included their logo, but someone did make the effort to come up with an idea. Surely, the yellow thingy is also a direct reference to the brand's colors. Now - I am not sure about the blue in the ad above because I seem to have seen a version with the black "I am Beirut" which is more aligned with OMT. Still, as I said, one cannot but appreciate the effort. 

OMT - more reliable than a bank for the Lebanese

 OMT - well, trust me Lebanese people trust OMT at this stage more than any other bank or financial institution. For a long time, OMT was one of the rare players in the financial industry which actually gave what it promised, and allowed people to send - though let's be honest, mainly receive - money in what is now called "fresh" Dollars (as opposed to the stuck Dollars in the banks). So for many, this has been a breathing lung.

So their campaign "next to you no matter the circumstances" is honestly not a stretch of reality because they have accompanied the Lebanese in the what is truly the worse, the most maddening, delflating  and trialing periods since the crisis broke in 2019.

The visuals, even if a little cliche, actually make sense - photos of families being close to one another because let's face it, when one bails you with much-needed money, this is how close families become.

OMT teams up with Visa for the FIFA Qatar World Cup

So it seems OMT has teamed up with the FIFA... The ad goes "play it right" and you can eventually win... And the win is nothing short of attending the FIFA world cup! I copy-pasted the details below (an oddity for me, but to be honest the details are too complicated to be rewritten). Apparently all this is related to an OMT Visa card, which I assume is a way to entice people to spend. And yes, the ad is sort of cute!

Main Prize: Trip for two to attend the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Final Match.

Package for two (2) includes:
• Round trip tickets for 2 people.
• Accommodation for 5 days/4 nights in a 5-star hotel.
• Airport transfers in Doha.
• Two (2) FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Matches with pre-match hospitality.
• Transportation to/from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Matches and scheduled activities.
• Group activities.
• Trip allowance of USD 400.
• Exclusive Visa services.

Other Valuable Prizes:
• A football specially designed for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
• TOD beIN subscription to watch the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ matches on a smart device (smart tv or smartphone).
• Various other prizes specially designed for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.


Draw Dates:
- First Draw: 15/07/2022
- Second Draw: 12/08/2022
- Third Draw: 15/09/2022
- Fourth Draw: 14/10/2022
- Fifth Draw: 14/11/2022
- Sixth Draw: 09/12/2022

The draw will be held under the supervision of the Lebanese National Lottery.

D Does Business vs OMT: Compare and contrast

D Does Business has  published tips as to how to survive in the current times... Here they are here. OMT just published a suspiciously similar list. Hmm, well, this is a little odd considering the points of intersection.