Innovating Customer Engagement with Digital Collectibles

In today’s fast-paced digital world, standing out in the financial services industry requires more than just traditional marketing. DG Nexolution, together with Volksbank Mittlerer Schwarzwald eG and powered by Loyi’s technology, has demonstrated how innovation and customer-centricity can come together to deliver meaningful impact through digital collectible-powered loyalty campaigns.

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The Challenge: Engaging Younger and Broader Audiences

Volksbank Mittlerer Schwarzwald eG set out to strengthen its relationship with existing customers and attract younger generations. Recognizing the alignment between cooperative banking values and the interests of Gen Z—such as social responsibility, sustainability, and co-creation—the bank saw an opportunity to modernize engagement through digital experiences.

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The Pilot: Turning Purpose into Participation

In partnership with DG Nexolution and Gewinnsparverein Baden-Württemberg, Volksbank launched a campaign linked to its popular Gewinnsparen program. Customers could participate by voting on which local charity should receive a donation. In return, they received a unique digital collectible representing the chosen cause, combined with the promise of planting a tree in their name.

The results exceeded expectations:

• 12% participation rate - far above the usual 2-4% for similar campaigns.
• 4350 participants aged 18 to 85.
• High emotional engagement, with even senior customers showing excitement about owning their first digital collectible.

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Making Digital Engagement Easy for All Ages

One of the biggest successes was the user-friendly experience. Customers could easily claim their digital collectible without needing any technical knowledge. A simple sign-up process via email, with an automatic digital wallet creation, lowered the barrier to entry. This accessibility proved that digital engagement isn’t just for younger audiences—it’s inclusive of all generations when designed with simplicity in mind.

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Extending Success with Gamified Campaigns

Building on the pilot’s success, Volksbank ran a targeted campaign for Gen Z during the 2024 holiday season. Young customers could claim one of 200 limited-edition digital collectibles and enter a prize draw for branded merchandise. Despite the short timeline, over one-third of the collectibles were claimed, showcasing strong digital engagement from younger customers.

Additionally, DG Nexolution successfully used Loyi’s platform at major events like Kartenforum 2024, turning booth visits into a scavenger hunt experience where attendees collected digital collectibles at different stations to enter a raffle. This gamification approach increased booth traffic, kept participants engaged until the event’s conclusion, and delivered a memorable experience.

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Why It Worked: Values, Simplicity, and Fun

Key to the success was the alignment of:

• Social purpose (donations and tree planting).
• Easy-to-claim digital collectibles (no technical barriers).
• Gamification (collect, play, and win).

By combining these elements, the campaigns not only engaged customers but also reinforced Volksbank’s image as an innovative, community-oriented bank.

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Loyi’s Role: Powering Scalable, No-Code Loyalty Solutions

At the heart of these campaigns was Loyi’s white-label platform, developed in partnership with DG Nexolution. The platform enables banks to launch their own branded loyalty experiences without needing technical expertise. It offers:

• No-code setup for quick deployment.
• Secured digital collectibles to guarantee uniqueness and authenticity.
• Scalable features that make it easy to expand campaigns across different customer segments and touchpoints.

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The Takeaway: Loyalty That Resonates Across Generations

Volksbank Mittlerer Schwarzwald eG and DG Nexolution have proven that loyalty programs can be modern, inclusive, and impactful when powered by the right technology. By combining social impact, simplicity, and gamification, they not only reached new audiences but also deepened connections with existing customers of all ages.

The future of loyalty is here—and it’s more engaging, digital, and meaningful than ever before.