Comments on: Citi Rolls Out Its Version of the Apple Store

By: JohnDoe

JohnDoe — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:50:59 +0000

Information wall is a flashy gimmick.
Who would stand in front of a big board to obtain info? Lets see, touch a dirty screen, take five steps back to read the image, walk back to flick to the next screen–not my kind of experience.

By: Mark Wrice

Mark Wrice — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 06:15:34 +0000

And the Morgue of the Year Award goes to Citi Bank. For seriously clinical and cold retail ascetics

By: The end of traditional retail?

The end of traditional retail? — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 03:04:44 +0000

[...] consumers to forgoe their online sites. And it is not only the likes of Apple that are doing this. Look at Citi, which has created some very different experiences for its stores around the region. They don't [...]

By: Better Bank Systems - Karl Hakkarainen - Smart Branches Follow Smart Upgrades

Better Bank Systems - Karl Hakkarainen - Smart Branches Follow Smart Upgrades — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:21:10 +0000

[...] and banking plans, and communicate with in-branch and remote bank employees. The Financial Brand reported that there are already more than 30 similar branches in Hong [...]

By: CX Alchemist

CX Alchemist — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 03:00:48 +0000

[...] Brand did a great article with detailed pictures on the store concept. CITI’s team went directly to Eight Inc. who designed retail for Apple and Coach, among [...]

By: Digital Draw - Peter Buxbaum - Giving Customers What They Want

Digital Draw - Peter Buxbaum - Giving Customers What They Want — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:47:49 +0000

[...] built around the world. Earlier versions were rolled out in Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Click here if you want to see what Citi is up [...]

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:37:51 +0000

Citibank, spending your money foolishly; hence the 29% interest rate. Customer service at it’s finest!

By: Jayaprawirya Diah

Jayaprawirya Diah — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:27:08 +0000

While the idea is great – I personally think it was poorly executed and not well thought of.

It seems Citi only focus on the technology showcase rather than solution-based design toward its customer.

By: 25.02.2011, The digital bank branch « graphs-of-the-day.com

25.02.2011, The digital bank branch « graphs-of-the-day.com — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:05:14 +0000

[...] two firms have worked together in the past three years to create Citi’s smart banking branches. Interactive media walls, touch screen-based work benches, video conferencing and mobile phone [...]

By: CITI’s new branches are AWESOME! — Golden Mean

CITI’s new branches are AWESOME! — Golden Mean — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:55:11 +0000

[...] Brand did a great article with detailed pictures on the store concept. CITI’s team went directly to Eight Inc. who designed retail for Apple and Coach, among [...]

By: Delvinia - Digital Strategy & Customer Experience Design Firm - 5 Essential Digital Media Links from the Delvinia Team: Feb 20 «

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 02:46:26 +0000

[...] firm behind the Apple Store concept for their new retail banking prototypes. The Financial Brand takes a look at two of these branches recently launched in Union Square, New York and Mong Kok, Hong [...]

By: Новый год – новые концепции: три банка от TheFinancialBrand | mykola chumak

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 18:23:35 +0000

[...] Citi, Нью Йорк, Токио, Гонконг [...]

By: Sue Dowd

Sue Dowd — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:29:26 +0000

Brrr…baby it’s cold inside!

By: Brady Walen

Brady Walen — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:27:46 +0000

Keep in mind that Umpqua Bank introduced us to a branch with similar features, its Innovation Lab, before giving us the more comfortable neighborhood branch. Maybe it’s an indication that Umpqua Bank is more than a few steps ahead of other “leaders” in the industry.

By: Hamish

Hamish — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:06:05 +0000

Actually on second view, I realise what it looks like – a training academy for Vulcans. There is exactly zero personality to it and, let’s face it, that personality void is unlikely to be filled by bank products and people on monitors.

By: Hamish

Hamish — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:56:28 +0000

Have to say it doesn’t inspire me at all – cold and clinical. And those video screens and monitors look like 2001: A Space Odyssey – an idea of a future world that looks a lot more clunky than it actually should. I prefer the Umpqua approach, which seems a lot more friendly and relaxing – the kind of place I actually would go in to, even if I had no need for banking services.

Seems to me that Citibank have bigger problems anyway – does anyone know who or what they actually stand for these days? Their website is a corporate generic mess, their brand standards are all over the place and everyone I talk to says they have terrible service.

By: Michele Lee

Michele Lee — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:32:13 +0000

Even though they wanted to achieve an Apple-esque style, the branch photos look a little cold if you ask me. It reminds me more of an over-crowded, inefficient telco shop than a sleek, sexy bank that is supposed to be customer-centric. I think Apple stores, with their all-white furnishings, look MUCH more welcoming.

By: Marshall Lee

Marshall Lee — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:06:10 +0000

Nice to see a bank jumping from the tradition ship to create an open customer experience unlike any status quo providers. “Open design” will be a popular description, but in reality, Citi conveys a transparency to its clients. Like Apple, it is an inviting environment that draws you in and offers more than you would expect.

Looking forward to the customer response sequel.

By: Editor

Editor — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:04:13 +0000

Personally, I don’t see much connection between Apple’s stores and this branch design. Using the Apple slant may just be a PR play. There’s a lot more to Apple and their stores than just clean design and slick tech. It starts with the company’s DNA, which is fundamentally about creating the most simple, sleek, easy to use, intuitive products possible.

By: Brady Walen

Brady Walen — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:54:27 +0000

While Citi may have tapped the same firm responsible for the Apple Store concept, I think it’s a big mistake to emphasize the Apple Store inspiration behind these new branches. It sets extremely high expectations for consumers. And it’s unlikely that a financial institution will be able to deliver an entire experience that feels similar to the experience of an Apple Store.

After all, store design is only one element of this experience. Financial institutions aren’t selling a tangible product (in most cases). People like to visit Apple Stores because they can play with products they’ve seen on TV. People aren’t visiting bank branches to play with products.

My biggest concern is that community-based financial institutions will try to use this example as a reason to adopt some kind of Apple-centric approach at their institution. We’ve seen it already in varying degrees at other financial institutions around the country. In many cases, these are poorly executed and completely disconnected from the institution’s brand position. And as a result, the efforts aren’t doing anything for the bottom line. Copying Apple (or any company for that matter) isn’t the answer.