Branding Archive
Is ‘Common Bond’ Part of Your Brand?
Credit unions, as not-for-profit organizations, are required to limit their membership in order to qualify for their untaxed status. Historically, this helped create a “common bond” between credit unions and their members. But is this
What’s the Return on Branding?
A number of financial institutions ask, “What’s the ROI on branding?” It’s often the bean counters who ask this question. They want to see a “demonstrable rate of return” before making any investment. Certainly it’s
HSBC ‘Different Points of Value’
HSBC has been positioning itself as the “worldwide local bank” for a while now. They are a bank that takes pride in understanding the subtleties of cultural differences. Last year, they introduced a thought-provoking ad
Inside-Out vs. Outside-In
Here are two different approaches to building a brand strategy. 1) INSIDE-OUT You pick your own brand direction. You take a stand, confidently go out to the world and declare, “This is what we stand
GMAC Launches Deposits-Only ‘Ally Bank’
Roughly six months after GMAC became a bank in order to receive TARP funds, the financial services firm has decided to christen its new banking division as Ally Bank. Ally will be an online-only “direct
The Post-WaMu Blues: Chase Has Lost ‘That Lovin’ Feeling’
By Freddy J. Nager Founder, Atomic Tango So my longtime bank, Washington Mutual (WaMu), recently got taken over by megabank Chase. ‘Twas a sad day for us WaMulians, because, for all its faults — and
SAC Uses New Look to Tout ‘The Credit Union Difference’
“Change means opportunity. Opportunity for our members, for our community, and for SAC Federal Credit Union.” – Gail DeBoer, President/SAC FCU After conducting research, SAC Federal Credit Union in Nebraska found that their somewhat dated,
Q&A: An Interview About Branding in the Financial Industry
These are excerpts from an interview given by Jeffry Pilcher, publisher of The Financial Brand. While the interview specifically dealt with credit unions, there are plenty of insights and advice here relevant to any financial
Differentiation: The Key to Branding
Most financial institutions look, sound and act almost exactly alike, yet of all the components fueling strong brands, differentiation is the most critical.
Portfolio: Hyde Bank’s Upscale Brand Image
An upscale banking image. Everything you’d ever want to know about the interior design of this 77-year old banking hall is in an article from VMSD.
Portfolio: Darby Bank’s Brand Identity Makeover
The agency that led Darby Bank’s rebranding, the Kidd Group, says they uncovered one common thread in discovery sessions with the bank — their core values: Integrity, Commitment, Excellence, Teamwork, Energy and Ability. Kidd Group
Credit Union Core Values: Any Different Than Banks?
The Financial Brand first looked at the core values of 50 banks. Now, we’re repeating the exercise, but this time we’re looking at credit unions’ core values. How are they different? How are they similar?
Core Values: Do All Banks Really Believe the Same Thing?
If all banks pretty much share the same core values, then what good are they?
El Banco Deuno: Bueno Branding
The emergence of a new, educated middle class with a larger savings capacity has meant Mexico’s demand for financial services is on the rise. Most Mexican banks have been slow to adapt. Enter El Banco
Dividends: A Huge Differentiator for Credit Unions
Filene recently released an excellent report that tackled this question: “What is ‘the credit union brand’ good for?” It’s a fair question. In the war for retail financial services, the battle line between banks and
Intentionally Left Bank
“Intentionally left bank,” is the only thing Seattle Metro Credit Union’s billboard says. How many financial institutions run billboards that look this uncluttered? (Note: This is actually a full-color photo. That’s what Seattle looks like
Redneck Bank Is Sure to Git Yer Attention
This ain’t no joke. Honest to gosh, Redneck Bank is fer real. Redneck, the online direct division of Bank of Wichitas, caters to a “Larry the Cable Guy” crowd — you know, those folks who
Secretive Bailout Banks Fail Transparency Test
The financial industry has suffered the most severe blow to its image in generations. Everything from TARP bailouts to multi-billion dollar ponzi schemes has left consumers reeling from a loss of trust and confidence in
Podcast: Jeffry Pilcher on Financial Branding, Naming
Late last month, Tim McAlpine over at Currency Marketing conducted a 40-minute podcast interview with Jeffry Pilcher, the editor/founder here at The Financial Brand. Advice and comments on financial branding follow a 12-minute professional biography.
Hopefully You Didn’t Get This Bank’s Cheap Gifts
Did you get a lame gift for Christmas this year? If you got a phony jar of homemade jam, a fake star adoption certificate, or a cheap computer printout of a seascape, you can thank
