People are visual and you only get one chance to make a first impression. If you were to walk into a bank to open an account and it was plain and boring, with no design interest, you may think that the bank is not doing well and may not be there tomorrow...Design is important in almost everything.
I think design should be even more important to a bank, given the importance of its service and the sensitivity of information it handles regularly. With online banking, for instance, it's important for a bank's Website to be impeccably designed -- definitely more so than Nike's Website...or even Nike's shoes.
Absolutely! Look at trendsetters like Umpqua Bank on the West Coast, who have revolutionized what a banking experience can function like for its audiences, with retail locations that function more like coffee houses than drab bank lobbies.
Duh! Can you imagine a Starck/Schrager joint venture in a bank lobby? That would certainly make me feel better about paying atm fees.
Banks are depressingly decorated. Companies like Target recognized the popularity and ROI of good design long ago.
The online experience could use some help too. The user experience should be well thought out and designed to make me want to go to the site and check it out.
I totally agree with you. I don't know where and how the idea came that you should feel welcome in a place where you give your money to someone who sits above you behind a desk after you have waited in a slaughter-house-style line for 10 or 15 minutes.
ING Direct is so clean and easy to use, I think many people stick to using them even though they no longer offer the most competitive interest rates. Banks with clunky web sites and confusing interfaces make something already stressful, namely money, that much worse to manage. People will select a bank for the "emotional security" a well-designed financial service experience can afford.
The core of all successful marketing plans for banks should be focused on loyalty, strength, and a sense of commitment. Thus branding is most important aspect of banking, I mean banks want people to give them their savings, is branding is off, people will go elsewhere.
Design is much more than a visual experience. The entire user experience can benefit from good design - not just the physical location, website and other collateral. How about designing innovative products? Designing innovative services? A bank that can push the envelope in creating a new overall experience that benefits the consumer is definitely one that understands the value of design.
The best example of a bank that has embraced design as
an important element of their business is Umpqua Bank.
Ziba deserves some credit for their part in rethinking the experience of banking. Take a look and compare Umpqua to your bank...http://www.ziba.com/Products.aspx?currentNav=3&pid=8
12 Total
February 14, 2008 at 5:15pm by
People are visual and you only get one chance to make a first impression. If you were to walk into a bank to open an account and it was plain and boring, with no design interest, you may think that the bank is not doing well and may not be there tomorrow...Design is important in almost everything.
February 15, 2008 at 12:12pm by April Joyner
I think design should be even more important to a bank, given the importance of its service and the sensitivity of information it handles regularly. With online banking, for instance, it's important for a bank's Website to be impeccably designed -- definitely more so than Nike's Website...or even Nike's shoes.
February 15, 2008 at 5:13pm by Frank Martinez
Absolutely, less we forget we are all consumers. Banks like any other business are in business to sell their products.
February 16, 2008 at 12:26am by David Sherwin
Absolutely! Look at trendsetters like Umpqua Bank on the West Coast, who have revolutionized what a banking experience can function like for its audiences, with retail locations that function more like coffee houses than drab bank lobbies.
February 18, 2008 at 9:23am by josh hanna
Duh! Can you imagine a Starck/Schrager joint venture in a bank lobby? That would certainly make me feel better about paying atm fees.
Banks are depressingly decorated. Companies like Target recognized the popularity and ROI of good design long ago.
The online experience could use some help too. The user experience should be well thought out and designed to make me want to go to the site and check it out.
February 18, 2008 at 7:32pm by Matt Halfhill
Frank,
I totally agree with you. I don't know where and how the idea came that you should feel welcome in a place where you give your money to someone who sits above you behind a desk after you have waited in a slaughter-house-style line for 10 or 15 minutes.
There is a reason I do all my banking online...
April 4, 2008 at 2:14pm by Haewon Kye
Of course. Sadly that's not the reality. That's why I avoid it as much as I can and do online banking. Not that's designed any better.
April 8, 2008 at 3:37pm by David Grossman
ING Direct is so clean and easy to use, I think many people stick to using them even though they no longer offer the most competitive interest rates. Banks with clunky web sites and confusing interfaces make something already stressful, namely money, that much worse to manage. People will select a bank for the "emotional security" a well-designed financial service experience can afford.
April 8, 2008 at 8:51pm by Jonathan Bolton
The core of all successful marketing plans for banks should be focused on loyalty, strength, and a sense of commitment. Thus branding is most important aspect of banking, I mean banks want people to give them their savings, is branding is off, people will go elsewhere.
April 9, 2008 at 3:35pm by Kathryn Hautanen
Design is much more than a visual experience. The entire user experience can benefit from good design - not just the physical location, website and other collateral. How about designing innovative products? Designing innovative services? A bank that can push the envelope in creating a new overall experience that benefits the consumer is definitely one that understands the value of design.
April 9, 2008 at 10:32pm by David-Henry Oliver
The best example of a bank that has embraced design as
an important element of their business is Umpqua Bank.
Ziba deserves some credit for their part in rethinking the experience of banking. Take a look and compare Umpqua to your bank...http://www.ziba.com/Products.aspx?currentNav=3&pid=8
April 16, 2008 at 10:24pm by Ray Gardner
Design is important to the point that people have to feel secure with anyone handling their money.
Too many typical designers however, and the bank would quickly appear kitschy to the average investor/customer.