The Future of Branches

The Future Of Branches

View more presentations from Jeffry Pilcher.

“The Future of Branches” is another presentation by Jeffry Pilcher, Publisher of The Financial Brand and President/ICONiQ. It takes a look at trends in retail branch design, and examines the best practices for engineering a branded financial environment. The presentation features 50 photos and dozens of examples.

Here’s a summary of the main points.
- With your next branch, be deliberate, strategic and intentional.
- Don’t just do “what you’ve always done.”
- You need to build your branch around interactions, not transactions.
- Think like a retailer. Move from “fortresses” to “stores.”
- Cross-sell your financial products and services.
- Think in terms of retail zones. Create retail destinations.
- Create brand theater.
- Have a retail street presence.
- You can create a secure environment without compromising your retail focus… and without turning into Fort Knox.
- Make it enjoyable.
- Make it memorable.
- Differentiate.

The Idea is merely not about designing the brick yet also the social interaction of Customers get by going into branches. Staff are also the most important aspect of the in-branch experience (see slide 11).

The presentation was focused on design, as promised in the presentation’s title, “The Future of Branches - Trends in Retail Financial Branch Design.” And there were a number of tips in the presentation about how to use branch design to maximize sales. It was also pointed out that the examples included in the presentation aren’t necessarily recommendations. They are used for illustrative purposes only. Many are included simply to show extremes. And some are examples of what not to do (such as UNCB’s Starbucks-style “Gold Cafe”).

The presentation was never designed to be an all-encompassing exploration of branches. The Author, packed what he could into this webinar (which was intentionally built to be visually-based).

Stay tuned for Issues concerning staff and the strategic role/purpose of branches, which hopefully shall be considered by the Author for future “Future of Branches” presentations.

Source : http://thefinancialbrand.com/2009/05/14/the-future-of-branches/

---

A taste of new-age banking at ABN-Amro

Are we ready for the next step of Banking Evolution ??

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/04/05/stories/2002040500610900.htm
=========================================

ABM-Amro Bank, in alliance with Barista Coffee Co, has launched the `cafe in a bank' concept through `Bancafes' at its branches.

"This will let customers relax while they explore their finances without being rushed," according to Mr Romesh Sobti, Executive Vice-President and Country Representative, ABM-Amro Bank India. During evening banking hours (7.30 p.m. to 11 p.m.), the bank's customers can relax over a cup of gourmet Barista coffee as they "browse through investment options, conduct banking transactions through the Internet or view information on the bank's products and services over a specially-designed user-friendly technology interface," Mr Sobti said, launching the first Bancafe here on Thursday.

ABN-Amro branches all over the country will soon offer the Bancafe experience. The bank has a network of 48 ATMs and 11 branches in eight cities: Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Baroda, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Bancafe offers not only the coffee experience but will also serve as a platform for promotions and informational seminars to be organised during evening banking hours, according to the bank.

ABN-Amro, with a strong consumer and commercial focus offers a range of loans, savings and term deposit accounts and investment products to its customers. Barista Coffee Co operates through a chain of 70 Barista Espresso bars across the metros and large cities in India.