Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build in Banking: A Comparison
In this banking transformation comparison, you’ll discover the basics of two popular construction methods plus their advantages and disadvantages. ...
4 min read
Jenna Warner
:
March 16, 2022
First impressions are formed within seconds, and that’s assuming you’ve caught the eye of your consumer. Your bank or credit union’s appearance and image must instill trust. With many financial institutions to choose from, bankers need to make clients feel welcome, appreciated, secure, and comfortable earning and retaining their business. A well-designed bank or credit union floor plan can improve the banking experience for branch clients.
The layout and convenience of banking areas are more important than the color of the walls to clients. When you work in the same place every day, it becomes difficult to see the forest for the trees. Try to experience your bank the way a client does.
If you were a client, would you feel comfortable in this branch? What do you see that works well? Are there areas that need improvement? Use your answers to determine if you need to pursue a branch transformation.
Prioritizing functionality doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use attractive design elements. The decor in small-town banks often reflects the community. Photos of local landmarks, local crafts or artwork samples, and complementing color schemes make these branches feel more personal to clients.
Whether you’re building a new branch or planning to update an existing one, your number one goal is to provide what your clients want and need. That can include incorporating things to allow your employees to work more efficiently, increasing your clients’ approval of your branch.
When a client walks into your branch, they’ll notice several things. The overall aesthetic appeal is important, but convenience, built into the bank or credit union design, is often more significant. If your clients have to wait their turn in awkward lines, don’t have privacy while they conduct their transactions, or can’t conveniently access necessary forms or technology, they don't care how pretty your branch looks.
Branches wishing to provide their clients with an excellent experience should consider designing their floor plans. Consider things that are important to your clients.
They want to:
You can meet these functional needs while still providing a stylish atmosphere that reflects your brand.
Transformation can mean different things; adding new services or technologies to create a foundation for a better experience, updating small but strategic pieces like furniture and other design elements for a refreshed look, or it could be as extreme as changing your branch network strategy to deliver a better experience to all of your clients where they live, work, and play. Your clients will appreciate your changes to build on your relationship with them. Employees also benefit from adopting a modern bank or credit union design concept.
Tellers who have to walk back and forth and loan officers who collect paperwork from the opposite end of your branch aren’t working efficiently. When designing your floor layout, ensure that your employees benefit from practical personnel and equipment placements. This has to start in the beginning stages of your branch planning process. The client experience can’t be an afterthought.
Technology options develop rapidly, and many banks and credit unions are integrating some of them into their branches. Some examples are:
Don’t rush into investing in financial technology just because it’s trendy; instead, determine if it will make your employees more efficient or provide convenience to your clients.
Is your branch located in the desert, close to mountains, or near a national park in a large city? You can use color schemes, fixtures, flooring, furniture, and decor that complement your location.
Most banking clients prefer a customized aesthetic over a more sterile, generic look. If your brand attracts specific age groups or demographic groups, cater to them when making interior design selections.
Nobody wants to be overheard when discussing an overdrawn account or a new mortgage application. Finances are personal, and your clients need to know that you understand and respect that.
Suppose private offices aren’t an option; place desks and seating strategically so that clients walking to teller stations won’t overhear your established clients. You can position decor or plants between loan officers’ desks as an alternative to solid partitions.
A recent yet growing trend is to generate more clients traffic by partnering with other retail companies. Providing a space for a local or franchise coffee shop, for instance, will likely bring clients into the bank or credit union who might not visit otherwise. If you position the coffee shop next to a video wall advertising your brand and the services you offer, you have an excellent chance to gain a new client.
We are proud to invite you to our Ideation Center in Arizona. This interactive location lets you and your executive team explore the newest bank floor plans, ideas, technology, designs, and trends. This hands-on opportunity exposes you to numerous banking strategies that inspire your branch transformation plans.
The Ideation Center is completely free, and seeing so many products in one realistic setting can save you time, frustration, and money. We will also take you to visit several local branches that follow the latest trends and best practices for credit union and bank branch design.
DBSI offers all the products and services you need to complete your branch transformation. For more information or to schedule a consultation, use our live chat, submit our online form, or call us at 855.ASK.DBSI.
In this banking transformation comparison, you’ll discover the basics of two popular construction methods plus their advantages and disadvantages. ...
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