Running a successful branch can be difficult, but did you know there are ways to stack the odds in your favor? How a bank operates has a lot to do with its design.
Here at HTG, we are experts in bank design and architecture, and we can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that good design can make all the difference.
Why Design Matters
Banks and credit unions, not unlike many other consumer spaces, provide an environment where transactions take place. Those transactions take many shapes, and all of them create an experience. Many times, people assume that design is about how something looks, but that’s just the beginning. Design impacts how something is perceived. It communicated important information about flow and feelings and experience.
When a potential (or current) customer drives past a bank, the building’s exterior should appear visually interesting and inviting. When a customer enters a bank, the design should further invite them in and tell them where to go. When a customer approaches a transaction station or office, they should see employees who are comfortable in their space and able to provide efficient and effective service.
All of these things are achievable through design.
Bank Architecture and Design
What it all comes down to, this emphasis on bank architecture and design, is the customer or member experience. The experience provided is the single best indicator of branch success, and we’ve seen — time and time again — how the design of physical branch location supports this end.
Intentional operational design can lower the day-to-day employee expenses of individual branch locations. It can also lead to higher foot traffic from current customers and potential customers, helping a branch become an invaluable community mainstay.
There are near-endless options when it comes to bank branch design, leading some to ask, What is good design?
What is Good Design?
Good bank design is a design that takes into consideration all the potential variables capable of impacting ongoing operations. At the end of the day, bank building design will influence customer experience, employee retention, a bank’s image within the community, and the overall success of an individual branch. Without a clear, intentional focus on design, building a bank can be an overly expensive undertaking that fails to yield a successful result.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for bank design and architecture, understanding the best decisions for your upcoming bank project can be simple. By partnering with an architect with expertise in the financial industry, you’ll have an experienced advisor to guide you through all of the unknowns and help you settle on a bank design that supports your goals. Ready to get started? Connect with a financial architect today:
