The Australian banking sector is at the forefront of digital transformation. As customer visits dwindle – online banking has seen a dramatic reduction in the numbers of people who visit branches – banks have been forced to rethink what they do with their bricks-and-mortar premises.
Bendigo Bank has always been known for having a physical presence within their local community. They recognised that the current model of branch design was not sustainable and in 2018 began a transformation of their premises, starting with Norwood in South Australia.
They partnered with datmedia and Public Design Group to help fold their ‘social approach’ toward banking into store design and create an entirely redesigned space where in-branch experiences would engage the local community. datmedia’s cloud-based technology is at the heart of the transformation.
That new way of thinking was recognised internationally when Public Design Group recently won top prize in the Permanent Service Retail category at the Shop! Global Awards.
Results from Norwood exceeded expectations, and Leichhardt and Carlton have since joined the initiative. Over half of their 500+ branch network has been ear-marked to receive the ‘community treatment’.
datmedia will be supporting them every step of the way.
