The Financial Brand (www.FinancialBrand.com) has looked at hundreds of bank and credit union videos produced in 2011. They say that if there were Academy Awards in the banking industry the following would be their nominees.
If you have a favourite bank or financial industry advertisement why not let us have the details in the Comment section of our blog.
Best Use of a Celebrity Spokesperson
Financial Institution: DnB, Norway
Title: Good Morning Mrs. Clooney
This commercial from DnB, a Norwegian bank, is hilarious. It’s a bit indirect with the link back to financial services: “Some people are lucky in life. For the rest of us, saving up can be smart.”
Most Freaky Guerilla Stunt
Financial Institution: NAB, Australia
Title: Guerilla Traps
The Aussie banking giant produced two fascinating spycam videos capturing how people react when forcibly trapped.
Best Tear Jerker
Financial Institution: ASB Bank, New Zealand
Title: Mint Sauce
A young boy wants a new Nintendo DS. Alas, he can’t afford it.
Best Use of Man’s Best Friend
Financial Institution: FNB, South Africa
Title: Lost Dog
This 90-second TV commercial shows the lengths people are willing to go to for their pets… but with a clever, unexpected twist at the end.
Best ‘Glee’ Knockoff
Financial Institution: Innovations FCU, USA
Title: Bad Romance
The credit union’s staff get together for a dance routine ala Glee, set to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.”
Most Ridiculous Lawsuit
Financial Institution: New Zealand Credit Union
Title: Piggybankers
This spot shows average consumers lugging their banker around everywhere, like monkeys on their backs.
Most Bizarre Cartoon
Financial Institution: Numerica Credit Union, USA
Title: Animal Instincts
Best Drive-Thru Theater Act
Financial Institution: Michigan First Credit Union, USA
Title: Boogie Woogie Banking
Michigan First set up a hidden camera to film members’ reactions as a dance crew puts on a show in the credit union’s drive-thru lanes.
Best Mr. Mayhem Imitation
Financial Institution: RaboDirect, Australia
Title: Stealing Your Dreams
A metaphorical thief working on behalf of big, bad banks steals people’s financial dreams.
Best Pirate Movie
Financial Institution: Island FCU, USA
Title: Pirates Tale
Best Villain
Financial Institution: NAB, Australia
Title: Banks Hate Us
NAB tries to ingratiate itself with consumers in this TV advert by painting itself as the bank hated most by other bankers.
Best Customer Testimonial
Financial Institution: Webster Bank, USA
Title: Type W Personality
This ad campaign features real Webster bankers and customers.
Weirdest Use of a Talking Squirrel
Financial Institution: BankWest, Australia
Title: Click to Chat
A middle aged man woos his lunch date when a gust of wind suddenly blows his toupee off.
Best Use of Bad Habits
Financial Institution: UBank, Australia
Title: Habits
Best Use of a Goofy Foam Costume
Financial Institution: NAB, Australia
Title: We Killed The Asterisk
NAB “kills” the evil asterisk to emphasize that their accounts have no/fewer conditions attached.
And the winner is .....
