ROCHESTER, N.H.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—BrandPartners Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BPTR), a leading provider of differentiated retail environments exclusive to the financial services industry, announced that a Summit Bank & Trust branch office, designed and built by BrandPartners, was recently recognized by The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and ICBA Independent Banker magazine for a building design considered to be innovative, efficient and reflective of the community it serves.
The Summit Bank & Trust branch office, located in Broomfield, Colorado, was one of five selected by a panel of judges and highlighted in the July issue of ICBA Independent Banker’s annual Architectural Excellence Showcase of community bank branch and office designs. The featured architectural designs emphasize form and function; enhance or reflect the local community; showcase creativity; and reinforce or affirm their community bank’s brand.
Brian Judd, a senior architectural designer at BrandPartners, worked closely with executives at Summit’s parent company, Heartland Financial USA, Inc., to create a new prototype design that would not only blend in with the Colorado landscape and demographic it serves, but also to stand out, thus allowing Summit to separate itself from its competition and find its unique voice in the marketplace.
“With Summit Bank & Trust, it was important that the exterior design incorporate consistent branded elements, such as the bank’s signature tower and that the interior give customers a welcoming feeling while still organizing the bank’s products and services into a smooth flowing pattern,” said Judd. “This allows customers to perform simple transactions quickly, while more complex ones are done privately, and in comfort. We incorporated many localized elements to encourage visitors to come in and explore, or just relax- from the colors, finishes, and artwork, to the comfortable seating stationed around the stone fireplaces.”
Recognizing the importance of local connections, Heartland is currently deploying a prototype branch design developed by BrandPartners considered to be both unique and flexible in order to adapt to the culture and needs of its many specific operating markets. The Broomfield branch marks the first of two Summit Bank & Trust offices BrandPartners has designed and built, and the fifteenth for Heartland.
“Using intelligent branch design is a wonderful way to connect with your community and provide the reassurance you are a community resource, not just another financial institution,” said Courtney Grover, Chief Operating Officer for BrandPartners. “If your branch office reflects a belief in, and commitment to the neighborhood, you are providing an environment in which good community relations can flourish.”
About BrandPartners
BrandPartners Group, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BPTR), through its wholly owned subsidiary BrandPartners Retail, Inc. provides an integrated approach to customer environments through brand translation, business strategy, design/build services, retail displays and in-branch communications products and services, from concept and design through implementation and training. BrandPartners installations are in more than 2,000 companies at more than 30,000 retail locations. The company serves its clients from its Rochester, New Hampshire home office and regional U.S. offices.
About Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is a financial services company providing banking, mortgage, investment, insurance, wealth management and consumer finance services to individuals and businesses in 60 banking locations in 49 communities in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Colorado and Minnesota. Heartland Financial USA, Inc. is listed on NASDAQ. Its trading symbol is HTLF.
Cautionary Language
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