Workshop Details How to Integrate Branch Design and Operational Function
ROCHESTER, N.H., (Nov. 14, 2005)—SunTrust Bank, one of the nation’s largest banks and a regional powerhouse in the Southeast, and BrandPartners, a leading provider of differentiated retail environments for the financial services industry, will jointly present an in-depth branch design workshop for the BAI Retail Delivery Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 15.
“When Branch Design and Operational Functionality Meet—Good Things Can Happen!” details how SunTrust worked with BrandPartners to create a customer-friendly branch to support staffing models and lay the foundation for continued success during SunTrust’s expansion. The presenters will be William A. Hileman, senior vice president, Retail Banking, SunTrust Bank, and Geoffrey D. Walters, executive vice president, BrandPartners.
“We worked to establish our strategy first, which then led us through the design process,” said Hileman. “As a result, the design delivers upon our strategic goals and fosters customer relationships. The dynamic environment also provides the right tools and information for our employees to perform at peak levels.”
“SunTrust’s branch design approach can be used for a wide range of retail locations for both smaller and larger financial institutions to support both superior customer experience and operational goals,” said Walters.
The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15, and includes hands-on exercises to provide participants with insights to address specific challenges in developing customer-centric strategies.
SunTrust has spearheaded a dramatic conversion throughout its 1,700 branch network to create a more physically appealing branch that truly delivers on the bank’s brand promise. The BrandPartners’ prototype is being used for future branches and also provides signature design elements that are being used to integrate existing branches into the design model.
Hileman has led a number of key branch initiatives for SunTrust’s retail line of business over the past several years. Hileman is responsible for channel management for the ATM and Branch Network, Retail Data Analysis & Reporting, and the Retail Project Management Group.
Formerly a retail banking executive with Fleet Financial Group, Walters has directed major branch transformation programs for BrandPartners’ clients such as Wells Fargo, CitiFinancial, H&R Block, BB&T and SunTrust. He is an expert in financial services consumer product and delivery management.
About BrandPartners
BrandPartners, a BrandPartners Group Company (OTC Bulletin Board: BPTR), provides an integrated approach to customer environments through brand translations, business strategy, design-build services, retail display 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 domestic and international markets from its Rochester, N.H. home office, New York design studio, several regional U.S. offices, and its new subsidiary office in London, BrandPartners Europe.
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