1. Insufficient planning. When you believe you've finished planning your branch architecture and construction project, do it again and review it thoroughly. An experienced branch design and construction provider can guide you through almost every conceivable question surrounding the process.


2. Neglecting to have an operations model. You should have your own list of operational and financial goals for the new location and integrate these principles into the design of the physical structure. For instance, if your top goals are fast service, smooth traffic flow, teller interactions, and privacy for account and loan transactions, use these objectives to influence your finished product


3. Neglecting to connect with the community. Try to be sure that your bank architecture and interior design reflect the "personality" of the community and its members.


4. Neglecting to integrate your brand strategy into the new branch. Your brand is your calling card, your corporate identity, and the representation of your mission. Regardless of the branch architecture you favor, your exterior and interior design should embody your brand personality.

Notice that none of these directly relate to the physical construction project. A successful project needs the common errors to be eliminated BEFORE the physical phase of the process. You will be much happier with your finished product.

In addition to undertaking effective planning and developing a detailed mental vision of your completed branch, firms with experience in design/build of branches complete the troika of key elements in finishing your project on time and on budget.

In addition to the pure physical creation of the architecture and interior design, these firms can provide:

• Full turn-key project management, from planning and design to grand opening
• Handle all permitting, zoning, and compliance issues
• Integration of your brand strategy into the branch architecture and interior design
• Designing and locating all appropriate signage and marketing components

The often times immense value added services provided by experienced providers not only save you money and time, but help ensure that your new branch construction project will be completed to your specifications on time and on budget.

1. Think. Spend quality time with the construction committee or the board of directors thinking about what you envision your completed project to look like, feel like, and the image it projects. Neglecting this step can often create the dreaded phrase: change orders. Even the simplest project for an experienced bank architect can become a cost and time problem if the client wants multiple changes during construction. As your preferences change, so does the construction schedule and budget, typically not in your favor. But, if you have a thoughtful and confident idea of the finished product upfront, the individual steps tend to get completed on time.


2. Plan. Once you've planned everything out, examine - carefully - your completed plan. While it is sometimes possible to suffer the "paralysis of analysis" or over-plan, in most cases you can never plan too much. In fact, detailed planning often exposes potential on-time and on-budget problems before you've committed hours and money to the project. Learning of any warning signs allows you to create appropriate responses should these issues exist in the future.

While there are many components to be managed during bank and credit union branch construction, the physical elements can be expertly managed by a competent design/build firm.

To select the best branch construction services firm for your project, do your "technical" homework and then go with your instincts. A bank or credit union construction project is a major undertaking and the best choices for you may not necessarily be the best for everyone. Focus on making the right selection for you, your institution, and your project.

Viewing examples of their prior projects will give you a sense of their technical expertise, their quality, and the "feel" of their work. After you've made the "cut" down to a final few potentials, examine their image and reputation in the industry. Using the Internet, your personal and professional contact network, impartial third party reviews, and any peripheral information you can gather, you should get a technical comfort level with the top choices.

Once you've narrowed your choices to only the best, let your instinct and communications comfort level help you make your selection. Much like it helps a successful sports team, good chemistry can help your new branch or renovation project be a winner from start to completion. Since you already know that your choice is among the best technically, the value-added elements of understanding your goal, what you'd like to accomplish, the "feel" you'd like to generate, and the experience to offer you wonderful suggestions to make your project even better may influence your correct choice. Having a comfortable professional relationship and wide open lines of communication often show that you've made the best choice for YOU.

Credit union and bank architects, regardless how talented they may be, can only produce a finished product that meets your expectations if there is good communication. One of the most important things you can do to help your branch architect create a great design is to spend quality time "envisioning" your completed branch with them. Taking the time to translate your preferences and detail the requirements of your finished project will make all the difference.