Scholtysik & Partner accompanies Bank Coop on its way to Bank Cler

The Zurich branding agency develops the entire appearance from logo, colors, typography, visual language, animation style and linguistic tonality to UX principles and brand-typical interface components. As the lead agency, Scholtysik & Partner also supports the bank in the selection and support of other specialized agencies (Retailpartners, Heimat Zürich, Farner Consulting, Department of Noise), close coordination with IT providers (including Namics), in terms of trademark law and market research.

Cler clearly means

"Cler" is Rhaeto-Romanic and means clear, simple, distinct. The name says it all: Bank Cler wants to make banking transactions as uncomplicated and pleasant as possible. At the same time, the bank remains committed to its social stance and cooperative origins. For example, as a family-friendly retail bank, as a bank of Swiss housing cooperatives, and also as a sustainable employer that enforces equal pay for men and women.

The amendment to the Articles of Association to change the name to Bank Cler Ltd. will be proposed at the General Meeting on April 20. Just one month later, on May 20, Bank Cler will become visible throughout Switzerland.

"The time is ripe for a new bank".

Lukas Staudenmann, Partner at Scholtysik & Partner, summarizes the strategic considerations as follows: "The last ten years have left deep scars in the financial world. The Swiss people's view of their banks has changed thoroughly. They miss a decent bank that sees itself as a representative of its clients' interests and assumes its social responsibility for Switzerland.

At the same time, the rapid pace of digitization is opening up completely new possibilities - and leading to corresponding expectations among customers: Banking is becoming easier and cheaper. Everything can be done conveniently online, without sacrificing the possibility of personal advice.

The time is ripe for a new bank: a Swiss bank with a social conscience that makes a serious effort to serve its customers and uses the opportunities of digitization to make their lives easier. This bank now exists. It is called Bank Cler."

Digital and physical

Hanspeter Ackermann, Chief Executive Officer of the future Bank Cler, emphasizes in a statement: "We are investing in our branches as well as in our digital touchpoints and services. No matter through which access our customers want to do their financial business with us, we want to offer them a consistent experience that inspires."

Online in a few minutes to the account

For the launch, customers can expect not only a new website, but also to open an account or apply for a credit card in just a few minutes. They can determine their own investor profile and invest in a suitable investment solution. Advisors are available online to answer questions and provide advice - in an initial phase via a chat function, and later also via video. Accounts are opened digitally throughout, identification is done via video, and contracts are concluded entirely paperless. This "virtual branch" will be further expanded. All basic services will then be offered not only in the physical branches, but also online.

The office of the future

Bank Cler will also be experienced physically in two months' time: the first completely redesigned branch will open on Uraniastrasse in the center of Zurich on May 20, 2017. At the same time, the signage will be replaced in the other branches throughout Switzerland and the interior will be adapted to the new design. Further business outlets will be comprehensively modernized in stages up to 2020. In the new premises, customers can obtain advice on all financial matters in a particularly uncomplicated and relaxed manner.

Close cooperation between bank and branding agency

Mats Bachmann Ihr, Head of CEO Office and Project Manager for Bank Cler describes the collaboration with the branding agency as intensive: "We quickly developed an extremely open and direct collaboration with Scholtysik & Partner. We challenged the agency again and again and it held up a mirror to us and brought creative and working solutions. With the result of this close collaboration, we are setting an example in the Swiss banking world and pointing the way to the retail banking of the future."