Internal Branding Initiative

After 15 years as its community's hometown bank, Greer State Bank saw the rising tide of bank mergers and knew that it wanted to remain an independent community bank. That philosophy needed deep roots in the bank's culture.

Inspired Hype's mission was straightforward - convey to the 75+ employees the importance of the Greer State Bank's continued growth over the next five years to achieve ongoing independence as a community bank and emphasize the importance of every team member's buy-in.

Our team developed an internal branding initiative: "I'm in. Are you in?" and built upon the concept with an "R.U.N.?" campaign. To kick off the campaign and drive the theme home, Inspired Hype produced an internal brand rally where the bank's leadership, accompanied by an interactive multimedia presentaiton, outlined the plans for the bank's short- and long-term growth.

Interspersed throughout the evening's multimedia show were dozens of interviews that Inspired Hype had conducted with bank customers, employees, shareholders and community leaders. These interviews continuously emphasized the importance of the community-based approach to banking. Each interview drove home the question "I'm in. Are you in?" to build an overriding urgency for growth in executives and customer service representatives as well as tellers and operations personnel.

Round-table discussions followed, allowing employees and executives to outline plans and directions to move the bank forward.

Inspired Hype also produced branded collateral material, with the "U" puzzle piece, that was placed in strategic locations within the bank to continously emphasize the importance of each team member in achieving corporate goals.