designwire daily | Allen International Reinvents Personal Banking in Greece

Allen International Reinvents Personal Banking in Greece

by Ariel Nagi | Friday, February 17, 2012

The National Bank of Greece (NBG) had an unconventional vision for its first “i-bank.” Equipped with an ultramodern aesthetic, garden lounges, and private rooms for tech seminars, the bank’s goal was to challenge the perception of personal banking by implementing the latest technologies and communication methods along with a futuristic design.

“NBG came to us with the challenge of designing a space where ‘i-banking’ is for everyone, not just the technically-savvy,” says Michael Allen of Allen International, the firm responsible for NBG’s new look. “The ‘i-bank’ is a technologically innovative, ecologically responsible and customer friendly space that changes peoples’ perception of a bank.”

At the entrance, a 360-degree, LED back-lit portal welcomes customers into an architectural split separating the digital and personnel sides. The bank features digital touch points built into a seamless black glass wall, a private consultation room, the ‘i-ampitheatre’ for finance and technology related seminars, and self-service zones, which offer Internet and phone-banking access. The rear of the branch includes the “i-lounge” area—a designated quiet zone—complete with a vertical garden.

To date, NBG has opened two i-banks in Greece—one in Athens and another in Thessaloniki.