Why a virtual bank is making bank branches part of its US launch

Iam Bank, a startup virtual bank based in Ireland that has offices in the U.K. is set to launch in the U.S. this fall — and it’s going to do it via a physical bank branch. The bank, which is now in the process of buying a Chicago-based bank it declined to name, said it will set up its first branch, known as a “customer experience center” in Milwaukee in the fall.

“We’ve done a lot of research and it all comes down to trust and credibility,” said Simona Stankovska, head of communications for Iam Bank. “For us, the research shows that people have a massive distrust of purely digital offerings. They need to have a human touch, they need to be able to communicate with someone.”

Despite expectations about the death of the branch, recent surveys support Iam Bank’s view that consumers — especially millennial ones — will continue to demand a human touch to banking.

Read the full story on tearsheet.co

More in Marketing

Your favorite beauty brands are now also entertainment brands

Many of today’s beauty brands are asking if entertainment and advertising can be one and the same. 

Data specialist Ideally wants research to be used at the start of the creative process

Ideally is looking to reinvent research when serving the creative side of the industry by integrating consumer insights earlier in the creative process.

By the numbers: How marketers are building the infrastructure for AI search

Marketers are carving out budgets for AI search, but research suggests execution, measurement and content strategies are still catching up.