Our financial clients always ask, “How do we get millennials inside our branches?” Our response is, “Which millennials do you want?” It is important to understand the differences between younger and older millennials. I personally represent a segment of older millennials that may or may not have a spouse, a mortgage, a car loan, and children; so I have a different viewpoint of what attracts me versus what attracts the high school or college-age millennial. For that segment, please view my colleague Shannon McGill’s blog post on financial design for college students. In this blog post, I will share my thoughts on the three different categories that pretty much make the decision of whether I am going inside the branch or not.
PHYSICAL LOCATION
Some people question the future of physical branches, but I personally believe that physical branches are here to stay. I compare branches to cell phone stores and those Verizon stores keep popping up out of nowhere. If I have an issue and I don’t feel like pushing multiple different numbers to get to somebody, I would rather just go inside and talk to someone to resolve things quickly and efficiently. Where do people with cell phone issues go? Well it seems like the Verizon stores are always busy, so I assume people are going into the stores despite the customer service they offer via phone and on the website. In reality, not everyone prefers customer service via phone or online methods. Yes, we like the convenience and option of technology, but not for every situation. Besides the question of whether the physical branches exist, location is also a heavy decision maker in my book.
Park Community Credit Union – Louisville, KY
Do you have a drive through and ATM/ITM options? Great, because my kid is asleep in the the car seat!
OMNI-CHANNEL EXPERIENCE
Not only am I looking for a convenient location, but I am also looking for a convenient website and/or mobile options.
KID DISTRACTION
I personally do not have a branch that has a kid’s area, but as I continue to design branches I know I would definitely appreciate it. Now with a full on fit-throwing toddler, I can attest that I weigh almost every decision with the answer of a few questions if I have my daughter with me.
State Bank of Lizton – Planfield, IN
This set-up here is a win-win. I can sit down and have a discussion with someone, and still reach my kid who can color or watch cartoons for distraction.
As we continue to renovate and build new branches, I truly believe that the atmosphere, aesthetics and experience of the space is a very large determining factor of whether you will be able to get the older millennials into your branch. Millennials in general are not looking to come into a space that is old and tired that they are uncomfortable in unless they absolutely have to. There is of course a heavy weight on the branch personnel to be able to create that customer-centric atmosphere in order to draw people into your space. Together the staff, experience, and design of the branch should be conducive to offering different customer service options and letting people choose the experience they prefer, or depending on their child’s mood that day.