Overview
In 2006 Saffron designed the brand and visual identity for one of Spain’s leading banks, Bankinter. As Spain’s first digital bank, Bankinter is proud of their history of innovation.
After more than 10 years of working together, and following important changes in the banking sector, Bankinter and Saffron revisited the work to adapt it to the bank’s ever-changing needs and new market realities. As well as adapting the brand to be in line with the digital evolution, we also updated the retail banking experience.
Despite the updates, we have maintained the logotype we created in 2006 which expresses the values that define the brand. Bankinter prides themselves on: intelligence, relevant innovation, integrity, agility, originality and provocation. Whilst they have effectively adapted to the times, the essence of the brand is still as strong and valid as before.
We've worked together on diverse projects for eight successful years! Saffron truly commits to the highest professional standards and makes our relationship flourish.
Yolanda Sanz
Brand Manager
Holistically digital
The identity refresh aimed to remove the distinction for the client between offline and digital. We developed a visual system that is format agnostic, behaving dynamically to adapt to any touchpoint or scale. It allows impact and clarity of communication, optimized for each space, from mobile to outdoor.
For a digitally savvy customer
The system allows the composition to flex to the requirements of messaging, which change with the realities of the day to day. The result is a more direct connection with an audience accustomed to a digital domain, without losing the attention of the traditional audience of Bankinter.
A starting point
The full-stop that rounds off Bankinter’s logo is an iconic characteristic of the wordmark. It represents the company’s proudly-held values: trustworthiness, reliability and success. We selected this as the starting point from which to generate the complete visual system.
Iconic orange
We added two secondary shades to the brand’s iconic orange colour to add options to the messaging system. The result is a freshened palette, that is completely unique within the financial sector, augmented by a metallic option for the premium private banking arm of Bankinter.
Tone of Voice
The relationship between a bank and its customers has drastically changed not only in the means by which they communicate, but also in the language and tone that they use. Whilst in the past banks have kept a more formal and traditional tone, with this revision to the tone of voice, Bankinter is now able to address their customers in a closer, more contemporary and easily understandable manner.
Finely-tuned typography
The typography of Bankinter is one of the great hallmarks of the brand. Designed by Saffron in 2006, it became a unique and powerful asset for the bank. Adapting to the bank’s current communication needs, we have now complemented the font family with a new Sans Serif style to optimise digital performance. It maintains the personality of the original typography but adapts to the smaller scale of mobile without losing legibility or character.
Iconography
Bankinter has a variety of touchpoints that require iconography and illustration, including wayfinding in physical spaces, digital navigation systems and illustrated communiqués. We created a family of icons derived from the wordmark’s personality and characteristic curves. These icons were adapted to 4 different scales to ensure readability across the formats.
Photography
We defined a photographic style that can communicate simple ideas that bring the bank closer to their customers. The photography highlights the individual, framed by bright colours and space, allowing for clear and uncluttered messaging.
Designed for tomorrow
Saffron has adapted Bankinter’s identity to the realities of a changed world, and future-proofed the system. With the elasticity to adapt to current or future needs, we have provided true flexibility and longevity. The enhanced retail service design has delivered a customer-centric space with multi-functional possibilities. In a sector undergoing constant change, this is a brand designed for tomorrow.
Brand portal
Saffron did not just look at usability relating to the user, but also for the internal team. We created a brand portal with all the necessary tools to design Bankinter material from any device at any time. In this way we are able to really make brand work from initial conception to continued implementation.
Space as brand
Saffron’s in-house team reworked the retail design for the bank branch according to the latest retail design principles. The brand’s graphic system has been interpreted to maintain the brand experience within the space. The architectural concept remains focused on generating a flexible space where the layout can be adjusted without need for branch closure and integral building work. By creating a neutral canvas that can be adapted to meet the branch’s needs, we added value, saving time and space for the brand now and in the future.
By your side
Saffron’s design applied a significant change in the way customers are attended to. The new layout allows for the bank’s team to sit side by side, contributing to a feeling of partnership and adding privacy. This change enhances the customer’s brand experience, positioning Bankinter as their partner for life’s important moments.