PeoplesBank, a Codorus Valley Company, recently announced the completion of The Connections Center in the heart of Lancaster City, Pa.
The PeoplesBank Connection Center serves as “a model branch to help clients visualize their life goals and dreams and consider the financial resources to accomplish them,” according to the company announcement.
The goal of the Connections Center is “to move beyond typical product discussions to having meaningful conversations with clients about their lifestyle and future outcomes,” the announcement says.
Debuting at this location is the ability for visitors to create a personal or business vision board using interactive screens. This shifts the staff from a traditional banker role to a financial mentor, helping to move clients towards their goals and dreams based on their current situations.
PeoplesBank’s signature experience is accompanied by seating areas, including booth seating, high-top tables and conversation areas. There are no desks at this location and the teller line is located in the back as a secondary feature.
Related: ANC Creates Enhanced Banking Environment at Chase’s Madison Avenue Flagship
Clients will be able to self-serve with concierge staff on hand to offer assistance so they can walk out fully enabled to bank on all devices.
“We are excited to bring a new banking experience to Lancaster City in order to meet the needs of the community,” said president and CEO Craig Kauffman in the PeoplesBank announcement.
“We identified Lancaster City as a high-growth market that was underserved and we are happy to provide a solution for consumers and businesses who are visiting their local branch less often,” he said.
Inside the PeoplesCenter Connections Center
In order to bring this brand vision to life, PeoplesBank hired PWCampbell, a fourth generation, family-owned retail and design-build firm based in Pittsburgh.
PWCampbell created an immersive environment with contemporary design features, client-friendly screens, comfortable meeting areas, and conference rooms that frost for privacy.
Creating this unique environment allowed PWCampbell to deliver a complete solution powered by AV technology.
“Our design team created an approachable banking experience delivered by technology,” said PWCampbell CIO Ben Mahtani.
“We used innovative technologies throughout every aspect of the space, including custom direct-view curved LED screens, custom-built applications on enormous touchscreens, environmental controls and room automation, video conferencing capabilities, and wireless collaboration,” he said.
PWCampbell selected URC (Universal Remote Control) software and hardware solutions to deliver this state-of-the-art experience with a premiere automation and control system. Using URC’s Total Control to integrate the bank’s day-to-day operation marked a unique approach.
With URC products as the core of the systems, the installation placed control at the bank employees’ fingertips. Employees could change any screen with one touch while showcasing a variety of custom images and switching from custom kiosk to wireless collaboration in seconds.
The URC system also controlled frosted-glass panels in the conference rooms which allowed conversion from public to private in milliseconds. This level of control allowed the branch to be open and inviting one second, while private and secure the next.
“Our close collaboration with dealers like PWCampbell creates world-class automation and control systems that exceed client expectations,” said URC founder and CEO Chang K. Park. “This state-of-the-art branch received our annual Unsurpassed Award, recognizing excellence in commercial systems design and deployment.”
PeoplesBank is looking ahead with plans of implementing Connections Center design elements into new locations and incorporating the Vision Board concept throughout its retail footprint.
