Two coworkers meeting outside a coffee shop

Modern banks are getting a face lift with added interior design features to improve the overall customer branch experience. Upgrading the in-store banking experience can help increase foot traffic and customer satisfaction.

Take Capital One, a once digital-only bank, for example. They did what no one predicted by opening the Capital One Café, a coffee shop plus bank. The premise? To provide a space where their customers have options to explore their finances or just grab a coffee and go about their daily routine. Despite initial industry skepticism, this out-of-the-box idea is proving to be quite successful.

Learn how your branch can hop on this trend and why adding modern interior design elements is the key.

How technology has changed the banking industry

The invention of online banking created ripple effects across the industry. Banks are now making it more convenient for their customers to handle everyday transactions directly from their smartphones.

The result:
Less foot traffic to local branches, and more confusion when customers do stop in for loans and financial support.

The solution:
Thoughtful bank branch layouts and interior design can actually improve the amount of foot traffic and comfort level of walk-in customers. Keep your business up to date and establish a space that helps your clients feel heard with these 3 modern bank design trends.

1. An Apple Store Experience

The “Apple store experience” has undoubtedly brought a breath of fresh air to the technology industry. Apple found a way to make their store an experience that adds value to their customers’ days.

Their store layout is open with large windows and clean interior design which gives off a fun vibe that tends to draw outsiders in. The best part is that their devices are available for customers to explore while they wait, peaking their interest in products they might not have considered.

Their “Genius Bar” experts are available for anything from personal, one-on-one problem solving to educational lessons on their products. Not only do their experts make you feel taken care of, but it’s easy to come in for one thing and leave with a few other products or services you hadn’t intended to buy.

All of these efforts were put in place to make their in-store customer experience personal and educational. In banking this same experience could provide customers with the opportunity to be heard, have casual back and forth, and learn about financial offerings they may not have considered without feeling any sales pressure.

Layout Necessities:

  • Tablet stations
    • To provide visuals for waiting customers and answers to basic financial questions
  • A designated “classroom” space
    • It doesn’t have to be a room, but create a dedicated space for monthly classes to help customers learn about unfamiliar or sensitive topics
  • Nooks and seating areas
    • Provides enough privacy for customers and avoids the stuffy office setting. They also give bankers a space to meet freely with customers without the need for clunky desks that tend to make these interactions less personal.

2. That Little Something Extra

Getting current and potential customers to stop by your brick-and-mortar bank seems like an uphill battle. But Capital One rose to the challenge when they rocked the industry by merging a generational favorite with an overall necessity.

As unique as it is, their coffee shop idea has been successful at getting more customers in-store for casual conversations about finances. Coffee and a loan — you bet!

Their success is not simply due to caffeine and free WiFi — their locations provide a welcoming space anyone can go to work, study or simply kill an hour with friends. The key is to create an atmosphere that’s approachable and relaxing for all generations, much like that of a simple coffee shop.

Find something that draws in foot traffic, and make going to the bank a valued part of customers’ days instead of a boring chore.

Layout Necessities:

  • Coffee shop, juice bar, sandwich shop — it’s time to get creative
  • Free WiFi and plenty of casual seating
  • Smart, no-fee ATMs

Espresso on a table in a community coffee sho

3. Eco-Friendly Materials

Eco-friendly materials are a modern design aesthetic many companies are using to stay on trend, environmentally conscious and cost effective. There are plenty of ways you can add this modern bank interior design feature to your branch. If you’re starting from scratch you can even repurpose old buildings!

Building an eco-friendly bank is more feasible than ever with advances in new technology and endless buy-and-sell markets with reusable materials and intriguing pieces.

Layout Necessities:

  • Recycled wood, glass, concrete, stones — you name it
  • Solar panels and green roofing or walls
  • Thought-out insulation and sewage system structure

What interior design features do you have in mind?

Choose the right architect to craft a bank layout and modern design that stays true to your brand and encourages more customers to stop in. Contact our team of experienced architects to design a layout that meets your vision and your goals head on.