After 53 years in business, First Mutual Bank decided to rebrand and focus on retail banking. They hired Driftmier Architects to develop a new prototype for branching and to assist with rebranding the Bank. What developed was a complete renewal and expansion of their branching network. For more than seven years, the Driftmier team met weekly with the FMB team, contractors and vendors to develop the prototype and roll out a series of new branches and remodels to previously existing facilities.
Each banking center contains the key elements of the prototype with site specific variations. Focused on close, friendly interaction between customers and bank staff, each design includes a customer consultation area and customer lounge. These areas were designed to promote access to information, resources and financial products along with online banking and web research. The relationship continued until the Bank was merged into Washington Federal, which also became a client.
