Urban Partnership Bank was founded in August 2010 with a mission to serve its community. Crosby Associates had the unique opportunity of developing an identity for a completely new financial institution that had no existing brand to incorporate. Bart Crosby and I created a complete branding program detailing all aspects of the bank's presence internally and externally, including electronic communications, printed documents, advertising and marketing materials, and written communications. Working closely with the bank’s architecture and interiors team, we created a unique system for exterior signage and branded interior elements. I designed a logo inspired by the urban city grid that is uniquely Chicago and expresses the bank's mission to be the jewel of the neighborhood. Through interviews and analysis, Crosby Associates created a mission statement for the employees to focus their purpose and define the bank’s position in the banking industry. This statement is prominently incorporated into the interior signage throughout their branches. Design: Jeff Mumford Project Director: Bart Crosby

Published: November 19, 2014