Simplii Financial Launches ‘Bank on the Now’

//  06.27.23

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Simplii Financial launches Bank on the Now platform to help clients to seize the moment

Created by Broken Heart Love Affair, the fresh approach demonstrates the contrast between the digital bank and its peers

Simplii Financial, one of Canada’s leading digital banks, unveiled a new brand platform and modern look with the goal of helping Canadians Bank on the Now. The refresh is part of a multi-year initiative to build on the bank’s ambition to be a leader in direct banking.

The branding, developed by Broken Heart Love Affair, introduces a new logo, a vibrant magenta and neon green, and black colour palette, editorial-style images in black and white that capture raw and candid moments, as well as three dots borrowed from the ‘i’s in Simplii.

“Since our inception, Simplii has challenged the conventional belief that a better future means compromises in the present,” says Tammy Sadinsky, SVP, Brand and Marketing, CIBC. “Our new brand highlights the importance of maximizing today and taking action.”

The campaign is anchored by a 60-second digital and social ad, programmatic and display ads, and out of home advertising. The black and white spot features human moments in near-suspended animation that precedes action –highlighting that we exist, change, and create in the now, resolving in the tagline Start Your Engines.

In one scenario, a man is shown pulling back on what audiences eventually realize is a huge slingshot strung between a pair of trees. While the slingshot itself is never shown, we see the man straining to pull it backward, his bare feet digging into the ground below, the trees audibly creaking as they are bent down by his actions.

In another scenario a greyhound sits inside an elevator, eager to bolt as soon as the doors open. In another, a young woman is shown standing outside and viewers see her feet beginning to smoke, accompanied by the sound of squealing tires. Another spot shows a man winding up to deliver what is shaping up to be a monumental kick to the rear of a colleague.

Each spot ends just as all of that latent energy is about to be released, abruptly transitioning from the black and white imagery to the bright visuals of the revamped Simplii Financial logo, accompanied by the all-caps message “START YOUR ENGINES.”

“We wanted to bring to life that moment of ignition when you make a change. The creative concept is designed to inspire people to do whatever they’ve been putting off and live now,” says BHLA Creative Director Spencer Ryan, who developed the campaign with his creative partner Jordan Hamer. “They are all kind of that moment of ignition,” says Ryan. “The visuals immerse viewers in the headspace that you are in during those types of moments. It’s an approach designed to make people feel instead of rationalize their banking experience.”

The new hyper-bright visual style felt like the right way to help Simplii Financial stand out amid a crowd of competitive brands, says Hamer. “Being a digital bank, these feel like very bright digital colours. They’re vivid and feel electrically charged, which complements the energy of the campaign.”

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Client: Simplii Financial
SVP Marketing: Tammy Sadinsky
Senior Director of Marketing: Christy Clem
Director of Marketing: Ibad Abasi
Director of Marketing: Maria Albi
Marketing Specialist: Amba Ramgoolam

Agency: Broken Heart Love Affair
Chief Creative Officers: Carlos Moreno
Chief Strategy Officer: Jay Chaney
SVP Strategy: Kristy Pleckaitis
Creative Director: Spencer Ryan
Creative Director: Jordan Hamer
Art Director: Spencer Ryan
Art Director: Fabio Siqueira
Copywriter: Jordan Hamer
Copywriter: Frank Megna
Designer: Rasna Jaswal
Designer: Mark Neil Balson
Client Success Team:
VP Client Success: Ravi Singh
Account Director: Carlos Game
Account Supervisor: Alexandra Kotschorek
Account Supervisor: Vipandeep Singh
Account Coordinator: Sweetha Mahendran
SVP, Executive Producer: Erica Metcalfe
Junior Producer: Olivia Cousineau

Production Company: Colossale
Executive Producers: Vlad Cojocaru
Director: Jodeb
Directors Of Photography: Alexandre Nour
Producers: Samuel Caron
Production Designer: Susan MacQuarrie
Wardrobe Stylist: Amanda van der Siebes
Production Manager: Nicolas Derube

Casting Company: Ginette D’Amico Casting
Casting Director: Ginette D’Amico

Editorial Company: Saints Editorial
Executive Producer: Michelle Rich
Editor: Mark Paiva
Assistant Editor: Nick Coleman

Colour Company: The Vanity
VFX Artist: Sean Cochrane
Colourist: Andrew Exworth
Executive Producer: Stephanie Pennington
Producer: Katie Methot

Audio House: Berkeley
Music Composer / Audio Director: Jared Kuemper
Executive Producer: Tyna Maerzke
Mix & Sound Design: Jared Kuemper

Media Agency: Mediacom
PR agency: Pomp and Circumstance
Multicultural: Barrett & Welsh
CRM: Performance Art

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