Montecito Bank & Trust

TASK

Rebrand the Wealth division. 

WHO IS MONTECITO BANK & TRUST?

The largest locally owned community bank on California’s Central Coast, committed to philanthropy and making the communities they serve better places to live. 

CHALLENGE

Montecito Bank & Trust’s Wealth Management division is carving out its rapidly growing market niche. To better reflect the distinctiveness of its offering, the Wealth Management brand needed to transition from a corporate image to one that was fresh and engaging. The Montecito area attracts A-lister residents who value a commitment to the local community, something Montecito Bank & Trust proudly upholds as its core purpose. 

SOLUTION

During Oi’s strategy research, we made a fascinating discovery. Off the coast of Montecito, ocean currents surrounding the Channel Islands National Park converge to create an incredible, unique biodiversity. The idea immediately came to us to leverage this captivating phenomenon and the wonder of the local underwater world to embody Montecito Bank & Trust Wealth Management’s ethos in its rebrand. When you dive beneath the surface, there’s depth to its service. 

Our next step had two prerequisites: partnering with a local creative committed to philanthropic endeavors. We commissioned local ocean photographer Richard Salas to utilize his high-quality, stunning underwater imagery of the Channel Islands National Park. Salas, renowned for his premium coffee table books and generosity in supporting the Ocean Foundation, was the ideal choice. We specifically selected images with limited commercial release, previously featured only in his books, thus adding an exclusive touch to the rebrand experience.

Salas’s captivating photography became the centerpiece of Montecito Bank & Trust Wealth Management’s rebrand outputs, including the website, brochure, business cards,  and stationary and beautifully displayed throughout the bank’s hallways. The printed brochure, in particular, offered clients an exceptional, customized journey featuring Crane’s letterhead stock and an opening page dedicated to storytelling about the local ocean currents and our collaboration with Salas.  

Our selected color palette was drawn directly from the ocean, featuring hues like sea blue and kelp orange.

SERVICES

Strategy
Design
Website
Printed assets
Talent sourcing
Commissioning
Photography licensing 
Visual and verbal platforms

CLIENT VALUE

Montecito Bank & Trust prides itself on serving the local community’s needs. Studio Oi’s strategic approach to rebranding the Wealth Management division echoed this sentiment at every touchpoint. Their clients’ response affirmed our use of local talent, the curated content and our storytelling provided appreciated depth to their experience, effectively conveying the bank’s values in a uniquely captivating way.