Blurring at the bank | banking in a café
Die Deutsche Bank der Zukunft Q110 Berlin
Even the banks start using blurring to sell their services. Recently in the USA, Capital One Cafés opened several outlets where you can combine working, relaxing and banking over a cup of coffee from Peet’s Beverages and of course free Wi-Fi. Blurring at the bank creates a ‘third space’ work / relaxing environment. Last year we already spotted that ‘Die Deutsche Bank der Zukunft / Berlin Q110’ is testing different ‘third space’ environments in their ‘bank lobby’ in Berlin, Germany.
Blurring at the bank
In our publication ‘Blurring in beeld’ (a Dutch whitepaper) which we published early 2016, we already mentioned that blurring is used in many industries. Also ‘Die Deutsche Bank der Zukunft (of the future) / Berlin Q110 is experimenting with blurring in their test bank lobby in Berlin. Last year they had a small pop-up shop selling a few articles from the Christmas shop of the British department store Harrods. But you could also enjoy a lunch in this lobby or have an appointment with one of the employees of the bank or simply use the ATM in the hall.
In America, the bank Capital One recently opened the community-oriented Capital One Cafés. You can use the ATM free of charge in this café or ask all your questions at the bank employees but you can also work or relax here and use the free Wi-Fi or drink a cup of coffee from Peet’s Beverages. With these cafés the bank is trying to create hubs for innovative initiatives from the communities.
In recent months it has become clear, with all layoffs at the major Dutch banks, that traditional banking becoming less of a ‘people’ business, maybe this kind of initiatives reinvents the ‘human’ touch.
Website: Capital One Cafés
