Umpqua Stumbles With Phone Case Offer

Umpqua Bank has a special place in the heart of at least one of my colleagues at Bank Innovation. Umpqua is the “only if” bank, as in “if only Umpqua operated in New York.” Why? They are “cooler” and more “homey” than other banks. Indeed, Umpqua is among the best marketing banks in the nation. 

I hope all the Umpqua fans will forgive me, but I think the bank has missed the mark on its latest endeavor: selling cell phone cases. If Umpqua were giving the cases out, that would be one thing. But to sell them for $24.99? And them to make the sale of them the very first thing you see at www.umpquabank.com? Not cool.

Here in New York City, vendors sell cell phone cases by the dozens on the sidewalks for dollars a pop. The Umpqua cell phone cover with the Umpqua Bank “mural” on it costs $24.99. I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t seem like the best way to enhance a brand. I guess no bank is perfect.