Signage Considerations During Bank Mergers and Acquisitions

Key Takeaways:

• Inventory audits prevent costly surprises – Accurately and consistently cataloging all of your signage assets may reveal reuse opportunities and identify compliance gaps before rebranding begins
• Phased rollouts minimize disruption – By sequencing your rollout from flagship branches to network-wide deployment, you can reduce any potential issues and friction points
• Variance management is critical – Every municipality has unique sign codes; professional permit coordination prevents the 6-12 week delays that derail merger timelines
• National maintenance programs protect your investment – Proactive sign maintenance across 100+ locations ensures consistent brand presentation and prevents emergency repair costs

Imagine this: Your bank merger just closed. Those snappy press releases have gone out, and the regulators have approved all the final details. Now you’re just waiting for the big results.

But now, as you walk past your bank locations, you notice a problem: some still show the old name. Others have temporary vinyl slapped over existing signs.

Even worse, a few display confusing mixed branding that leaves customers wondering what’s actually happening.

This inconsistency isn’t just less than appealing. It’s likely eroding the trust that keeps customers loyal through major transitions.

Banking relationships are built on trust, and visible brand changes create real anxiety. When signage transitions happen poorly, you’re undermining the very foundation you need to retain customers and grow the combined entity.

At Atlas, we’ve worked with countless companies that have dealt with this very scenario. Here’s how we help clients build a strategy to get their merger signage right.

When Scale Meets Regulation

Unlike single-location businesses that update signage over a weekend, you’ll find that many bank mergers involve coordinating changes across dozens or hundreds of locations in multiple jurisdictions.

And you’re doing this while maintaining FDIC compliance for insurance coverage signage, meeting ADA requirements, and trying to manage all the different local compliance codes.

Every municipality has unique regulations. What’s approved in one market might be completely prohibited in the next county over. This becomes an exponential problem when you’re updating hundreds of locations across multiple states.

Step 1: Know What You’re Working With

The best laid plans start early. Before you take another step in planning your rebranding, complete a comprehensive signage inventory audit that catalogs every sign at every location.

Get really detailed at this step:

• Document current condition and age: which signs are near end-of-life versus which can be retrofitted?
• Identify sign types and technology: illuminated channel letters, monument signs, digital displays, and ATM surrounds.
• Note infrastructure requirements: look for details such as electrical systems and mounting structures.
• Check compliance status: note any particular ADA requirements and any existing variances.

You’ll likely find that your audit reveals opportunities to reuse infrastructure for cost savings and identifies problem locations that need special attention.

Without it, you’re setting yourself up for budget overruns and timeline surprises.

Step 2: Phase Your Rollout Strategically

Attempting to update all locations simultaneously creates chaos. That’s why you need a phased approach that delivers better results while managing any potential risks.

Start with flagship locations

Your most visible branches in major markets serve as testing grounds for identifying design issues and installation challenges before scaling broadly. These early updates can help give a boost to the merger’s legitimacy for key stakeholders and establish processes that speed up subsequent rollouts.

Roll out market by market

Make sure and complete all updates within each geographic area before moving to the next. Why? This helps prevent the confusion that occurs when some branches show new branding while others still display old identities.

Use temporary solutions during transition

An easy way to make the transition smooth is to use temporary signage. Overlay graphics on existing monument signs, vinyl updates to channel letters, and interior messaging all maintain a professional appearance while managing customer expectations.

Step 3: Master the Permits

Many banks discover their new brand standards don’t comply with local regulations at some locations.

Naturally, this noncompliance will trigger variance applications that add 6-12 weeks to your timeline. For most mergers, this can completely derail announcement schedules.

Common variance needs include sign sizes exceeding local maximums, illumination types restricted in certain zones, and height restrictions affecting monument sign visibility.

Professional permit coordination prevents the delays that occur when applications are incomplete or fail to address local requirements.

Different municipalities have varying application standards, review timelines ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months, and completely different appeal processes.

Step 4: Coordinate the Moving Parts

Remember: your signage transition must align with legal merger close dates, regulatory approvals, and customer notification requirements.

It should coordinate with marketing campaigns that introduce the new brand and internal communication, preparing staff for any questions.

Installation timing needs to account for customer traffic patterns, seasonal weather affecting exterior work, and holiday blackout periods when changes are prohibited.

Protect Your Investment with Proactive Maintenance

Once rebranding is complete, you still have one more critical step. Not only are you looking to maintain a consistent brand presentation across all locations, but you also want to make sure your investment lasts. This means implementing a proactive maintenance program.

Your signage audit serves as the foundation for effective maintenance planning. It tells you what signs exist at each location, expected service lifespans, warranty coverage, and maintenance history.

Determine your inspection schedules based on traffic volume, environmental exposure, sign age, and historical maintenance needs. High-visibility locations may require quarterly inspections, while lower-traffic branches can operate on a semi-annual schedule.

Create clear specifications for cleaning frequency, illumination performance standards, damage response timelines, and preventative maintenance intervals for electrical components.

How Atlas Manages Bank Merger Signage

At Atlas Sign Industries, we’ve managed signage transitions for bank mergers involving hundreds of locations across multiple states.

Our dedicated merger project teams handle all the details, from comprehensive inventory audits and phased rollout planning to permit coordination across all jurisdictions. We’ll even make sure that installation scheduling minimizes operational disruption.

Our permit specialists know banking regulations and local sign codes, and we handle variance applications and regulatory coordination – so your internal teams can focus on core merger activities.

Our national maintenance infrastructure provides ongoing support through coast-to-coast service coverage, proactive inspection schedules, emergency response capabilities, and digital tracking systems.

Ready to Get Your Merger Signage Right? Call Atlas Today!

Bank mergers present enough challenges without signage complications derailing your timeline or compromising your brand presentation.

Contact Atlas today to discuss your merger signage needs or explore how national maintenance programs can protect your brand investment across all your locations.

Start Planning Your Merger Signage Strategy