Shannon Finch, Director of Environmental Branding

How long have you been with BECU?

I've been at BECU for over 22 years. I started as an Executive Assistant to the Senior VP of BECU and President of BECU Financial Services (now BECU Investment Services). Once I received my bachelor's degree in Marketing, I started working in the Marketing Research department. Then I held several other marketing-related positions, including Product Marketing Manager, Retail Merchandising Manager, and Sr. Manager of Retail Marketing. It's been exciting to see all the change BECU has gone through over the years!

What is your role?

I'm the Director of Environmental Branding. I oversee a team of branding experts who bring the brand to life in BECU's physical environment. The majority of our work focuses on Neighborhood Financial Centers, employee-only facilities, and ATMs. We work with a retail branding agency to develop signage, graphics, décor, and wayfinding concepts that impact member and employee experiences. We work closely with our Retail Delivery and Facilities teams to ensure our branding concepts align with the functionality of the space.

What do you enjoy about Environmental branding?

Branding a physical space can make a difference in creating an engaging atmosphere. There is a tremendous amount of planning and detail that goes into every project the team works on.

Decisions are made about details on things that most people wouldn't even notice. Without these details being executed properly, the end result would not "feel" the same. I love seeing the final outcome of a successful installation and the impact it has on members and employees. We continually hear that our updated environments really make a difference to members as well as employees. This is one of the things that really sets BECU apart from other financial institutions.

What's something that people may not know about the work your team does, or a fun fact?

The team is experienced in reading and reviewing construction drawings, floorplans, and schedules and also has expertise in signage design, fabrication, and illumination specifications.

What is your favorite part about the work you do here at BECU?

I know this sounds cliché, but honestly, the people I work with are the best part of my job - remarkable people really make a difference! I am incredibly grateful to work with people who are committed to working from a "Members' First" perspective. People who strive for progress, efficiency, and continual improvement; continually perform exceptional work and who enjoy sharing their successes (and sometimes, challenges).

Is there anything we can look forward to in the future from the work of your team?

We are continually looking at ways to elevate the BECU brand in the various BECU environments and look forward to our involvement in the BECU Campus project. In 2020, we'll be exploring a new digital program that will run on LCD screens in the Neighborhood Financial Centers as well as programming in employee-only locations.

We'll also be assessing ways we can align our messaging and visuals with BECU's Financial Health initiative. And all the ATMs will be updated with new branding including, new logo signage as well as housing/illumination designs where applicable.