The opportunity
Cleveland State Bank has served its community for over 100 years, built on trust, local decision-making, and long standing relationships. While the bank had strong roots and loyal customers, its brand and marketing ecosystem needed to better reflect who it is today and support where it was headed next.
The opportunity was to modernize Cleveland State Bank’s brand experience without losing the familiarity and credibility that define a community bank. This included clarifying brand positioning, refreshing the look and feel, elevating the digital experience, improving ongoing customer communication, and increasing visibility both online and throughout the community.
The Partnership
FifthColor partnered with Cleveland State Bank to build a cohesive brand system that could live consistently across digital, marketing, and physical environments.
The engagement began with a brand strategy that defined and clarified Cleveland State Bank’s positioning, messaging, and value proposition. This ensured the bank’s story remained rooted in community while clearly communicating its full range of services.
From there, FifthColor designed and developed a new website focused on clarity, usability, and engagement. The site simplified navigation, improved service presentation, and created clear pathways for key actions, including digital banking, account exploration, and customer inquiries.
To support ongoing growth, FifthColor delivered integrated marketing services including SEO, social media advertising, and email newsletters. These efforts strengthened digital visibility, maintained consistent communication with customers, and reinforced the bank’s value across multiple touchpoints.
The partnership extended beyond digital to include community advertising and support for local events, including the launch of a new bank location. The brand was further brought to life through environmental branding and the design and installation of a custom van wrap, transforming a functional vehicle into a mobile brand presence, reinforcing Cleveland State Bank’s commitment to the community wherever it traveled.
The Impact
The result was more than a refreshed look. It was a connected brand system designed to drive measurable engagement while reinforcing Cleveland State Bank’s role as a trusted community bank.
Key outcomes included:
- Website engagement increased, with sessions per user up 8.8% year over year
- Search visibility improved, including a 9% lift in location-based keywords and site health 9% above industry average
- A cohesive brand executed across digital, print, and environmental touchpoints, including a custom van wrap
- Email newsletters outperformed industry benchmarks, with a 39.95% open rate and 4.6% click rate
