Grey NY Talks ‘Facts of Life’ for Ally Bank

Grey New York has rolled out the latest ads in its “Facts of Life” campaign for Ally Bank.

Each ad begins with voiceover declaring, “At Ally Bank, no branches equals great rates: it’s a fact” with accompanying text, followed by another example of a “fact of life.” Each 15-second ad attempts to offer up a humorous observation of one such “fact” that everyone can relate to. In the above “Shopping,” for example it’s that “Shopping hungry equals overshopping.” A woman clings to a bag of cheese puffs as the cashier rings up items from her stuffed-to-the brim shopping cart. Other ads in the campaign explore awkward office meetings, feigned wine knowledge and the danger of mute buttons.

“A constant theme in our customer research was that consumers are concerned about ensuring their savings are earning competitive rates, and they also preferred banks whose rates don’t fluctuate significantly,” said Diane Morais, Ally Bank deposits and line of business integration executive, in a statement. “The spots are a humorous way to make the point that Ally doesn’t just talk about great rates, we have a business model that makes consistently competitive rates part of what we deliver to our customers every day.”

Are you ready for a name change, I mean, “rebranding”?

Quack...quack...quack!!Apparently, companies that have screwed up across the U.S are. They think all you have to do is change your name and you’ve rebranded. The following companies have recently “rebranded” or changed their name to disconnect themselves from previous stigma. Yup, pretty much just a name change no internal changes at all. 

I can’t help but to wonder, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, but calls itself a rhinoceros–is it still a duck? Hmmm…

Recent Name Change Bandits:

 – GMAC Bank, the auto financing company connected with Chrysler and General Motors renamed its online bank, Ally Bank.

Do I here a quack? I think I do.

– AIG was renamed AIU Holdings, but The New York Times reveals execs rethought name change and are working on a new one.

Good call guys, maybe you can change the company beneath the name while you’re at it…thinkin’ I see some webbed feet still sticking out.

– CompUSA and Circuit City were both bought and had name changeroos by online electronics retailer TigerDirect.com

Will these duckies bring consumers relevance this time around or continue to waddle their way back into the stale electronic age?

What do you think?

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Jinean Robinson is a CCIO (Chief Creative Infections Officer) who has been in the communications industry for over 8 years, specializing in creative strategy and implementation, 360 branding communications, and brand development. Join her at http://twitter.com/germllc or her firm’s website at http://germonline.com/