Hipbrand Group specializes in creating customized marketing programs for the financial services industry, utilizing innovative strategies and technology to enhance brand presence and customer engagement. With over 25 years of experience, the agency has collaborated with numerous banking institutions, developing effective branding, public relations, and digital marketing solutions. Their approach emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and a commitment to achieving long-term loyalty and competitive advantage for their clients.

1. 2332 Second Avenue North | Birmingham, AL 35203 | 205.458.9566 | HipBrandGroup.com

2. Experience You Can Bank On.
Brand Focused Marketers
Whether you want to raise brand awareness, generate leads or drive revenue, you need a vibrant online
and mobile presence in today’s marketplace. HipBrand Group builds customized marketing programs
for the financial services industry: We create marketing strategies, digital tools, interactive campaigns
and social business programs using the communications channels and creative strategies that work.
We do this by tapping customer insights, tailoring the creative to each channel and employing the latest
technology. The result is a seamless experience for users and full measurability for you.
Unlike some boutique shops our experience is firmly grounded in solid, traditional marketing principles.
From local, regional and national Addy awards to an international “Gold” Mercom Award which fea-
tured competitors from 33 countries, our team members have worked extensively for financial institu-
tions and financial companies over the last 25 years including AmSouth Bank, SouthTrust Bank, Regions
Bank, BBVA Compass, Superior Bank, Cadence Bank, Bank Independent, Aliant Bank, USAmeriBank,
Bank of Alabama, Collateral Mortgage, Southland National Bank, Honolulu Federal, Altus Bank, Visa
Corporation and Porter Capital Corp.
We love what we do, and love getting it right. We find inspiration and success in working directly with
accomplished people like you. We’ve learned a great deal more over the years and we’re pretty certain
you can’t find a group as highly experienced and creatively talented anywhere. Especially not a team
with such deep expertise in banking: branding, digital marketing and public relations. Oh, and did we
mention we’re humble, too?
But don’t take our word for it. Peruse this agency overview and get to know us a bit through our bios
and our work. Learn that we provide attentive service and strategic thinking. Then agree that together
we’ll create results oriented communications that resonates deeply within each community you serve.

3. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Team
Julie White
For over two decades, Julie has provided public relations-focused branding and marketing services to
companies across the Southeast. Julie is a content strategist who develops targeted, relevant and mean-
ingful online and offline communications solutions.
She has served as national PR director for Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and as director of account
services and public relations for leading Alabama marketing agencies.
Her key clients include Samford University, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Superior Bank, Porter
Capital Corp., Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, Grow Alabama, RealtySouth and Jones Walker.
Scott Schablow
Scott creates smart online marketing ideas for successful brands to grow revenue & profits. As a web
strategist he helps brands understand how to integrate digital technology, social media and traditional
marketing.
Prior to Hip Brand Group, Scott served as VP Interactive for 10 years at Luckie & Company, which in
1998 merged with Scott’s interactive agency, Schablow/Beaumont. Scott was also a Capitol Hill TV news
correspondent in Washington, D.C.
His key brand accounts include Regions Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield, AT&T, Little Debbie Snacks,
Moore’s Marinade, LouAna Cooking Oil, Bonnie Plants, Alabama Public Television and McWane Science
Center.

4. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Team
Michael Alfano
Michael’s work as senior art director and creative director at leading agencies and his own design studio
with over 120 clients has won numerous regional, national and international awards. He is an industry
professional who has worked with just about every type of business from small upstarts to Fortune 500
Companies.
This wide range of experience and a multi-disciplined skill set enables Michael to help clients communi-
cate their brand effectively to key target audiences across a full range of media.
Although he is best known for his engaging graphic design and illustration, Michael produces innova-
tive work which effectively communicates his client’s brands and business culture helping them achieve
goals and new benchmarks of success in the marketplace. Key clients have included SouthTrust Bank,
the Helen Keller Foundation, Collateral Mortgage, Superior Bank, Pepper Place Saturday Market, Sloss
Real Estate Group, Regions Bank and Retina Specialists of Alabama.
Chris Elliott
Chris has had a successful 16-year career as an online designer, using his broad experience in almost
every medium as Creative Director for numerous companies in the advertising, software, usability and
design industries.
Previously, Chris was a principle partner, and Creative Director for Triptych Design New Media and
KickMail, as well as serving as Creative Director for Intermark Interactive.
Key clients have included Children’s Hospital, Toyota, Green Resource Center for Alabama, DAXKO, Big
Oak Ranch, Baptist Health System and Balch and Bingham.

5. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Team
Meg Holmes
A graduate of the Portfolio Center, Meg is a senior level copywriter with a reputation for highly
conceptual work that has appeared in The One Show, National and Regional Addys and Show South.
Meg’s favorite concept is actually the business itself. Where else can you be paid to put Albert Einstein’s
signature on a baseball, dress Icarus in a business suit, or have a farmer grow fields of talk?
Meg has worked on big name clients such as Little Debbie and Toyota, big hearted clients such as the
Associated for Retarded Citizens, and one client, the Vulcan statue, that was just big.
She has been contracted by major agencies to develop work for such high-profile clients as Red
Mountain Bank, Subway Restaurants, McWane Science Center, Southern Museum of Flight and
the Birmingham Zoo, and such critical projects as pitches, rebranding campaigns and new product
launches. She has worked with leading agencies such as Intermark Group, The Slaughter Group, BLR,
Totalcom, Cayenne Creative and Luckie & Company.
Grant Tatum
Led by a passion for design and craftsmanship tempered by 18 years of experience, Grant is a creative
designer with success advertising, design and publishing. He has worked with national, regional and
local businesses (including finance, telecom, and healthcare) to develop brand messaging in all media.
Grant has worked with agencies such as Luckie & Company, Lewis Communications and BIG. Key
account experience includes Regions Bank, AmSouth Bank, AT&T, Gulf Power, Tiffen Motorhomes and
Little Debbie Snacks.

6. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Team
Freida Pierce
Freida has extensive experience providing media planning and buying services to a well-established
client base. With over 20 years experience in the advertising industry, Freida has handled multi-media
campaigns including television, cable, radio, outdoor magazine, newspaper and internet.
For 13 years Freida was Director of Media Buying for O2 Ideas and SlaughterHanson Advertising in
Birmingham, Alabama.
Key clients have included Talladega Superspeedway, Visionland, Bruno’s Memorial Golf Classic,
Alabama Tourism & Travel Department, Golden Flake, Alabama Power Company, AmSouth Bank and
Superior Bank.
Evan Keller
Evan has never met a programming challenge that he couldn’t conquer. His 15 years experience develop-
ing rich internet applications doesn’t begin to describe the high level of problem solving and innovation
that he brings to each application he works on.
As the senior application developer at Luckie & Company for 12 years Evan has engineered powerful
online tools designed for the end user in mind.
Key clients include Regions Bank, Balch & Bingham, Alabama Tourism & Travel Department, Bayer
Advanced, Little Debbie and AT&T.

7. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Services
HipBrand Group professionals have a 25-year history of creating successful brands, strategic messaging
and effective positioning within the marketplace. We also have solid expertise in the competitive bank-
ing environment in the Southeast. There is opportunity in the banking landscape to develop powerful
and meaningfully relevant brands that are a driver of differentiation, long-term loyalty and competitive
advantage. Consumers perceive little difference among banking institutions and believe that bank-
ing brands are interchangeable—with each delivering identical brand benefits. As a result, consumers
choose aimlessly among look-alike banking brands.
HipBrand Group is uniquely qualified to distill the essence of your brand’s benefits and develop a mean-
ingful brand presence that drives home your unique selling points across traditional and emerging digi-
tal marketing channels.
Unlike traditional agencies, our flexible organizational structure encourages collaborating with a com-
pany’s internal executive and marketing teams as well as with external agencies or consultants already
in place. Our experience in banking ranges from community banks to regional banks and other financial
institutions.

8. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Services
HipBrand Group can work with your in-house marketing team and with your existing agency on specific
project needs; or we are available to serve as an agency of record to provide turnkey communications
solutions and management.
Specialized Services
Retail and Business Product Development, Branding and Launch
Online Presentation Builder (creates custom presentations instantly using pre-approved content)
iPad/Tablet Applications (enterprise & customer-facing application development/deployment)
Mobile Apps (iPhone, Android and Smartphone applications)
Brand & Reputation Monitoring (listening and evaluating the online conversation and sentiment)
Ad Builder (online system for selecting & creating custom ads and flyers for field use)
Digital Channel Development (Search Optimization / Social Media / New Media PR)
Customer Experience Management (improving the online and in-branch experience)
Online Services
Web Site Development
Blog Design and Management
Social Media Customization
Social Media Management
Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Marketing (Pay Per Click)
Public Relations Services
Media Spokesperson
Media Kits
Press Releases
Online Newsroom
PR Planning and Editorial Calendar
Executive Speaking Program
Community Building & Management
Advertising Services
Print Campaigns
Television or Radio Campaigns
Outdoor Campaigns
Online or Digital Campaigns
B to B Ad Campaigns
General Services
Branding (logo or positioning)
Print Collateral (product brochures/other)
Direct Mail Campaigns
Credit Card Design
External Signage Design
Retail Branch Merchandising
Annual Reports
Program Advertising
Media Buying
2332 Second Avenue North | Birmingham, AL 35203 | 205.458.9566 | HipBrandGroup.com

9. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Work
Cadence Bank
Cadence Bank is a growing regional bank with more than $5.4 billion in assets and over 100 locations
in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Cadence is committed to providing
innovative new methods and product solutions that keep pace with their customers’ lives using the
latest technologies available. In 2012, working side by side with the Cadence retail marketing team, we
developed of a suite of technology products set to roll out in 2013. Rather than marketing the individual
mobile and online products separately, we developed a strategy to create a brand umbrella, allowing the
technology offerings to be grouped together.
Named “Fluent by Cadence” the brand is designed to communicate that Cadence Mobile, Cadence
FlashDeposit and Cadence TotalMoney are banking products that flow with the moment, allowing cus-
tomers to interact with their money in ways that let them better interact with the unexpected. To ensure
brand integrity and consistency, we guided the bank’s development of the actual mobile apps, not only
in the apps’ look and feel, but also making recommendations in usability and functionality. Our work
included:
lifestyle vs technology approach)

13. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Work
Bank Independent
Bank Independent is an Alabama based community bank founded in 1947 with over $1 billion in assets.
The bank’s roots run deep in the Northwest Alabama area with over 27 locations. HipBrand is working
with the bank on a number of initiatives including providing strategic marketing services for Interstate
Billing Service, Inc. (IBS), a national corporate billing service based in Decatur, Alabama. that was pur-
chased by Bank Independent in August 2009.
Most recently, we are working with the bank on developing search marketing strategies and implemen-
tation, including an eight-week mortgage campaign. The Fall 2013 campaign was launched on Google
AdWords and the Google Display Network as well as online in a regional segment of al.com and on the
Tennessee Valley Print Company digital network.
For this campaign, our services have included:
getting animated banner ads and campaign landing page.
the landing page.

15. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Work
Superior Bank
Superior Bank, is a southeastern community bank headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, with $4 bil-
lion in assets. The bank’s assets were acquired by Community Bancorp, and has recently been renamed
Cadence Bank. The company stands as the second-largest community bank holding company in Ala-
bama, behind Regions Financial Corporation, HipBrand Group served nearly six years, until November
2011, as an extension of the bank’s marketing and executive team, exclusively responsible for the devel-
opment and implementation of all corporate communications and consumer advertising, B2B market-
ing and public relations. The account was headed by Julie White, who produced an extensive array of
strategic marketing initiatives including:
-
er relations, public relations and in sales collateral materials.
hands-on attention to detail.
revenues.
(print and broadcast).
system; annual reports and event collateral.
and assisting Houston, Texas ad agency and New York public relations firm.

16. Work We Have Done: Superior Bank

17. Work We Have Done: Superior Bank
Work We Have Done: Superior Bank

18. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Work
Regions Bank
Regions Financial Corporation, with $130 billion in assets, is one of the nation’s largest full-service pro-
viders of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities brokerage, asset management, mortgage
and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16 states across the South, Midwest
and Texas, and operates approximately 1,800 banking offices.
Scott Schablow provided leadership for nearly 8 years as part of Luckie & Company’s management team
responsible for Regions Financial Corporation and Regions Bank. Scott was instrumental in creating
technology and workflow methodologies to speed the integration of personnel and marketing functions
during Regions merger with Union Planters Corp. Scott was also intimately involved in the rebrand-
ing process for Regions during the merger with AmSouth Bancorporation. Scott had an active role in
all phases of the brand transformation process from research to the development of color, typeface,
and graphic mark to assisting with creating standards for implementing across all marketing mediums.
Scott’s accomplishments also include:
yielded $6 million in new loans.
also created a high ROI.
time. Client ad production time decreased from 10 days to as little as 24 hours saving over $200K in
production costs.

19. Work We Have Done: Regions Bank

20. Work We Have Done: Regions Bank

21. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Work
Aliant Bank
Aliant Bank is an Alabama based community bank with over $1 billion in assets. The bank merged
with USAmriBank in 2012 which drove a complete rebranding effort. As one of Alabama’s oldest banks
founded in Alexander City, Alabama in 1900, we tapped into the bank’s history to rediscover its brand
essence. Following an in depth brand audit that incorporated competitive research and interviews, we
launched a new logo icon and typeface for Aliant as well as a new positioning statement: A Century of
Banking On Alabama. In addition, our rebranding efforts have included:
Developed a brand guidelines manual to maintain a consistent identity throughout Aliant’s15-
branch network.
Launched a completely new and optimized web site that introduces Aliant’s new brand in a fresh,
new way.
Designed new exterior signage and managed installation throughout Aliant’s branch network.
Produced new product collateral (personal and business brochures).

24. Experience You Can Bank On.
The Work
BBVA Compass Bank
BBVA Compass is a leading U.S. banking franchise located in the Sunbelt region. BBVA Compass ranks
among the top 20 largest U.S. commercial banks based on deposit market share and ranks as the third
largest bank in Alabama, fourth largest bank in Texas and fifth largest bank in Arizona. Headquartered in
Birmingham, Ala., BBVA Compass operates more than 716 branches throughout Texas, Alabama, Ari-
zona, California, Florida, Colorado and New Mexico.
BBVA Compass hired Hip beginning in the Fall of 2012 to provide creative development and produc-
tion management in the area of direct mail. Following an in depth review of their over 500 page brand
manual, we began work on the first project: to create and produce a direct mail package for the BBVA
Compass Clear Points credit card including an attention getting envelope, a direct mail letter and a com-
pelling insert.
After a successful first project, we have since developed direct mail creative packages for the following
financial products: a pre-approved personal loan offering, a pre-approved mortgage refinance offer, and
a preferred client offering.
While we have worked hard to assimilate the work to their international brand flavor, we have also
given it our own creative touch while staying on point with their brand standards. The result has been
direct mail that grabs attention and new customers.