Commonwealth Bank promises to call you back
A woman dramatically collapsing to the ground in shock when her bank actually calls her back, is the theme of the second Commonwealth Bank spot, “Call You Back’. The new series of black and white brand commercials being released this winter were created by Goodby Silverstein + Partners, San Francisco and directed by Amelie director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
“It’s frustrating when someone makes a promise and then doesn’t followthrough, particularly when it comes to something as important as yourfinances. That’s why we’re committed to keeping this promise to you: wewill call you back when we say we will,” says the spiel from the bank.
The first in the series, ‘Grants’ promoting the Commonwealth Bank StaffCommunity Fund was released June 20. A making of-video showing behind-the-scenes shot from the filming of the brand campaign in Melbourne is now available on the Commonwealth Bank’s YouTube site.
38 Comments
Ironically, considering the execution, it sounded good as an idea.
Don’t call me, I’ll call you
Dear CommBank
This is beyond bad. It’s an insult to the bank’s customers.
The condescending voice-over only compounds the insult.
You’re the CommBank. Stop acting like a spoilt,smart-arse, cynical
child and treat your customers with a little respect.
And as far as someone from the bank calling the customer back;
what a joke. They wouldn’t need to if the bank would just answer
customers’ call in the first place. Instead we’re subjected to a recorded
voice saying they’re busy and asking the customer to leave their number!!
Like I said, start treating and talking to your customers with a little
bit of respect. It might come as a bit of a surprise to you, but we’re
not all idiots.
I hate these ads.
I literally don’t know where to start with my list of issues regarding this campaign….
I actually said “F*** off!” out loud to my television when I saw this last night.
Oh Lord rescue from these banks and their self-important advertising.
Anyone would think that they (the bloody banks) think it’s their money instead of my hard earned cash.
Thank you so much Commonwealth for calling me back. I’m forever in your debt — literally.
I think people will roll their eyes and snort derisively at this ad.
But I also think CommBank doesn’t care.
Despite the fact people hate these pricks, the Big Four pretty much have the market sewn up, and can treat their customers as shabbily as they wish.
So I can understand their marketing department not even trying to address the issue, but instead having some fun spending money making wanky ads with hot directors written by a San Fran agency.
Because Comm Bank is absolutely creaming it, as a business. They’re doing so well, in fact, they could run shit like this for years, and still not find their profitability dented in the slightest.
Why did they have to go to the states for this shit?
we can do shit like this here in australia.
i think it’s beautiful and charming
I can’t believe these ads are made by Goodby. They make me want to stab myself in the eye. Especially the one with the little girl. The scriptwriting in it is so convoluted and lazy, I still have no idea what the fuck its meant to be saying.
“…….we open on a Melbourne woman in the garden of a lovely home……”
Let’s hope she’s watering that garden on the right day of stage 3 water restrictions!
Different thats for sure.
This blog is a riot.
creepy
The predictable usual bah-humbugs come out on the blog.
Well I actually really like it. It’s well shot, smart and has a wink and a smile hidden inside.
Goodby….good god. Why can’t the Comm bank waste it’s money in Australia?
It’s sooooooo bad.
It just gets worse and worse.
I have it on very good authority that these ads cost a fortune to make – but let’s face it, the cost of the ads will be nothing compared to what it will ultimately cost the bank in terms of image and brand value.
I can only assume that Mark Buckman (and the rest of CBA’s decision makers) have genuinely lost touch with the views, attitudes and expectations of their audience.
I suggest that all involved in this campaign have a good hard look at what recently happened to a certain Prime Minister who also lost touch with his audience.
I like them.
I think they look beautiful.
i also heard they cost an extraordinary amount of money, but for what? they dont loko that great, and the stylings of Jean-Pierre Jeunet that we all “love” are missing? it’s very strange. i am a little bemused.
tag line. my cock.
Firstly, If they wanted to make ordinary commercials, why couldn’t they have at least given the advertising and tv production companies in Australia the business? we can do ordinary here perfectly no need to go offshore…. secondly, Star fucking is fun at the time and gives you bragging rights but there is no longterm commitment, love and fulfilment. and thirdly, The marketing and advertising industry forget one thing…. tvc’s are not credited, the audience don’t relate to the creators of the content like they do in film and TV content.
I thought The Brand (especially one like CB) was meant to be the star……….
i love these
ouch.
Did the client requested the script be read out because Aussies are stupid?
Just a bit patronising and pretentious for me.
A nice story over the top would have been better than overlaying an advertising script.
Loved the neighbour fainting but have to agree, Jean-Pierre’s style could have been utilised a bit more.
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
anyone else think its kid of obscene and out of touch to have a melbourne woman thrashing water around her garden like that when we have such severe water restrictions?
What a condesending crap ad! Assuming these 2 women are at home with aprons on during the day waiting for a call back, like we have nothing better to do. Get with the times! Chessy & just plain BAD.
Still a lot of comments from angry ockers who can’t stand that they lost the business to that bad old USA.
Much better than anything ever done for them here – which is why they moved. Much better than any other bank advertising in the market – which is all done here. Job done cock knockers.
I was a fan of goodby and the old stuff. Not anymore. Sorry but here’s why;
firstly the original campaign set up determined, fine. This new campaign should have been about bring the ‘innovations’ to market. I’m sorry but ‘they’ll promise to call me back?’ really? That’s what you’re telling me? Basic fundamentals of any business really isn’t it? Or am I expected to feel sorry for them because they’re a gigantic money making machine?
Just woeful. Bankwest kicks commbank’s arse on delivering innovations. Take a leaf out of the book of the company you bought.
I hate this campaign so much I have decided not to leave a comment.
Hey 12:18 I don’t care it went overseas. But come on… a script that starts with “VO: We open on a….” is pretty damn lazy. Even by Australian standards.
VO: We open on a large, smug and condescending bank…
THAT WAS A GOOD COMMERCIAL 🙂
i love the commonwealth bank <3
the best financial institution <3
the 1st one seemed to belittle and cheapen its own grant – bizarre. the 2nd is simply condescending and inappropriate for a bank. the most off beam ad i’ve ever seen
Right up there with moronic bankwest and nrma ‘unworry’ campaign.
Vitriol doesn’t begin to cover how I feel about this, but I’m going to hold back because I don’t want to be percieved as being a complete lunatic.
Oh screw it, the people that created this dross should be held for crimes against humanity. My retribution will be the continued piracy of free to air network programming that allows me to bypass this condescending puerile shite.
This is stupid.
The com back said I would have an answer to a complaint I made about waiting over 7 days for an answer on something , within 24hrs. So yes maybe they will call me back but giving themself a 24hr window once I already have waited 7 days is hardly something to beam about.
This commercial, this ad campaign is more annoying than those god forsaken, warehouse clearance sale ads that come around at the end of every year where the guy is yelling himself hoarse. I would rather watch 30 minutes of those ads non stop than this pathetic drivel!
Really? This is what you want to say to the consumer? That were going to be SOOOO impressed that you’re going to call us bank that we’ll faint? And i HATE “fitchy” and that stupid “little girl”! I feel sorry for those actors for agreeing to appear in an ad that is SO poorly written! And SO unbelievably condescending!
Stopppppppppppp this is complete crap.