Having an all-star quarterback serve as spokesman for a bank hardly seems like a good match-up. But when put in the context of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning visiting Huntington Bank to make a deposit—gridiron style—the scenario becomes humorously entertaining.
Manning is seen walking up to Huntington Bank’s drive-through teller. The fact that he isn’t even in a car is a bit curious, as we see another customer in a vehicle look on, but Manning simply goes about his business, picking up a Huntington Bank canister and stuffing it with his deposit slip and other paperwork.
Suddenly, from inside the bank office, a female employee spots Manning, stands up and begins walking with a sense of urgency. The walk turns into a run as she exits the bank, almost colliding with a customer at the front door. She starts sprinting along the green landscaping outside the bank, making eye contact with Manning, who by this time has filled the canister with his banking documents.
He drops back to pass and hurls the canister—in a tight spiral—in the direction of the woman. She dives headlong and makes a great catch as she falls face down on the grass.
We then see her pick herself up, pull some grass out of her hair and acknowledge Manning, whose expression reveals the satisfaction of having completed a tough pass. During the catch sequence, a voiceover relates, "Why does Peyton Manning bank with us? Because there’s customer service and then there’s Huntington customer service."
The spot concludes with the Huntington Bank logo, accompanied by its Web site address. Huntington Bank is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with locations across the Midwest. This commercial was produced to promote the bank’s Indiana offices.
The :30 was directed by the team of John & Ward (John Benson and Ward Evans) via Valiant Productions, San Francisco, for agency Ten United, Columbus. Mat Lundberg and Tim Rayel executive produced for Valiant, with Rayel also serving as line producer. The DP was Peter Thomas.
The Ten United team consisted of VP/executive creative director Lance Mald, creative supervisor John Sweney, group director John Bajorek, creative director Brad Webb, art director Jeff Caplin, copywriter Liz Avera, broadcast production manager Mary Jo Weber, producer Edward Longo and production manager Holli Hanley.
Paula Peterson of Magnolia Post, Tampa, Fla., was offline/ online editor. Flame artist was Magnolia’s Jeff Pugh. Colorist was D.C. Cardinali of Crawford Communications, Atlanta. Audio mixer was Gary Rivera of West End Recording, Tampa.
Music composers were Craig Chang, David Logan and Mike Pandolfo of Native, New York.
