Westpac launches ‘Expert solutions’ comedy ads
Westpac has launched a series of “Expert Solutions” ads featuring comic duos seeking answers to their banking problems.
Westpac switched its advertising from The Campaign Palace to Lavender two months ago.
Credits:
Client
- General Manager: Nick Adams
- Head of Brand and Advertising: Jane Connor
- Snr Manager Brand and Reputation: Paul Morris
Agency
- Strategy Planner: Thomas Miles
- Group Account Director: Tabitha Hammond
- Agency Producer: John Lamble
- Executive Creative Director: Luke Chess
- Head of Art: Michael Dole
- Creative Team: Andrew Cox, Nigel Lovesy
- Paul Bootlis, Andrew Jones
Film production
- Director: Graeme Burfoot
- Producer: Jude Lengel
- Production Company: The Feds
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large. He returned to Mumbrella as Publisher in January 2025
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Sorry just did not find them funny, I find them too ‘try hard’ style – Barbara the Bank Manager from ANZ has set the standard for bank comedy adds and Westpac are not living up to it.
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They feel very cliche.
On top of that “expert solutions” is a pretty vague concept, and these ads did not manage to convey what it is Westpac actually offer.
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i like them, maybe a tad traditional, but i do get some charm form them.
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Frankly, I like them. They remind me of Modern Family, Best In Show, that kind of thing.
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Horrible. Like the bank.
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Massive FAIL on the first ad. “Easter Show”? No one outside of Sydney cares about it or has even attended it, (other than people showing animals). If its a National advert, rule 101, don’t alienate the rest of the country by refering to a city specific event or location.
May as well have had the last couple say they were looking at the church on Bondi Beach…
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Another big bank trying to differentiate without any substantiation – why are they expert solutions? Aren’t all the big banks experts? What’s the diff?
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Frankly Frank, they’re trite. Circa 1989 ‘When Harry met Sally’. So much chatter from the vacuous prospective customers that the VO telling us what Westpac can do to help them is inaudible at best, ignored at worst. Westpac “talks expert solutions”? Everyone’s talking but who’s listening.
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Best of the four big bank’s advertising easily.
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I really don’t like them. Sarah is right when she says they’re ‘try hard’. I can’t imagine this in anyway resonating with anyone… I know it’s hard for a bank and Westpac are clearly trying to make themselves a ‘friendly’ bank – but this is not going to help. Sad face.
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its the “go to bed jessica!” guy!!!
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At least Westpac is using people on their ads instead of dogs like CBA…!
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“Whatever your conversation, it’s probably pointless and banal, because you customers do blather on at our bank managers and they don’t have a high opinion of you. We’re the experts and you’re stupid, remember that.”
I’d like to see bank ads where the customer isn’t assumed to be a complete ignoramus. Where’s Zoe Carides saying “It’s your money Ralph”?
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These ads fail not just because of the cliche-ridden executions, but simply because they fail to communicate the very thing they’ve been created to communicate.
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@Bucks – I was about to make the same comment in regards to The Easter Show – it is so Sydneycentric – frustrating as! Every time I see the ad it irritates me. It’s like a Melbourne person talking about Moomba – rest of the country doesn’t give a rats.
Lavender – please no more Sydney references, make it for the whole country.
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The campaign with it,s cliche’ character types is definitely a maneuver to make Westpac’s new target audience feel more secure;ensuring them that “they” do not belong to such obvious and vacuous social groups. Gone are the days when early Asian and European migrants wore the brunt of advertising satire-behold the brave new world of moaning poofs,retiring white trash and cashed up gen. Y’s.
Most importantly,remember to feel good about yourself and Westpac, as you are so far removed from “those” types!
Congratulations on alienating a long term business client with one blow. My accounts will be terminated in the new year.
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The more I see of this campaign the more I find it hard to believe any bank would want to portray their customers the way Westpac has in this campaign.
So, tell me Westpac;
I’m a married man with two kids, running a successful small business and a high six figure mortgage to maintain.
Which one of these stereotypes is supposed to represent me and my aspirations?
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They’re a bit of fun. I like them.
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The two guys in the Easter Show execution appear to be a very bad parody of the gay couple in Modern Family, they come across as ‘straight’ actors playing up to the stereotype of what gay guys are like…. WRONG
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