Umpqua Bank, known for its nontraditional approach to retail banking (it refers to its branches as stores), has unveiled its latest promotion: a moving van converted into a mobile Umpqua Bank store, seen here Wednesday with bank employee and truck driver Craig Hunt. Hunt, originally from Redmond, will drive the companys Bank Account Moving Truck to events and bank branches around the West Coast. The trucks first stop was the Jeld-Wen Tradition in Sunriver last week, followed by Wednesdays appearance at Umpquas Century Drive location.

Set to motor around Umpqua Banks footprint in Oregon, Washington and Northern California for the next three months, its interior is decorated like one of its stores, complete with a Wi-Fi-enabled computer for Internet surfing, racks of lifestyle magazines and cozy chairs. It also is promoting the banks new e-SwitchKit, a Web-based software application that allows new bank customers to easily move their bank accounts to Umpqua with just a few clicks.

Eric Lucero, the banks vice president of marketing strategies, said the moving truck was created in conjunction with the banks Seattle advertising agency, Creature. The nontraditional approach is less expensive than traditional advertising and gets peoples attention, Lucero said.

We looked at how we could get the Umpqua Bank culture inside our stores outside to the public, and this was a great way to get out in the community, Lucero said.

Andrew Moore, The Bulletin