GBPR provided public relations and external communications support for the KeyBank’s New England and Hudson Valley/Metro NY markets. Our proactive communications strategy included raising public awareness of significant deal closings, personnel announcements and charitable giving donations and partnerships, as well as pitching feature stories and interviews with Key experts on specific financial and banking topics. We also showcased subject matter experts within the bank with different business and industry groups, and conducted media training sessions to prepare leadership for interviews and speaking engagements.
GBPR previously represented First Niagara, before the bank merged with Key. When First Niagara announced plans to merge with New Haven, CT-based NewAlliance Bank in 2010, it retained GBPR to develop a strategic communications plan to support the merger. Faced with a challenging political and economic environment, First Niagara recognized that the communications plan would need to support the regulatory approval process and sell the attributes of the deal to key government, business and community leaders, as well as the media.
GBPR developed a plan that helped First Niagara showcase the details and benefits of the proposed merger to key audiences, and also supported the company as they launched major philanthropic and community-oriented initiatives.