PNC Bank to Overhyped NFTs: See You in Hell!

And take all those other weird "collectibles" with you

Remember when NFTs were a thing? Of course you don’t. Here’s why: Despite all the buzz, sparkly celebrity testimonials and gushing press releases, they were never, really, in terms of safe investments or common sense, a thing.

Now, Arnold Worldwide pokes non-fungible fun at such “valuable” collectibles—digital and IRL—in cute, quickie spots for PNC Bank.

We’re assured that PNC’s not moved by fads. It’s all about helping folks make wise choices and avoiding unnecessary risk.

Would a banana in sunglasses lie?

“Our feeds are already crowded with influencers who prey on financial fears,” says James Bray, ECD at Arnold Worldwide, which developed the ads as part of its broader “Brilliantly Boring” campaign.

“So we thought, what if we created a few of our own—each one embodying a questionable investment plan—to show the value of a safer, smarter choice: boring banking.”

But, creepy porcelain figurines are OK, right? They’ll appreciate over time no matter what—yes?

Ah well. Guess my Queen Victoria will still fetch a few bucks on eBay.

“By bringing these over-the-top investment characters to life, we’re holding up a mirror to the kinds of financial fads people see every day,” says Dresdyn Hefferen, an SVP and director of brand marketing at PNC.

The adverts offer a simple message, well stated with a suitably light touch. The USP’s clear with no room for confusion. (Not that NFT purveyors ever tried to confound consumers to maximize profits—perish the thought!)

“It’s a playful reminder that while flashy trends come and go, smart, steady choices stand the test of time.”

CREDITS

Client, PNC
Jenn Garbach, Chief Marketing Officer
Dresdyn Hefferen, SVP, Director of Marketing & Paid Media
Amy Farrell, SVP, Group Marketing Manager
Sara Needham, VP, Marketing Manager Senior
Ben Langdon, VP, Marketing Lead

Agency, Arnold
James Bray, Executive Creative Director
Joe Fallon, SVP, Group Creative Director
Molly Adler, SVP, Group Creative Director
Jesse Yowell, Associate Creative Director
Scott Cooney, Associate Creative Director
Ryan Vinnicombe, VP, Strategy Director
Colleen Saville, Strategy Director
Elyssa Ahern, Director of Business Affairs
Sammy Ouansa, Business Affairs Associate
Paul Shannon, SVP, Head of Production
Whitney Bogosian, SVP, Executive Producer
Sarah Taylor, EVP, Marketing Director
Laura Allen, SVP, Marketing Director
Jaclyn Posner, Marketing Director
Maddie Basirico, Senior Marketing Manager
Paige Hardy, Marketing Manager
Will Gregg, Senior Editor

Production Company:
Chirp Films x Four Twelve Films
Director: McMint
Line Producer: Mario D’Amici
Production Designer: Mark Davis
Costume Design: Scott Molampy / Geppetto Studios, Inc
Costume Design: Matt Krivicke
Prop Master: Patrick Reidy
Hair & Makeup: Jo Holland