Malvern-based Meridian Bank has launched a suite of new branding commercials focused on promoting its business banking services throughout the Delaware Valley.
The commercials, which feature testimonials from three notable Philadelphia-area customers (Brent Celek, Mo Rushdy, and Roland Kassis), began running on Mar. 3 and will span until May 25 on CNBC, CNN, FOX, and MSNBC. This $180,000 multimedia campaign (excluding production costs, which were around $25,000) is expected to generate significant exposure for the Bank.
“We wanted to send a message that Meridian is the go-to business bank in the Delaware Valley, and I think these commercials accomplish that,” said Meridian Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Chris Annas. “We’re thankful to Roland, Mo, and Brent for their continued partnership, and to all of the many Delaware Valley businesses who put their trust in Meridian.”
Celek, the Super Bowl-winning, former Tight End for the Philadelphia Eagles, is now a successful entrepreneur managing and running Brent Celek Real Estate and Pando Mortgage, among other ventures. Rushdy, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Riverwards Group, was named one of the 150 Most Influential People in Philly by Philadelphia Magazine in 2024. He was also selected to serve as vice chair of the Housing, Planning, and Development subcommittee on Mayor Cherelle Parker’s transition team.
Kassis is a Lebanese-born Visionary and Entrepreneur who founded Defined Hospitality and its well-known collection of restaurants, Kalaya, Suraya, Condesa, and others. A fixture in Fishtown, Roland is known for his vital role in helping to transform the area into what it is today.
The campaign was recently covered by the Philadelphia Business Journal (PBJ), which highlighted the significance of having Eagles legend, Celek, and prominent business leaders, Rushdy and Kassis, in the commercials. PBJ noted how these high-profile business leaders, all long-time Meridian clients, bring credibility and visibility to the bank’s first-ever television advertising campaign. The PBJ article further discussed how Meridian Bank has historically used radio, digital, and print advertising but chose to step into the world of television to differentiate itself amid a wave of recent acquisitions of local banks, including Republic Bank and Malvern Bank.
Meridian Bank selected Forge Apollo, an Emmy award-winning creative agency based in Newtown Square, to produce the commercials. Forge Apollo CEO Ryan Holloway commented on the project, “Hearing the stories of the customers Meridian has—and continues to serve—made this project incredibly rewarding and fun. There was a plethora of incredibly successful and uniquely driven customers, all eager to share their experiences and speak about their partnership with Meridian. I was truly impressed by these stories—so much so that it led me to inquire about Meridian’s services and ultimately switch Forge Apollo’s banking operations to them. As we continue to grow and innovate at Forge Apollo, it’s reassuring to have a financial partner that’s as creative and adaptable with our financial needs as we are with our productions.” Check out www.meridianbanker.com/commercial for more details on the campaign.
Learn more at Meridian Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Meridian Corporation, and how it serves Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Florida through a network of bank branches, and mortgage and wealth management offices. Offering a full suite of financial products and services, Meridian specializes in business and industrial lending, retail and commercial real estate lending, electronic payments, and wealth management solutions, along with a menu of high-yield depository products, all supported by robust online and mobile access.
