What to Consider in a Bank Interior Fitout 

Bank interior fitouts usually have to be carried out according to the following: 

• Design specification 
• Construction schedule 
• General standards (e.g. WBDG design standards) 
• International and local building codes 

Also, interior and finishing works often include: 

• Floor and ceiling 
• Partition and doors 
• Fixtures and fittings 
• Electrical, HVAC and plumbing 
• Fire protection systems 
• Security and IT system 

Aside from carrying out the work according to standards and requirements, the final result of the fitout works should also be in line with the bank’s branding and workflow. This can depend on the bank’s target demographic. For example, in a bank that services customers who are young parents with little kids, the bank might have a special area for kids to wait and stay for a while. 

Layout and design for bank fitout works

Banks and other financial institutions often have most of the following areas and features in their layout: 

• Waiting area for customers 
• Lounge 
• Offices for managers and staff 
• Vault 

The features may or may not be present depending on the type of financial institution (e.g. banks, credit unions, money market corporations, general insurance companies, fund managers). For example, in a typical bank (an Authorised Deposit-taking Institution or ADI), there would be a lot of space in the waiting area for customers. In contrast, those for general insurance companies might have a smaller waiting area or none at all because of the fewer transactions. 

Other important considerations

Aside from the specifications, standards, branding, workflow and layout, it’s also important to carefully choose a general contractor to carry out the work. It’s especially the case with big and international banks where they also look at the contractor’s permits, insurance, financials and other capabilities. This is a way to ensure that only qualified and experienced contractors will handle the project. 

Also, note that banks and other financial institutions have strict security requirements and standards. The professionals who will do the fitout should pass background checks and meet other requirements. Also, the financial institution might require that the contractor hasn’t been involved in litigation action due to failure to perform and other valid reasons. This is also another way to help ensure that the contractor has a strong credibility and track record.