DMB&B wins 10m account for National Australia Bank

DMB&B Financial has beaten Publicis-owned City Financial Marketing to the 10m account for National Australia Bank Group’s four European banks: Yorkshire, Clydesdale, Northern and National Irish.

The DMB&B Group says it is also offering resources from its sales promotion arm IMP and media buying from the Media Centre Manchester.

But Andy Byrd, business development director Europe, who was involved in the pitch, refuses to confirm the win. He denies the rumour that the DMB&B advertising agency was represented at the pitch. DMB&B handles the TSB brand for Lloyds TSB Bank.

Katherine James, the group’s recently appointed head of marketing and income development, Europe, was unavailable for comment as Marketing Week went to press.

The National Australia Bank Group has restructured with each individual bank managing its own marketing department and retaining its own departmental head.

However, communications, market research and product development are to be operated at a group level.

These new “group” functions will be based within existing bank marketing departments with communications at Clydesdale Bank, market research at Northern Bank and product development spread across Yorkshire Bank, Clydesdale Bank, Northern Bank and National Australia Life.

Earlier this month James said that she was looking for a full-service agency with experience of managing multi-brand projects for an international group.

Yorkshire Bank’s advertising account was previously handled by Collett Dickenson Pearce, while the Clydesdale Bank was held by The Leith Agency.