Ties off, trainers on – New dress code at Bank Frick
Bank Frick is relaxing its staff dress code. The newly introduced “smart-casual” dress guide permits staff to wear trainers as part of their business attire – whereas ties can stay in the drawer. As part of the activities to mark Bank Frick’s 20th birthday all employees were gifted a pair of trainers in the company colours. As a modern and tech-savvy company, Bank Frick is extending its innovativeness to the dress code too.
Bank Frick CFO Melanie Gstöhl (2nd from left) and CEO Edi Wögerer (center) presenting the new dress code and the corporate trainer together with employees.
Balzers (LI) – A more relaxed dress code has just been introduced at Bank Frick in Liechtenstein. The new dress guide gives employees more freedom to choose what they wear. From now on, smart-casual will be an accepted form of attire for dealing with clients – i.e. a modern, hybrid style that constitutes a middle ground between business and casual clothing.
Say goodbye to the tie
From now on, men in suits can lose the tie and leave their top button undone. Chinos and dark jeans are now permitted too, as long as they are not faded or distressed, and smart polo shirts are an alternative to long-sleeved shirts. Women have even more freedom here: while smart-casual outfits include one business style element, the rest of the outfit may vary.
Bank Frick treats all employees to trainers in company colours
“What matters is that the outfit is clean and tidy with no holes in it,” emphasises Sigvard Wohlwend, Head of Corporate and Market Communications at Bank Frick. “The smart-casual look allows for brighter, more colourful outfits.”
Another feature of the smart-casual look at Bank Frick is classic trainers.
Bank Frick is celebrating its 20th birthday in 2018. To mark the occasion employees were given Adidas trainers in the primary company colours of the Bank. Staff are free to wear the dark blue or turquoise-coloured classic trainers as part of their office outfit.
Bank Frick’s employees were kitted out by the clothing store Männerwerk in St. Gallen.
Smart-casual suits the office
“Smart-casual is a style for the office and should not be confused with outfits you might wear to the beach or in the garden,” explains Sigvard Wohlwend.
The newly introduced dress guide was prompted by Bank Frick’s changed client structure, among other things. “Today, many of Bank Frick visitors and clients have more of a fintech or blockchain background. Often these are younger business clients who look different to the established clientele that dominated our client structure a decade ago,” continues Wohlwend.
Using common sense
This is purposefully referred to as a dress guide because the intention is to provide guidance, not a rigid code. The dress guide makes recommendations without imposing unnecessary restrictions. “If employees feel more at ease with a tie then, of course, they may continue to wear one,” explains Sigvard Wohlwend. “But they are no longer obligated to do so, even when dealing with clients. Employees are however still expected to use their common sense when dressing in the morning so as not to cause any offence.”
Employer branding
“We are confident that the new dress guide will help to present Bank Frick as an attractive employer, even to applicants from outside of the banking sector,” concludes Sigvard Wohlwend.
About Bank Frick
Bank Frick is a family-run Liechtenstein bank with headquarters in Balzers. It was founded in 1998 by Kuno Frick Sr (1938–2017), with the majority now controlled by the Kuno Frick Family Foundation. Minority shareholder Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc. (Net1), holds 35 per cent of Bank Frick’s share capital. Net1 is a financial technology company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange in New York.
Bank Frick focuses on providing products and services for financial intermediaries such as fiduciaries, asset managers, payment service providers and fintechs.
One of Bank Frick’s unique selling points is its high level of expertise in the regulated blockchain banking sector. The Bank supports Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), provides custody of crypto assets and dealing services in leading cryptocurrencies for Bank Frick clients, and makes crypto assets bankable.
Bank Frick develops tailor-made funds for intermediaries and acts as a custodian bank.
It is the only bank in Liechtenstein with acquiring licences from Visa and MasterCard.
Bank Frick employs around 120 members of staff and operates a branch in London, UK.
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