CALL FOR ENTRIES NOW OPEN FIRM DEADLINE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26
In our 27th annual competition, the FCS is proud to continue to recognize the great and iconic financial services marketing and communications work created in our industry. To honor the best work from 2020, we are excited to add new categories, expand several existing categories, and open the competition's eligibility to include financial industry players. SEE BELOW FOR FULL LIST OF CATEGORIES.
Expanded Eligibility: Financial Industry
In addition to all financial institutions, we now welcome entries from companies who specialize in or serve the financial marketing industry. These ‘Financial Industry’ partners include associations, agencies, fintech firms, and media companies. Whenever their target audience is financially focused – whether it’s a financial institution, their employees or their end clients – our financial industry partners can enter Portfolio in the hope of winning for their marketing and comms work. So eligibility now covers every type of agency – advertising, communications, digital, marketing, research, PR, media – all fintech companies, professional associations, as well as media companies – as long as they're dedicated to the financial services industry or their submission is 100% focused on finserv.
New Grouping: Employee Communications
It’s been a long time coming for Portfolio to finally recognize the important creative work done inside financial institutions for their internal audience. We’ve opened up 9 specific categories for employee comms execution, plus you can enter the Integrated category to combine up to 3 projects. We’re also recognizing Recruiting Campaigns as a particularly important initiative the marketers undertake for their firms. [Note: the Employee Communications grouping is not open to Financial Industry entrants.]
New Categories: Media Strategy
By popular demand, we’ve added Media Strategy to Portfolio, in recognition of the creativity required to align the business objectives with the marketing strategy/planning of a given advertising campaign. Entrants can win for Traditional or Programmatic Planning, and we’ll be recognizing Media Strategy Innovation as well.
Expanded Categories
The following categories have been expanded to level the competitive planning field and to be more reflective of the skill specialization for each new sub-category. Visual Identity will honor both Logos and Identity Systems. Event Marketing will separately honor Sponsorship Marketing. The Audio category has been split to ensure Audio Advertising and Audio content are competing separately. Branded Content (which specifically covers work created by Financial Institutions in partnership with Media Companies) will separately honor Copy & Design; Audio; Video; Event, and Integrated, depending on the media executed.
Gold, Silver and Bronze trophies will be awarded in each category under Corporate Image, B2B, Consumer Retail, and Employee Communications, with Best In Show trophies for those groups plus Multicultural and Corporate Social Responsibility.
The Judges’ Choice Award is bestowed on the best overall entry.
Award categories include:
Branding & Advertising
- Audio Advertising
- Direct Mail
- Display / Rich Media
- Out-Of-Home
- Social Media: Paid Advertising
- Television
- Visual Identity (Logo; Identity System)
External Communications
- Audio
- Social Media: Organic
- Collateral (Annual Reports; Digital Collateral; Print Collateral)
Public Relations
Event Marketing
- Event Marketing
- Sponsorship Marketing
Media Strategy
- Planning (Traditional; Programmatic)
- Innovation
Digital Media
- Apps and Tools
- Web Video
- Websites
Branded Content
- Copy & Design
- Audio
- Video
- Event
- Integrated
Integrated Marketing
Employee Communications
- Audio
- Blog
- Event
- Intranet (Internal Website / Employee Portal)
- Presentation
- Video
- Visual Identity
- Integrated
- Recruiting Campaign
For any questions about Portfolio, please contact FCS CEO Kevin Windorf.
