Award-Winning East Coast-Based Creative Agencies Join Forces to Assist Modernization of Community Banking With “Digital First” Branding & Marketing Strategies

Princeton Partners Group Takes Majority Stake in Stackpole

Princeton Partners Group (princetonpartnersgroup.com), a management and holding company for independent specialty marketing and communications agencies, now has a majority ownership stake in Stackpole, an award-winning brand advertising agency serving community banks and other financial institutions. Under this new ownership agreement it now operates as Stackpole – Princeton Partners Group helmed by its legacy agency personnel. Together these agencies, both with significant financial services branding/marketing experience, are poised to work with more banks ready for enhanced growth strategies and adaptable brands, but have limited internal resources to execute on those goals.

“This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for Stackpole and our clients,” added Pete Stackpole, President of Stackpole. “By combining our creative strengths with Princeton Partners Group’s marketing planning sophistication and data-driven performance expertise, we’re ready to deliver predictable ROI and redefine what’s possible for financial services marketing.”

Industry Trends Report Indicates Now Is the Right Time

According to an annual pulse survey of 250 community bankers’ top focus areas for 2025 conducted by a financial software provider*, when asked about plans to modernize their core banking solutions over the next 12 months - 62% of respondents noted investing in products that support ongoing digital innovation as a top priority. Respondents also noted using or expanding use of integrated solutions supported by open APIs (57%) and evaluating technology in terms of its ability to support open banking (53%) as other areas of focus for the year. The report demonstrates how community bankers recognize the need to imminently innovate and adapt to keep pace with the changing dynamics of consumer banking behaviors.

Stackpole will advise and guide traditional banks throughout their process of digital transformation by helping them establish “digital first” brand strategies that appeal to new, generations of customers. Specific offerings and capabilities include unique, experiential, and creative approaches to client brand discovery workshops; M&A marketing and communication; and performance marketing digital strategies and campaigns, among many others.

“Community Banks seeking long-term growth leveraging financial technology solutions require data-driven insights and performance marketing capable of driving short-term sales activation. They also need brand-building strategies that can be systematically deployed, measured, and optimized,” said Tom Sullivan, Chairman of Princeton Partners Group. “We’re committed to assisting our clients with repositioning and developing brands designed to help them navigate the new realities of banking and attract more Generation Z and Alpha customers.”

Learn more at stackpolepartners.com.

About Princeton Partners Group

Princeton Partners Group (princetonpartnersgroup.com) is a management and holding company for independent, specialist marketing and communications agencies, created by the executive team of Princeton Partners, a full-service brand marketing agency founded in 1965.

Princeton Partners Group enables these best-in-class agencies to bring together their capabilities and deliver profitable customer growth and measurable marketing ROI for clients. Grounded in data-driven insights, agile strategic thinking and powerful creative, Stackpole – Princeton Partners Group help brands identify the often hard-to-define intangibles that set them apart, and then craft and effectively tell their stories across any and all appropriate channels.

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We’re committed to assisting community banks with repositioning and developing brands designed to help them navigate the new realities of banking and attract more Generation Z and Alpha customers. - Tom Sullivan, Chairman - Princeton Partners Group