TD Commerce Bank Stakes its Claim: America’s Most Convenient Bank

TD Commerce Bank, the result of the TD Banknorth and Commerce Bank merger, will adopt Commerce Bank’s tagline and position itself as America’s Most Convenient Bank after the two banks come together.

TD Banknorth’s President and CEO, Bharat Masrani was quoted in a press release today about the bank’s position:

"TD Commerce Bank will own the convenience and Customer service space from Maine to Florida and will live the promise of being America's Most Convenient Bank…We will be relentlessly focused on building a better bank for Customers by staying open longer than our competitors and providing Customers with the WOW! experience they have come to expect."

This begs the question: What does it mean to be America’s Most Convenient Bank?

As far as I can tell, TD Commerce Bank’s idea of convenience focuses on the number of branches and ATMs in its delivery network; it also means staying open seven days a week and having extended hours at its branches on a daily basis. And, I can certainly see how this offers customers that live in the markets served by the bank added convenience – but what about those who don’t?

Would TD Commerce Bank be considered America’s most convenient bank to a bank customer in Savannah, GA? - Or any of the other markets along the East Coast where the bank does not currently have a presence?

The bank has made its intention clear to “own the convenience and Customer service space from Maine to Florida.” And, with convenience at TD Commerce Bank focusing so heavily on its branch and ATM presence, it will be interesting to see how it lives up to this promise.

Will we see TD Commerce Bank embark on an expansion/acquisition effort along the East Coast in the coming months?

And what about the rest of America? I don’t think many people here in Chicago have ever heard of America’s Most Convenient Bank.