Howatson+Co, DDB, Accenture and Publicis Groupe have been shortlisted for big four bank's Westpac creative pitch, according to industry insiders.
Incumbent DDB Sydney has held the account since 2012.
This pitch coincides with competitor bank ANZ which is also reviewing its creative account.
Publicis' Leo Burnett is involved in the pitch for ANZ, insiders told AdNews. Dentsu, The Monkeys and BMF have also been shortlisted for ANZ Bank's creative agency pitch. After three years with ANZ, Special withdrew from the account.
Publicis has strong connections with Westpac. Publicis CEO Michael Rebelo is on the board of governors of the charity St. George Foundation.
And the Westpac, RAMS, St George Bank, Bank of Melbourne and Bank SA $70 million media portfolio is with Publicis.
Westpac moved its media account to Publicis from GroupM following a closed agency pitch in 2020.
Last year the big four bank put St. George's creative pitch on hold, as industry insiders suggest recent senior appointments have caused the pause.
The latest campaign from Westpac was a rousing musical number starring a banker and a referee aired during 2023's first State of Origin game.
Westpac had no comment.
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