Did Nedbank steal the Ask Once idea from a bank in Australia / New Zealand?

Posted on 20. Sep, 2007 by Jonathan Cherry in Uncategorized

Here we thought that they might have been inspired by all the free advice we’ve been dishing out here, but instead it seems like Nedbank may just have stolen their Ask Once idea from another bank!

Aki posted this heads up on the original story:

This "new" campaign of Nedbank’s is by no means unique. They stole the
slogan and the concept from a small bank in New Zealand called Westpac,
and have reproduced it almost word for word in their adverts. No
surprises about their lack of ethics: just look at any issue of
Noseweek to see the theft, fraud and crookery that goes on in our
banking industry.

Check out Westpac’s commitment on their site over here.

So – has Nedbank done a Cliff Jennings?
Look – it’s still a good concept for the bank and it’s not a bad thing to implement good ideas from other countries, but seriously guys couldn’t you at least have thought of another name? Perhaps something of your own…using the wild creativity South Africa is know for?

Oh…and BTW…call this a co-incidence, but Nedbank’s ad agency is Oglivy…the same agency that was responsible for the whole Cliff Jennings episode.
We obviously not sure if they were even involved with the Ask Once campaign, but the music from the Twilight Zone magically started playing in the room when we realised the connection.

4 Responses to “Did Nedbank steal the Ask Once idea from a bank in Australia / New Zealand?”

Rich...!

25. Sep, 2007

Y’know, I just can’t say that it bothers me either way, it’s new here and that’s what counts. Kulula stole Southwest’s bus model, but they did it here first.
I still think it’s a rad promise, I hope that they deliver on it.
simon says

26. Sep, 2007

Nedbank is not with Ogilvy. You think you know everything but you know nothing. You use Cliff Jennings to leverage some publicity for your little blog. Please stop mirepresenting the agency that won’t even let you work at its reception.
Cherryflava

26. Sep, 2007

Oh…Nedbank fired Ogilvy?…probably a good thing too….and just so that you know it was the TV show Idols that used Cliff Jennings as leverage for some publicity for their little show, not us.
We have never expressed a desire to work for the agency, so your shocking news that the reception job has already been taken doesn’t really worry us. Thanks for thinking about us though.
Lethabo

28. Sep, 2007

It is ok, i mean it is new here so what. At least someone in South Sfrica was creative enough for the benefit of our society