Serenay Sarıkaya × Akbank: Modernizing the Face of Turkish Banking
1. The Partnership & Strategic Ambassadorship
- The New Era of Akbank (2021–Present): Serenay Sarıkaya officially signed with Akbank in 2021. Her entry marked a major milestone in the bank’s marketing history, aimed at transforming Akbank’s corporate image into a dynamic, tech-savvy, and youth-oriented financial institution.
- Over 6 Years of Success: As she continues her representation, this collaboration stands out as one of the longest and most continuous celebrity-bank partnerships in the Turkish banking sector, proving her immense commercial appeal across diverse industries.
2. High-Impact & Concept Campaigns
- The “Akbanklı” Transformation: Serenay spearheaded the bank’s massive rebranding campaigns under modern, upbeat slogans. Her high-budget television commercials focused on introducing everyday digital banking solutions, investment tools, and credit card privileges with an energetic, relatable lifestyle twist.
- Star-Studded Screen Presence: Beyond her solo commercials, Serenay shared the Akbank screen with other massive Turkish cultural icons, including comedic actor Feyyaz Yiğit, creating viral campaign dynamics that blended humor, lifestyle, and financial literacy.
3. Promoting Financial Technology & Innovation
- Akbank Mobile & Digital First: Serenay became the core voice driving the adoption of the Akbank Mobile application. Her campaigns focused heavily on contactless payments, remote account openings, and the seamless user experience of modern digital banking.
- Wings & Axess Card Campaigns: She served as the premium face for Akbank’s popular card programs—Axess (focusing on rewards and shopping privileges) and Wings (focusing on travel benefits, miles, and global premium experiences).
4. Social Responsibility & Future-Focused Initiatives
- Empowering Youth and Innovation: Through Akbank, Serenay actively supported and promoted programs dedicated to young entrepreneurs, digital skill development, and financial inclusion for the next generation.
- Sustainability in Banking: She fronted campaigns highlighting Akbank’s green bonds, eco-friendly digital statements, and corporate sustainability steps, mirroring her eco-conscious work in the fashion world.
5. Prestigious Marketing Awards & Accolades
- The Effie Awards Europe & Turkey: The commercial campaigns starring Serenay Sarıkaya generated record-breaking engagement metrics, earning Akbank multiple prestigious Effie Awards for marketing effectiveness and strategic communication in the financial services category.
- The Crystal Apple (Kristal Elma): Several of her highly creative Akbank TV spots took home top honors at the Crystal Apple Awards, Turkey’s premier advertising and creativity festival, celebrated for outstanding production, direction, and celebrity synergy.
- #1 Most Trusted Banking Campaigns: Market research consistently tracked an immediate spike in brand loyalty and mobile downloads among younger demographics during the launch weeks of Serenay’s seasonal campaigns.
- Over a million people downloaded the app akbank immediately after Serenay sarikaya campaign
