Making an emotional connection to the reader.

• Position: ABAMN 2008 Financial Marketing Awards: Annual Reports; First Place; Asset Size Under $5 Billion - PrivateBancorp Inc. - Brief article

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Institution: PrivateBancorp Inc., Chicago

The objective was to use the annual report to reflect the company's growth while maintaining a world-class appearance to represent the company's commitment to service excellence and to building lifetime relationships with its clients.

The vines on the front and back cover represent the organic growth the company has had in its 17 years of business. The quality of materials such as paper stock and ink is meant to convey the company's focus on quality and its resolve to maintain the highest level of excellence. To emphasize that the company's...