Welcome to Bank &Surf, a coastal lifestyle company that celebrates life at the edge of water with nautically-inspired art.
Our Story
Origins
Meet JD Susanin - entrepreneur, artist, designer, historian, family man & beach bum from suburban Philadelphia. Cracking the code to a design problem in 2012 - unable to find the right kind of map for a design project Naples, FL - he hand-drew, created & framed just what he had in mind, a blueprint version of Old Naples with several, important, personal markings. Because the map was so unique and well-received , it gave rise to a present-day, growing collection of over 700 customizable maps where folks can celebrate life’s adventures with personalized artwork for either themselves or for lucky gift recipients. One of JD’s regular map customers boasts that, “most maps tell us where we are going but THESE maps show us where we’ve been!” The maps have repeatedly been called clever, the thing to buy for someone who has everything, and a fun way to celebrate a new house, summer vacation haunts, a destination wedding or the place that just makes us happy.
When not growing Bank & Surf and PALLADIO, his parent company/ art production, interior architecture & framing company, JD and his family are happiest in the sands of the Caribbean, the Long Island Sound and Florida beaches creating their own beach adventures.
Brick & Mortar
Even though this growing collection of framed maps has made its way to dozens of American states through online channels, and is cherished by travelers, collectors, and art patrons, Bank & Surf resides inside a 19th century Tudor building in Chestnut Hill, PA at PALLADIO, a boutique design company created by JD Susanin in 2001. PALLADIO is a haven for JD’s bundle of talents… interior architecture, art production, corporate branding & story-telling, a unique & well-respected custom-framing practice, landscape design and now, life at the beach.