Agencies Skeptical of Once-Coveted Account

An accelerated review process is turning potential contenders off to E*Trade Financial’s agency search, sources said.

The Menlo Park, Calif.-based client met with several shops earlier this month and gave them just two weeks to prepare full creative presentations, sources said. One source described the process as “amateur hour.” Agencies were also told they would not have access to key decision makers while preparing the presentations, sources said. An other exec said the client was unclear about whether it was reviewing all or part of the business.