Fresno First Bank's NIL ad with Nikko Remigio to air during LA Bowl

When Fresno State and Washington State play in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl on Saturday, some viewers will see Bulldogs wide receiver Nikko Remigio even when the game is interrupted for a commercial break. As part of a recent NIL deal, Remigio starred in a commercial for Fresno First Bank. The commercial debuted Wednesday.

In the commercial, Fresno First Bank President and CEO Steve Miller asks Remigio a series of either-or questions in the bank’s break room.

“Ok, Nikko,” Miller says at the start of the ad. “Shark or pterodactyl?”

“Cougar or dog,” Miller asks next. Then, “You or me?”

“Me,” says Remigio, prompting Miller to ask again.

“You can’t be serious,” Miller says, looking confounded.

“As serious as this bowl game coming up,” Remigio responds.

“Ok. Big bank, community bank?” Miller asks.

“Fresno First Bank,” Remigio says slyly as he turns to the camera.

@nikkoremigio #1 x Fresno First Bank#JimmyKimmelLABowl#ForTheV #RedWave #FresnoState #prideofthevalley #FresnoStateFootball pic.twitter.com/SXqkHZznVA

— Fresno First Bank (@fresnofirstbank) December 14, 2022

‘A bunch of people who know Nikko’ will watch the broadcast

Josh Escovedo, the co-founder of the sports agency Wraith Sports Group, helped facilitate Remigio’s role in the campaign. Escovedo said it’s a fitting pairing for the Fresno-based bank and the native of Orange, Calif.

“Essentially he’s playing a home game as his final college game,” Escovedo said in a video interview, “and not to mention the regional telecast is going to a bunch of people who know Nikko, his family. You’re going to have a lot of people that support him in the community tune in to this game, whether it’s in person, online, or on TV. I think that was really significant for him.

“Not only is he getting an opportunity to play in this game but he was significant enough to the team that a third party believed that he would make a great partner for their commercial that presumably they’re spending good money on.”

Fresno First Bank’s creative team has partnered with a local content creation agency, Backstory Creative, to produce commercials featuring Fresno State athletes.

Fresno First Bank provides NIL opportunities to local athletes

Remigio transferred to Fresno State and enrolled in January after spending four years at Cal. In his final season in college, he had 69 receptions for 768 yards and five receiving touchdowns, plus two rushing touchdowns, for the Bulldogs.

The 5-foot-11 wide receiver tied for the team lead with five receiving touchdowns. He finished second on the team in receptions and receiving yards.

Fresno State wide receiver Jalen Cropper, who led the Bulldogs in the three primary statistical categories for receivers, previously starred in a commercial for Fresno First Bank.

“I think they really did a good job of editing that thing,” Escovedo said in a previous interview regarding Cropper’s commercial for the bank. “It’s like a 20-second, little clip but it’s punchy. It gets your attention and it’s high-quality. It’s not something that it looks like somebody made on a budget.”

Past commercials for Fresno First Bank have featured wide receiver Mac Dalena, former Fresno State women’s basketball players Haley and Hanna Cavinder, and former men’s basketball forward Orlando Robinson.

“Our stance has really been around promoting local sports athletes,” Fresno First Bank Chief Revenue/Marketing Officer Matt Tymn said in a previous interview. “Fresno First Bank is one of the largest single-branch banks in the United Sates and we’re based out of Fresno, California. We’re big supporters of Bulldog football and Fresno State. It’s a way for us to get in quick on NIL.”