Rebranding: R.I.P. Canara Bank’s 100 year old Logo
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
It seems as though the banks in India are trying to tread a new path (or the path already trodden by international banks?). It was J&K bank followed by Axis Bank (Previously UTI Bank) which rebranded themselves. It’s now time for the 101 year old Canara Bank to leave its traditional identity and embrace modernity. It took a hard decision of doing away with the 100 year old logo to go for two simple tangled triangles!
The old logo was very traditional with a hand holding a flower. The motto used to be written around the logo. The type was different and it sported all capital letters. The new brand identity, designed by Ray+Keshavan (Now a part of WPP Group), has two distinct colors i.e., sky blue and yellow. Two interlinked triangles are created to show the link between the customer and the bank. The type has been changed to small letters instead of all caps.
I observe that the blue color predominates the yellow color and the blue color is associated with State Bank of India for quite a long time now. Similarly, Vodafone has the red color in it which is being used by Airtel in India for quite sometime now. The new colors have been incorporated in the new website of Canara Bank. To me, it looks like they want to ape banks like Standard Chartered, Barclays etc.
The new brand identity was unveiled by Shri P. Chidambaram at Central College Auditorium in Bangalore on 29th December 2007. Canara Bank Chairman and Managing Director M B N Rao said it had become imperative to rebuild the brand in order to attract and retain customers, who now had a variety of alternatives.
Ray+Keshavan is a famous branding firm in India. It branded and did logo designs for Airtel, Infosys, Himalaya, Dabur, Kissan etc. It was recently bought by WPP Group Plc. and now it’s under The Brand Union.
Anyway, a 100 year old logo now rests in peace!
Entry Filed under: Brand Identity, Branding, Design, Logo Design, Marketing, Rebranding. Tags: Brand Identity, canara bank, india, Logo Design, new logo, ray keshavan, Rebranding.
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1.
N.K. Murthy | Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 1:11 pm
We have to compliment Canara Bank whole heartedly for taking the initiative to bring in a new brand identity, which is very modern and meaningful. Banks exist because of their relationship with their customers and the new brand identity aptly brings out the concept. The colours are also very catchy. The new boards at Hudson circle and their head office is awesome. Well done. Canara Bank.
2.
pooja | Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 7:42 am
I feel the old emblem and logo had more meaning and value when compared to the new one…
3.
Rajesh Dahiya | Monday, May 12, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Dear Canara Bank,
You look awful after surgery.
You at least looked old in your old age. Now you look stupid…
4.
Vinod | Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I agree!!! Haha!
5.
Tapesh Shegal | Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Why do you say that Rajesh, I think it loks fresh. Or do you mean old brand must be left to dfie a natural death. You comment seems to be highly prejudiced and personal. Possibly because you dont come from that background. As a marketing person I am aware of the need to revive brands – and canara bank is a very good as an example and agree with murthy. You sound like one of the many unhappy and uninformed reporters of kannada dailies that do not understand words like brand and strategy.
6.
vnayak | Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Well, I think we are tending towards westernization and not creating a brand of our own. Canara bank did very well once in its business upon a time I think, all it was supposed to do, to be in the competition, was to adopt the newer technologies and improve its customer service rather than improving its looks !!!
As a classical beauty of re-branding, look at Godrej, Bajaj or Tata logos
All I am trying to say, a company has a tradition, we must take it along with us. We just cant be following the crowd all the time, we must lead it as well
7.
manojar | Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Another bank using this yellow-blue combination is Indian Bank…
wonder if they will be following to change their ’squatting arrows’ logo too!!
8.
dr.sudhodanan,palakkad | Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 10:25 pm
wonderful rebranding.How can a customer brake away this interlinked triangles,though the fragrance of flowers gone?