The Story behind Abbey National’s Iconic Umbrella Logo

Abbey National is a former British bank that was founded in 1944 as the Abbey National Building Society. The bank’s logo, featuring a red and white striped umbrella, became an iconic symbol of the brand and its values. The logo was created in the 1980s by the design agency Wolff Olins.

The umbrella was chosen as the main element of the logo because it represented protection, security, and shelter, all of which were important values for a bank. The red and white stripes were added to make the logo more distinctive and memorable.

The logo was a huge success and became one of the most recognized logos in the UK. It was used on everything from bank branches to credit cards to advertising campaigns. The umbrella even became a popular souvenir for tourists visiting London.

In 2003, Abbey National underwent another rebranding effort and changed its name to Abbey. The logo was updated to feature a more modern and simplified version of the umbrella. However, the red and white stripes were retained as a nod to the brand’s heritage.

In 2010, Abbey was acquired by Santander, and the bank was rebranded as Santander UK. The iconic umbrella logo was retired and replaced with the Santander flame logo.

Although the umbrella logo is no longer used by Abbey National or Santander UK, it remains a beloved symbol of British design and branding. Its simple and memorable design has inspired countless other logos and continues to be a source of inspiration for designers today.

Abbey National was a British bank that had a logo that was instantly recognizable to many people due to its iconic umbrella design. The logo was used by the bank from 1989 until 2003, when it was replaced by a new design following a merger with another bank. Here is the story behind Abbey National’s famous umbrella logo.

The umbrella logo was created in 1989 by a design agency called Wolff Olins. The agency was tasked with creating a new logo for Abbey National that would help the bank stand out in a crowded market. The agency came up with the idea of using an umbrella as a symbol of protection, security, and shelter, which are all values that are important to a bank’s customers.

The logo was designed to be simple and memorable, with a bold red and white color scheme that was easy to spot from a distance. The umbrella itself was depicted in a stylized, geometric form that was modern and clean. The logo was a huge success, and it quickly became one of the most recognizable symbols in the financial industry.

Over the years, the umbrella logo became a beloved icon of British culture, appearing on everything from billboards to TV ads to merchandise. It was so popular that Abbey National even launched a marketing campaign in 1995 called “Abbey National, more than just a roof over your head,” which featured a series of TV ads starring a talking umbrella.

Despite its popularity, the umbrella logo was eventually retired in 2003 when Abbey National merged with another bank, National Westminster Bank. The new bank, called Abbey National plc, adopted a new logo that was designed to reflect both the old Abbey National brand and the new National Westminster Bank brand.

Today, the iconic umbrella logo lives on in the memories of those who grew up with it, and it remains a symbol of a simpler time in the financial industry. Although it may no longer be in use, the umbrella logo will always hold a special place in the hearts of many British people.