A B-Side BY Armin

Beobank

About: (Est. 2013) Formerly Citibank Belgium, Beobank is the new name of this range of banks in Belgium, now owned by Crédit Mutuel Nord Europe.

Design by: Minale Design Strategy.

Ed.’s Notes: It’s kind of interesting, although disappointed that the weight of the stroke of the “O” is thicker than the other letters; it makes it stand out even more that it already does. Bigger view of the logo and a couple of applications below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Press release (PDF and in French). Minale Design Strategy case study.

Select quote (translated): “The Beobank logo reflects the simplicity of the bank: a bank that finds proximity important and stands entirely at the service of its clients. The letters “Be” point to the Belgian anchoring of the bank. The lively, bright red draws the attention to the letter “O”, that stands as a symbol for the openness to its cleints and the optimism with which the bank looks to the future. The purple colour finally has something surprising en confirms the dynamism of Beobank.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

Hello Bank!

About: (Est. 2013) “We’re Hello Bank! Driven by a startup mentality, our approach to banking can be summed up in 4 words: simple, smart, human and safe. Hello bank! is the new generation bank designed to help you manage your day-to-day finances in the long term. And, as part of BNP Paribas, we’re underpinned by the financial stability of a European banking leader. Hello bank! launches in Belgium and Germany in May 2013, in France in June and in Italy in October.”

Design by: SEENK.

Ed.’s Notes: How you doin’, Bank? It’s alright, I guess. A couple of applications below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Press release. SEENK case study.

Select quote: “Hello Bank! A new brand, with a new style based on four key values: Simple. Smart. Human. Safe.

Hello Bank! makes life easier. A refreshingly new banking experience, easy and straightforward, a native mobile bank designed to be as clear and intuitive as the very best of today’s digital apps. Using your mobile, your tablet (iOS or Android), or via Internet, for example you can manage your budget, organise your outgoings or transfer money in just three hand movements. You can also sign up for Hello bank! in just four steps, which means anyone can become a Hello bank! customer as easily as buying a train ticket on a smartphone.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

Vietcombank

About: (Est. 1963) “Vietcombank was the first Vietnamese state bank to convert into a publicly-traded commercial bank. Over 50 years of construction and development, Vietcombank made important contributions to the stability and development of Vietnam’s national economy, by serving as a role model for major foreign banks, effectively serving local economic development, and creating significant impact to the financial community and global regions. From a specialized bank for foreign economic relations, Vietcombank today has become a multi-bank with multi-disciplinary activities, providing customers a full range of financial services in the field of international trade, and in traditional activities such as treasury, capital mobilization, credit, project finance … as well as an array of modern banking services: foreign exchange and derivative duty, card services, electronic banking.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Very American/global. Bigger view of the logo below (or after the jump). Lookit, that “e” is smiling.

Relevant links: Press Release.

Select quote (Google-translated): “The new logo of Vietcombank maintains their traditional green reference to the power of nature, showing growth through the balanced development of standards, and the desire to expand and reach out. The letter V in the logo was redesigned as a modern, stylized icon, linked throughout, demonstrating a successful sustainable connection. It not only symbolizes V VCB but also a symbol of the spirit to win (V victory), the union of the heart with faith comes from the heart for a shared future with the prosperity of Vietnam.”

Thanks to Jerome Meyer for the tip.

A B-Side BY Armin

Voya Financial

About: (Est. 1975) “Voya Financial, previously ING U.S., is a leading provider of financial products and services, both at the workplace and through an expansive distribution network of financial professionals. Voya’s mission is to guide Americans on their journey to greater retirement readiness and to make a secure financial future possible—one person, one family and one institution at a time.”

Design by: Interbrand.

Ed.’s Notes: The name is described as “an abstract name coined from the word ‘voyage’,” and the same could be said for the typography: an abstract take on what letterforms are supposed to bend like. That’s sort of a dig. The idea seems okay, but the resolution of how the letterforms bend and twist is highly unresolved and inconsistent. Bigger view of the logo and an application below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: ING’s explanation. CoreBrand article. brandchannel article. Advertising Age article.

Select quote: “The selection of a new brand for ING U.S. took months of extensive research and testing. We started with a list of 5,230 potential names. After conducting multiple rounds of creative refinement, 390 legal prescreens and testing it in nearly 60 different languages, we believe the new name best reflects our company’s mission, values and personality – Voya.”

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A B-Side BY Armin

Banelco

About: (Est. 1985) “Banelco is an ATM network in Argentina. Established in 1985, Banelco offers several services related to the cash flow management, including debit cards, electronic transfers, services payments, etc. Operating 4,500 ATMs (one third of the total in the country)[…]. The company also operates Pagomiscuentas, an electronic bill payment service. Banelco, an acronym for Banca Electrónica Compartida, is owned by private banks. Link, in turn, is used primarily by state owned banks.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Design by: DAS Branding.

Ed.’s Notes: Fairly nice, in that South American corporate identity kind of way (rounded, bold sans serif, italicized). A few more images below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: DAS Branding case study.

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A B-Side BY Armin

OppenheimerFunds

About: (Est. 1959) “OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (OFI) is one of the largest and most reputable investment management firms in the country. Since the original Oppenheimer fund was first offered to the public in 1959, OFI has demonstrated it is a high conviction asset manager with a history of providing innovative investment strategies to its investors. OFI and its subsidiaries offer a broad array of products and services to individuals, institutional investors and corporations worldwide. OFI provides advisory services to the Oppenheimer mutual funds, and OFI Global Asset Management provides services to institutional clients. OFI, including its subsidiaries, managed more than $208 billion in assets for over 12 million shareholder accounts, including sub-accounts, as of March 31, 2013.”

Design by: N/A.

Ed.’s Notes: Calling it now: one of the top three worst redesigns of the year. This is absolutely hideous and unnecessary. Bigger view (if you must) of the logo below (or after the jump).

Relevant links: Press Release.

Select quote: “(OFI) today announced plans to unveil a new brand and visual identity that represents the firm’s strategy to leverage its innovative heritage and support its mission to turn its unconventional wisdom into value for investors. […] The rebrand embodies our ability to embrace and initiate change.”

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Opinion BY Armin

Qapital Charts a New Look

Started in 2011, Qapital is Swedish start-up that provides an online service to manage and get an overview of users’ personal finances. It’s not a bank nor a financial advise company, it simply connects to your existing bank accounts and generates charts and summaries of how, where, and when you spent your money. And it does it in a very pretty way. This month, Qapital has released its private Beta site and along with it a new identity designed by Stockholm-based Bedow.

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A B-Side BY Armin

Marqeta

Established in 2010, Marqeta is a customer loyalty platform for the business-consumer relationship — consumers pay in advance, via their Marqeta account, and, in return, merchants add extra money to the account. A new identity has been designed by Duncan/Channon. Case study here. Image of the credit card below (or after the jump).

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Opinion BY Armin

Old McDonald Had a Logo

Established in 1916 along with the Federal Farm Loan Act that helped establish the Farm Credit System, Farm Credit service of Mid-America (FCSM) is an agricultural cooperative lender — owned and controlled by their customer-members — serving more than 92,500 customer-members throughout Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee through 92 offices and more than 900 employees, backed by $17.4 billion in owned and managed loan assets. In May, FCSM introduced a revised logo and brand relaunch designed by Minneapolis, MN-based Colle + McVoy.

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Opinion BY Armin

Ring Around the Polish, a Pocket Full of …

Established in 1803, PZU is is one of the largest financial institutions in Poland and Eastern Europe, offering property and casualty insurance, life insurance, and open-end pension funds. It is also one of the most recognized brands in Poland, with more than 500 retail offices. Earlier this month, PZU introduced a new identity, designed by Warsaw-based PZL — although Whitecat Studios also has some work — and a new campaign with the tagline “We are changing for good” featuring a generously eyebrowed character by the name of Moloch, who represents all the old, negative stereotypes of the company.

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