"Celebrating five decades: A look at our updated banking logo"
In the realm of corporate identity, a logo serves as a symbolic representation of a company's values and ambitions. This is no different for a bank, particularly the one we're focusing on today.
The history of this bank's logo can be traced back to April 2, 1974, when it was unveiled to the public at the bank's annual media conference. The logo, a striking composition, is characterised by an upward oblique stroke within a square, symbolising dynamic growth within a stable environment.
The square-shaped frame stands for security and stability, while the slash, with an angle of 53 degrees, represents growth. The colour blue, prominently featured in the logo, signifies trust.
Interestingly, prior to 1974, the bank did not have a specific logo; the company name appeared in different fonts within a single document. The logo that we know today was chosen from 140 different designs submitted in a competition in 1972.
The creator of this iconic logo was Anton Stankowski, a Stuttgart-based artist and graphic designer. Stankowski's work spanned various fields, including commercial art, photography, painting, illustration, and graphic art. His bank logo is widely recognised as his most famous logo worldwide.
Anton Stankowski's logo has been a significant part of the bank's branding for over four decades. In 2020, the bank installed its largest brand advertisement worldwide on the roof of Eintracht Frankfurt's home ground, the Commerzbank-Arena, consisting of the bank's name and the logo.
The advertisement, illuminated with more than 25,000 LEDs, is a testament to the enduring appeal of Stankowski's design. The logo, affectionately named "signpost" by the bank's employees, continues to serve as a beacon of the bank's values and aspirations.
For more detailed information on the bank's logo, further reading can be found on the bank's official website. The history of logos, contests, and creators may vary from bank to bank, but the principles of trust, stability, security, and growth remain constants in bank logo design.
In this banking context, the logo's design, introduced in 1974, symbolically represents the merge of financial progression within a secure environment – a fundamental aspect of business. The square frame signifies stability while the diagonal slash at a 53-degree angle embodies growth, which is integral to finance and business.
