by Shaun Lee

Check out the new BNZ logo. Another friendly addition to our local Brandscape, but how does it fit in the current economic climate? Is this friendly face really how we want see our Banks? Rumor has it that DNA did it but let me know if I am wrong.
by Shaun Lee
October 1st, 2008 at 10:31 am
my first thoughts – youthful, friendly, with feminine curves – a white cloud on a blue clear sky… but not sure if I trust it?
October 1st, 2008 at 10:50 am
Oh it is supposed to be a Pig tail!
http://www.bnz.co.nz/About_Us/1,1184,3-156-503.html?tid=PHPPBFNewBrand
It is the second thing paragraph! “Pig Tales led the way”
October 1st, 2008 at 11:17 am
I always viewed bnz as a conservative bank. Maybe they have chilled out a bit. The new logo seems casual and laid back. I don’t think its better or worse than before. Its just had pinch of web 2.0 e.g. gradient and round corners etc next it will be reflection logo.
October 1st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
mmm… don’t mind it. certainly looks better in-situe on the website than the logo on its own as above. It certainly repositions it as an accessible, modern, friendly bank.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I would absolutely love it if it was for a juice company. It is all squidgy, round and I kind of want to squeeze it.
I left BNZ earlier this year. I did not want to squeeze them once.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
That’s funny! The Herald described it as looking like it was written in “toothpaste” :-)
October 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
It’s very ‘now’ – but will it still hold up a year from now or 5 years…i think its gonna date super quickly. It is very friendly, loose and layed back but thats not what i want from a bank! I am layed back with my cash i don’t want them to be! It’s not bad design its just not right for a bank and I don’t know about anyone else but i am pretty over the web 2.0-ness – yawn! Also reminds me of milk…
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Serrano/132132
Kris Sowersby’s custom typeface designed for the bank.
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I reckon its dated already. To me its just not right for such a well established bank… I would’ve never thought of anything related to banking if u didn’t say so… But in terms of the font design, thumbs up!
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:56 am
Instant reaction: milky, Ami’s friendliness and ANZ’s logo is more like a bank logo.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
The logo looks to0 playful for a banking business. It fits the character of the piggies but not the entire establishment. It looks good but I just feel somehow it is inappropriate.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:30 am
If I didn’t know better I’d think this was for a budget airline…
November 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
It’s fresh but it’s not appropriate to the market.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
reminds of toothpaste…?
November 17th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
No, no, no
First mistake is Rolling out a new brand logo while original is still in existence, Absolutely the worst Logo for a bank,
Childish very unoriginal and will date extremely quickly
I thought it was encompassing a pigs tail but not too sure now as a pigs tail is curly,
I very much doubt this is a rebranding exercise God forbid if it is, I wish they had called me first to steer them away from rubbish design like this
Shame on the brand manager and the ad agency who did this.
November 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Looks like it was handwritten from toothpaste. Approachable, yes. Not sure it projects a bank that an older market could trust. Maybe kids could put their piggy bank money in it!!!
November 26th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Hi all,
I realise I’m a bit late to the party, but I thought you might be interested in a few more opinions on the ‘rebrand’ here:
http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/this_little_piggy_went_to_the_bank.php
I’ve chipped in where appropriate, it may help to give you all a bit of perspective as well.
I’d just like to reply to Andrew Symons directly. I’m not sure if you’ve ever undertaken a major rebrand, it’s hard to tell—I couldn’t find a portfolio site with your work. But you’d know that it is a huge, all-encompassing task to rebrand everything at once, from websites to internal livery to advertising to on-site signage. So to say that it’s a mistake to roll the new brand out while the old one is “still in existence” is rather unfair, in my opinion. Perhaps one day you’ll get the call that you desire—hopefully your work won’t be prematurely crucified before it’s fully finished.
–K
November 27th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
The gap between B & N irks me huge.. I could deal if the N & Z hadn’t been connected but that lone sliver of blue might as well be wedged under my fingernail.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Initially hostile to the new mark but have come around after being exposed to the roll-out. Kris is a legend in my opinion and is a surperb ambassador for our little kiwi type industry. Keep up the good work.
February 19th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Ooops! Sorry about the typo! Bad designer!
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:47 pm
If you’ve dealt with this bank it wouldn’t make a lick of difference. Damaged goods ha ha ha.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:08 am
“It’s very ‘now’” is exactly what is wrong with it to my opinion. How old is BNZ and how much longer it is going to be around? Like a grandma that is dressed as a teenager! perhaps in a couple of years the lady needs to change costume again to go with the fashion flow. This time from a micro mini skirt to a crotchless bikini! :oD
June 26th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Myself and a few of my friends have termed it the “turd”. I applaud the people who sold this idea to BNZ, well done.
July 9th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
At last the Bank of New Zealand has updated and become a ‘Store’ instead of a plain old fashioned ‘Bank’, Bank Managers will now be known as ‘Store Bosses’ tellers will now have the updated name ‘checkout operators’!
March 31st, 2010 at 1:16 pm
I closed my account with the BNZ due to this logo and the subsequent advertising.
April 10th, 2010 at 12:57 am
found this linked from another blog. I’ll keep following your stuff from now, cause this was rather informative. thanks.
June 25th, 2010 at 3:21 am
NEWS FLASH: BNZ have announced to staff this week that the logo will once again be changing. Including the re-addition of the southern cross, a less rounded font, and dropping the tail off the B. Keep an eye out for this change!