Barclays quiet on logo change rumours

by Brian Turner

Story link: Barclays quiet on logo change rumours

Barclays has refused to comment on press speculation that the company may seek to remove the eagle from its logo.

The question arose as Barclays attempts to purchase Dutch bank ABN Amro, with concerns that Dutch customers may perceive the eagle as reminiscent of Nazi symbolism.

While the Nazi’s popularly used the eagle as a symbol in the 20th century, this was originally borrowed from Roman legionary standards.

Additionally, Barclays has used the eagle as its logo since 1728, and the eagle itself has otherwise long enjoyed popularity in European heraldic tradition since the Middle Ages.

However, with the Royal Bank of Scotland competing for the sale of ABN Amro, Barclays may be considering all options to sweeten the deal, especially as ABN Amro shareholders have forced a review of the sale of its US asset, LaSalle, which is otherwise integral to the Barclays offer.