HSBC brings rebrand forward by two years

HSBC had initially planned a rebrand for 2018, but will now change its name to HSBC UK this month and begin a rebrand roll out across 950 branches.

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HSBC’s high street rebrand to HSBC UK has been brought forward by two years, with the roll-out potentially starting this month.

According to HSBC the first HSBC UK-branded branch will open at Birmingham New Street by the end of the month, subject to planning permission.

The move follows HSBC Group’s decision this week to remain headquartered in the UK rather than moving to Asia.

Banks must separate retail offers

Last year Design Week reported that HSBC UK would be the new name of the high street bank, ending speculation that the Midland Bank name was to be exhumed or that online brand First Direct would take to the high street.

The emphasis for the rebrand is a new rule, which is to be introduced in 2019 and states that banks must separate out their retail offers.

HSBC announced in September 2015 that the “UK” would “distinguish the ring-fenced bank from the non ring-fenced bank”.

950 branches by 2019

It seemed that the new name would be introduced on 1 January 2018, but this will now happen by the end of the month with the other 950 branches following suit before 2019.

A spokeswoman from HSBC says that following Birmingham New Street will be Solihull and adds: “We’ll be rebranding all our branches throughout 2016 and 2017 – the majority in 2017.

The current HSBC logo was designed by Henry Steiner in the 1980s and the HSBC brand has been on the high street since it replaced Midland Bank in 1999.

Discover more:

• HSBC set to rebrand as… HSBC UK

• HSBC brand to disappear from the high street

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