This Is Guernsey

BARCLAYS BANK is poised to drop its ‘Nazi-style’ eagle logo following pressure from its Dutch merger partner. But islanders have branded the move absurd.

One St Peter Port resident, who did not wish to be named, called it ‘a sickening example of political correctness gone mad’.

The company is set to merge with Dutch bank ABN Amro, which is concerned the logo might offend people in the Netherlands, which was occupied by German forces for five years during the Second World War.

But there was no evidence of the emblem insulting people in Guernsey, which was also occupied.

Sixteen-year-old Bekki King said as no one had had a problem with the logo before, she didn’t see why it should be dropped now.

‘I can see their point, but I think it’s a bit over the top,’ she said.

‘People know the eagle as Barclays, nothing else.’

Over the years the bank has softened the appearance of its 317-year-old eagle logo to make it look less aggressive. In 1999, it asked consultant Interbrand to change the look even further.

Colin Blake, whose company banks with Barclays, said the logo had never reminded him of Nazism.

‘I don’t think changing it makes any difference it’s been that way for so long,’ he said.

Under the merger proposals, Barclays would adopt a variation of ABN’s green and yellow shield logo worldwide.

Sources close to the Dutch bank confirmed that had already been informally agreed.

Vicky Gaskin, 31, from St Peter Port, said she didn’t understand the logic behind changing the logo after all these years.

‘I’m very much in favour of keeping things the same as they have always been,’ she said.

‘The eagle has been around for so long without causing any problems, so why change it now? Keep the eagle, that’s what I say.’

Article posted on 29th June, 2007 - 12.00am