BNP Paribas is one of the largest French financial conglomerates, founded in 2000. It was formed after the merger of two of its predecessors—Banque Nationale de Paris and Paribas. With subsidiaries in more than 75 countries globally, the bank offers a range of financial services and embraces blockchain and digital banking.
The BNP Paribas logo is a striking example of modern corporate identity. It reflects nearly two centuries of banking heritage while aligning with the group’s global ambitions and adaptability. The evolution of the BNP Paribas logo tells a story of merging histories, shifting market dynamics, and the creation of a unified European financial powerhouse. The article explores the various logo changes of BNP Paribas, among other details.
The Genesis of the BNP Paribas Logo (2000 – 2007)
The original logo of BNP Paribas was unveiled at the French Open (Roland-Garros) in May 2000. It was designed by Laurent Vincent under the direction of the Communications Director Antoine Sire. The logo featured an emblem and a wordmark. The little flattened wordmark “BNP PARIBAS” was rendered using a simple and bold sans-serif typeface. The emblem to the left showed five green stars skirting the word “BNP” to appear as flying birds.
(2007 – 2009)
The star-bird symbolism from the earlier logo was placed inside a green square and depicted in white. The star-birds did not skirt the wordmark but grew smaller and were placed to its left. The typeface of the wordmark remained the same.
(2009 – Present)
In the 2009 iteration, which exists to this day, designers sought to make it three-dimensional, especially with the use of the emblem. The wordmark in black is written using a custom typeface. Here, the letters “B” and “R” have been kept open. The emblem to the left of the wordmark consists of four flying stars in white enclosed within a green square with a gradient. The stars in the emblem act as a guide to the customers, while the abstract birds convey the willingness of the employees to come to the aid of the clients.
The Elements of the BNP Paribas Logo
Font
The wordmark used in the logo of BNP Paribas is written using the Genua Sans Bold typeface created by Sergej Lebedev in 2017. The typeface is known by its uneven thickness, smooth bends, and gaps at a few strokes’ junctions.
Colour
The logo of BNP Paribas is designed using the colour combination of shades of green, black, and white. The emblem has various shades of green with a gradient, such as Bangladesh Green, Spanish Viridian, Medium Sea Green, and Green Sheen. The wordmark showing the brand name is shown in black.
Finally
The history and evolution of the BNP Paribas logo shows the journey of the bank from esteemed French institutions to a global financial leader. Its logo is recognisable across the global financial landscape. Also, the logo honours its origins and signals the bank’s enduring relevance, innovation, and promise to remain a bank for a changing world.