In what was a gathering of corporate Nigeria, Access Bank Plc, on Sunday night in Lagos unveiled its new identity, in the aftermath of a business combination with Diamond Bank Plc, which takes off April 1, 2019.
The new identity displayed at the event is a combination of Access Bank’s colour and name with Diamond Bank’s traditional diamond shape logo in predominantly orange colours. The payoff line is: More than just a bank.
A statement by the bank said “the new visual identity fuses together the best of Access Bank and Diamond Bank. It builds on the layers of meaning that were built into two iconic brands. Diamond Bank’s was youthful, vibrant and human. Access Banks’s was trusted, global and fast.
“Bringing them together to capture the strength created through the merger meant drawing from the essence of each logo but refreshing them to create a sense of energy and forward momentum. The diamond shape is fused into the three chevrons, which radiate in all directions to create layers around a core.
“The retention of the access typeface, colour and font is complemented by the orange logo, which draws from the colour palettes of both banks.”
The statement explained further that the use of Diamond Bank’s “colour palette is further emphasised with the dominance of green in its retail application, ensuring continuity for retail customers, whilst the dominant orange in the corporate application provides the same sense of familiarity to Access Bank’s customers.
Among dignitaries at the event were the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi; Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Fola Adeola, founding chief executive of Guaranty Trust Bank and Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the immediate past chief executive of Access Bank.
Sanusi recalled how Access Bank grew from a third tier bank in 2006, to becoming the country’s biggest retail bank, noting that the feat arose from the fact that the management team was “doing things no other bank was doing.”
In a speech at the occasion, Herbert Wigwe, Group Chief Executive of the bank, expressed appreciation to the 29,000 people (staff) “who have been working day-in, day-out to build the largest retail bank in Nigeria” that the emergent Access Bank has become.
He also appreciated Aig-Imoukhuede and Uzoma Dozie, CEO of Diamond Bank for his efforts at making the merger succeed despite the challenges.
Dozie noted the desire to build a platform that goes beyond banking, noting that his path crossed those of Aig and Herbert over 25 years ago at GTBank where they were his bosses.
