HSBC Logo
HSBC Holdings PLC is a domiciled-in-London bank and pecuniary amenities conglomerate, classified as the planet’s 6th biggest bank by total possessions. The firm’s origins can be retraced to 1866, however, it took on its existing state in 1991, after being established by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. HSBC operates offices in 64 countries, providing its services to around 40 million users.
Meaning and history
Originating from the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation established in 1865 by Thomas Sutherland, HSBC stands as an acronym for its name, which refers to a globally recognized London-based banking and financial services corporation.
The bank, catering to the needs of the economic development of the region, was formed with the merger of The Mercantile Bank and The British Bank of the Middle East in 1959, becoming The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.
After establishing its roots in Asia, the corporation went on to expand beyond its boundaries and took the form of HSBC Holdings PLC in 1991, consolidating The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited with its British affiliate, Midland Bank. This move opened the doors to a more global reach of financial services.
With strategic acquisitions and mergers in the following years, including Household International in 2003 and The Bank of Bermuda in 2004, the company grew to become one of the most prominent banking and financial services institutions in the world. Currently, HSBC operates in over 60 countries and territories and employs a workforce of more than 226,000 people worldwide.
What is HSBC?
HSBC Holdings PLC, a financial institution and banking behemoth with its headquarters in London, holds the distinction of being the sixth largest bank globally in terms of its total assets. The bank has a long lineage, dating back to 1866 when The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation was first founded. The present-day iteration of the organization came into being in 1991, once the previously mentioned corporation amalgamated. HSBC caters to a customer base of around 40 million in 64 countries.
1863 – 1983
The inaugural emblem of HSBC boasted a regal, vintage badge replete with opulent embellishments and heraldic motifs. The petite crest was ensconced amidst a plethora of ribbons and accompanied by two rampant beasts at either side – a lion on the left and a unicorn on the right. Embossed beneath the vestments was a seascape featuring a majestic clipper and a vessel, with a triangular peak demarcating the horizon. The intricate lettering, complemented by the neat outlines of each constituent element, lent the logo a refined and aesthetically pleasing aura.
1983 – 2018
HSBC’s 1983 logo displayed an elegant font with yeat sharp serifs and tall letterforms and refined lines, accompanied by a red and white geometric emblem on the right. The emblem’s shape, resembling an open box or candy, symbolized the organization’s solidity, energy, and growth.
2018 – today
In 2018, HSBC refined the shades of its emblem and the typeface of its inscription. The red hue was deepened to enhance the logo’s overall strength and gravity, while the refined serif font was replaced by a weighty and stable sans-serif one. This modification caused the letters to shrink, allowing the image to become the centerpiece of the logo.
Color
The vivid hue of crimson is widely associated with dynamism, ardor, and initiative. When rendered in black, the emblem emphasizes sophistication and impeccability.
Font
It appears that the font used in the HSBC 2018 insignia is a serif typeface with a minimalistic design, resembling popular fonts like Times New Roman or Baskerville Old Face. In the recent redesign, the brand artists changed the script to a thick and weighty sans-serif one.
