Metropol

Somebody somewhere will find this interesting. Maybe.

<Anorak hood up>

I was out in Belfast tonight and noticed that the Ulster Bank (formerly part of NatWest Bank Group and now RBS) opposite Queen's Uni has had a little makeover. The font has changed (again) and the logo, which is covered badly by some flimsy plastic on the frontage, is no longer the old NatWest logo but that of RBS. Perhaps the attempt to hide it is ahead of some grand announcement which will interest at least three people - and I would've been one of them cos I'm sad enough to notice these things.

Two things:
Are NatWests in England and Wales losing their old logo?
Are NatWests in Scotland being rebranded as Royal Bank of Scotland?

<Anorak hood down again... goes off whistling>

Thank you.

NatWest has only recently completed its rebranding from "National Westminster Bank" to NatWest; my branch of NatWest still has the old-school serifed typeface on the backboard behind the reception desk welcoming me to my branch, and you can still see the outline from where they removed the old logo.

I'd be very surprised if they were to now change it all to RBS branding, especially as NatWest is such a well-known - and dare I say it, loved? - brand. Well, it's familiar anyway, one of those institutions the world would collapse and die without.

NatWest should change it's name. It's silly, because I used to live with a girl called Natalie West at Uni, and she thought it was amazing that she had the same name as her bank.

Yes James, that is *EXACTLY* why NatWest should change their name.

Seriously though, I wouldn't have thought they'd throw away such a good brand, particularly in England where I can imagine many wouldn't want their bank to be associated with them on the other side of the border. I personally bank with NatWest and find them to be excellent, I wouldn't want them to change a thing about their current services.

The best Natwest I've ever been to is the one at Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay. It's modern, clean, light, spacious, friendly staff and hardly ever a long queue for the cashier.

I also have a business account with HSBC, and they've screwed me over so many times, I'm seriously considering moving all my bank accounts to NatWest.

The worst NatWest I've been into... Pembroke Main St. It's dark, dingey, small, cramped and has paint peeling off the walls. I wish all branches were presented to the same high standard as the one next to me here in Cardiff Bay.

I was once served by a (rather cute) guy in the Natwest near me who asked me for my number, saying they needed to call me about something (he didn't say what). They never rang, although I know they already have my number anyway. How queer.

Jamez wrote:NatWest should change it's name. It's silly, because I used to live with a girl called Natalie West at Uni, and she thought it was amazing that she had the same name as her bank.

Well, my brother Wes, has just married a girl called Nat! LOL! Nat and Wes! Almost! The irony being he works for Barclays!

A.J.A. wrote:Two things:
Are NatWests in England and Wales being losing their old logo?
Are NatWests in Scotland being rebranded as Royal Bank of Scotland?

I work in one of the marketing departments at RBS/NatWest.

There are no plans to rebrand the personal banking operation of NatWest in England and Wales, nor in Scotland (although there are only three branches north of the border, so it wouldn't make much difference).

That's unless someone at the top changes their mind, of course...

Oscar wrote:I work in one of the marketing departments at RBS/NatWest.

There are no plans to rebrand the personal banking operation of NatWest in England and Wales, nor in Scotland (although there are only three branches north of the border, so it wouldn't make much difference).

That's unless someone at the top changes their mind, of course...

There's actually 6 in Scotland - Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Strathclyde University, Edinburgh and Edinburgh University. Still, nothing compared to the mammoths RBS and HBOS, who have branches all over the place.

Just something worth noting. I passed a 'Household Bank' - that was all it said on the sign, when I was walking from my new flat to the city centre in Edinburgh the other day. Anyone ever heard of this before? and/or know anything about them?

** Edit - seems they're owned by HSBC. Hmm. Anyone bank with them then?

scottishtv wrote:Just something worth noting. I passed a 'Household Bank' - that was all it said on the sign, when I was walking from my new flat to the city centre in Edinburgh the other day. Anyone ever heard of this before? and/or know anything about them?

** Edit - seems they're owned by HSBC. Hmm. Anyone bank with them then?

According to their website, they only offer loans, credit cards and insurance products.