Commonwealth Bank Logo PNG
An amazing, graceful dance shows the Commonwealth Bank logo as a dancer performs a pas, demonstrating that a bank with filigree skills can manage finances. The emblem promises only pleasant emotions from cooperation.
Commonwealth Bank was created as Australia was building its federal institutions. On December 22, 1911, Andrew Fisher’s Labor government passed the Commonwealth Bank Act, with King O’Malley’s backing. The bank opened its first branch on Collins Street in Melbourne on July 15, 1912, with 12 employees. Through Australia Post offices, it reached remote towns and rural customers. In 1912, it absorbed the State Savings Bank of Tasmania, and by 1913, it had branches in all six states.
During World War I, the Commonwealth Bank arranged the first government war loan in 1916 and later financed veteran housing and rehabilitation programs. In 1920, banknote issue moved from the Treasury to a note board inside the bank. That year, it merged with Queensland’s state savings bank. After World War II, it served as Australia’s de facto central bank while continuing to operate as a commercial lender.
The Reserve Bank Act 1959 split the institution into the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Commonwealth Banking Corporation. The new central bank opened on January 14, 1960. In the 1960s, CBA was the first Australian bank to use computers for banking operations. In the 1970s and 1980s, it introduced Bankcard, Keycard, ATMs, and EFTPOS. In 1991, CBA acquired the failed State Bank of Victoria and began privatization, which was completed in 1996.
In 2000, it merged with Colonial Limited. In 2008, during the financial crisis, it bought Bankwest from HBOS for A$2.1 billion. Today, Commonwealth Bank is part of Australia’s Big Four with National Australia Bank, ANZ, and Westpac.
Meaning and History
The financial institution has had five logos in its history, with the first based on the Australian coat of arms and the last two differing only in font and palette. The design change is due to the company updating its corporate identity several times, sometimes for marketing purposes and sometimes for restructuring. The last major redesign came after the privatization of the Commonwealth Bank. In 2020, experts made only slight corrections to the logo, adding depth.
What is Commonwealth Bank?
Commonwealth Bank is a large Australian financial conglomerate, a member of the “Big Four” banks.
1911 – 1960
The Labor government created the CBA, so its early logo resembled Australia’s coat of arms. In the center was a heraldic shield divided into six parts. Each segment contained the emblem of one of the six states (from left to right): a cross, a Southern Cross with a crown, an eight-pointed Maltese cross, a shrike, a swan, and a lion. The Commonwealth Star was depicted above the shield. Its six rays represented the states, and the seventh represented the country’s entire territory.
Kangaroos and emu, traditional Australian animals, supported the shield. The bottom was decorated with two branches of blooming acacia and a ribbon with the inscription “OF AUSTRALIA.” The first half of the name (“COMMONWEALTH BANK”) was at the top and formed an arch. This logo existed until 1960. In 49 years, it changed only once: the designers slightly corrected it in 1926.
1950 – 1961
In the 1950s, CommBank had a round blue CBA badge. It never became the main emblem but was used informally on some facades and stationery. The main symbol was still a coat of arms with a shield.
1961 – 1991
In 1960, the financial organization was split into two structures. This is how a group of savings and merchant banks called the Commonwealth Banking Corporation was born. She received a new logo depicting the Australian continent. The white contour map was in a black circle, from which three rings diverged to the right. They personified three divisions of the corporation: CDB, CTB, and CSB.
All elements have been placed within a large dark-gold circle. Its color symbolizes luxury and wealth. The name “Commonwealth Bank of Australia” formed a ring around the logo. The first two words were separated by a seven-sided star, which had the same meaning as on Australia’s coat of arms.
1991 – 2020
In 1991, the privatization of CommBank began. Shortly before that, he incorporated the State Bank of Victoria, thereby creating a unified group. The new owners decided to fundamentally change the CBA style, especially after 1987, when it became clear that customers considered it old-fashioned. This is how the Diamond logo appeared, the result of Ken Cato’s long work. The designer made the dark yellow part resemble the Southern Cross constellation, and a small black corner gave the figure a diamond shape.
At the bottom was a compact inscription. There was no gap between the Commonwealth and the Bank. Only the font separated them: the first word was bolder than the second. Simultaneously, “mm” appeared to be a single letter because the two letters shared a common horizontal line. All of this symbolized the community with which the community was associated.
2020 – today
In 2020, CBA updated its logo for the fifth time. A major rebranding was planned several years before the event, but executives were waiting for the right moment. They decided 2020 was the best time to change, so they contacted M&C Saatchi and Re for help. They needed to keep the diamond but make it more optimistic. The designers solved this problem by removing the black corner and using a bright yellow palette. The gradient added dynamics to the static image. The bank’s name began to be written in a single font.
Font and Colors
The iconic diamond is so recognizable that the Commonwealth Bank often uses it in advertisements without mentioning its name. According to the designers, this geometric figure represents the Southern Cross constellation, with one star at each of the five corners of the yellow polygon.
The owners of the financial institution are sure that the diamond-shaped emblem represents only the Commonwealth Bank and has nothing to do with the Southern Cross. In their opinion, the diamond’s shape was chosen solely because it was not associated with other banks.
The previous logo used two variants of the Helvetica font: plain and bold. In 2020, designers unified typography by adopting a single custom typeface. Judging by the letter shapes, it appears to be based on the Helvetica family.
The former orange-black diamond now has several shades of yellow, symbolizing optimism. The smooth gradient makes the image appear three-dimensional and dynamic, which aligns with the new CBA concept.
FAQ
What is the Commonwealth Bank symbol?
The brand’s symbol is a black-and-yellow diamond. Ken Cato designed this well-known logo in Australia.
The shape and color of the diamond are easy to recognize. Black and yellow stand out, making the logo memorable. Its simple design has made it an effective symbol over time.
The diamond logo is central to the bank’s image and credibility in the financial world, helping people recognize and trust the bank.
What does the Commonwealth Bank logo mean?
The logo represents the Southern Cross constellation, which is an important part of Australian culture. Each corner of the yellow diamond symbolizes one of the stars of the Southern Cross.
This choice connects the brand to Australia’s heritage. The logo’s bright, easily recognizable black-and-yellow colors and simple design provide a modern, durable look.
The logo’s connection to the Southern Cross shows the bank’s Australian roots. This symbol makes the brand memorable and credible to customers, strengthening its presence in the financial sector.
Why did CommBank change its logo?
The bank updated its logo to demonstrate its new strategy and signal a fresh start. The main change was transforming the black corner of the diamond into yellow. This made the logo more optimistic and bright. The refresh aligned the brand’s visual identity with its new goals.
The bank aimed to project a positive image and improve customer communication by changing its logo. This transformation has helped the brand remain relevant and attractive in a competitive market.
When did the Commonwealth Bank change its logo?
The brand changed its logo in 2020 as part of a global rebranding effort. The bank worked with Re Agency and M&C Saatchi to make these changes.
The rebranding aimed to update the bank’s identity and modernize its image. The brand wanted to reflect its new strategy and improve customer communication by updating the logo. The involvement of Re Agency and M&C Saatchi ensured a smooth, professional transformation of the brand’s visual identity.
How much did the Commonwealth Bank logo cost?
The bank spent a lot of money on its new logo. The brand considered it crucial to connect with customers and improve its image.
These expenses were part of a strategy to renew and modernize the bank’s market presence. By updating the logo, the brand sought to strengthen its connection with customers and show its new direction. This investment underscores the brand’s importance of visual uniqueness in attracting customers.