Deutsche Bank Logo

Deutsche Bank Logo PNG

A securely sealed safe and ATM embody the Deutsche Bank logo. The emblem evokes a sense of security and stability in customers. Symbols are like powerful pillars that cannot be broken or hacked. Only the one who has the access code will be able to open the door.

Meaning and History

Deutsche Bank logos indirectly reflect the history of Germany because global events influenced its formation. The modern symbol known as “Slash in a Square” is considered one of the most famous financial industry. Its appearance was preceded by other signs – mainly in the form of an eagle or a monogram.

What is Deutsche Bank?

Deutsche Bank is a German investment bank and financial company headquartered in Frankfurt. It appeared in 1869, and it has become an international structure with a permanent presence in 58 countries, including Asia, America, and Europe. It consists of four basic departments, which oversee the basic activities of the bank.

1870 – 1918

Deutsche Bank was founded in 1870 by several bankers and politicians. Its emblem looked like the coat of arms of Deutsches Reich, the German state that existed from 1871-1918. It showed an imperial eagle with its wings spread and its head turned to the left. One version contained white details, and the second was completely black, except for the light coat of arms on the bird’s chest.

1919 – 1928

Disconto-Gesellschaft is a part of the modern Deutsche Bank, which was founded in 1851. They merged in 1929, and until then, one of the largest financial institutions in Germany used the logo with the monogram “DG” inside the ring.

1929 – 1930

When Deutsche Bank and Disconto-Gesellschaft became one, the design of the eagle changed. The artists made the bird white, changed its shape, and removed the coat of arms. Then the company received the double name Deutsche Bank und DiscontoGesellschaft.

1930 – 1946

In the mid-1930s, the bank updated the logo again. The eagle was replaced by the monogram “DB” in an oval. This variation was similar to the old Disconto-Gesellschaft brand name.

1947 – 1952

After Second World War, the financial institution was on the verge of ruin. Because of this, as well as for political reasons, it was divided into ten parts. Each autonomous structure received its symbol, created in the style of the Deutsche Bank logo. This is how a whole series of monograms of the same type in ovals appeared. The letters were taken from regional organizations’ names – for example, BCB, NWB, NB, HB, or DB.

1952 – 1957

In 1952, ten small services merged into three large firms: Rheinisch-Westfälische Bank AG, Süddeutsche Bank AG, and Norddeutsche Bank AG. They continued to use the same logos, but the design changed:

1. The ovals are gone.
2. Abbreviations began to be written in a line, without interlacing letters.
3. A semicircular ornament in ribbed rims of coins appeared on the top and bottom.

1957 – 1973

In 1957, the three successor institutions merged to revive the classic Deutsche Bank. Together with him returned his old symbol of 1930: the monogram “DB” in a white oval with a black outline.

1974 – 2009

The executives decided to revamp the bank’s visual identity to highlight its international presence. To this end, they organized a competition for the best logo in 1972, promising all the contestants 3,000 German marks. Eight graphic artists took part in the competition, including Coordt von Mannstein, Armin Hofmann, and Anton Stankowski. On February 6, 1973, an expert jury headed by designer Jupp Ernst announced the winner. It turned out to be Anton Stankowski with his square diagonal line. The triumphant received 100 thousand marks for his work.

First, the brand name was presented to employees in its magazine Deutsche Bank, and only then the company publicly advertised it at the annual press conference. So in April 1974, the world saw for the first time the iconic symbol with which the German financial sector is now associated.

But not everyone liked the simple design. The media wrote that Stankowski was “an artist who earned 100,000 marks with five strokes.” However, this did not correspond to the truth because his studio submitted nine projects to the competition at once. Among them were different variants with the letters “DB.”

2010 – today

After a minor redesign, the “DEUTSCHE BANK” label disappeared, and the square and forward slash turned blue. The new logo conceptually continues the old one because it is one of the most famous finance trademarks.

Font and Colors

Stankowski painted pictures in the past and often experimented with oblique lines. It was his favorite motif and eventually became the basis of the current Deutsche Bank logo. The designer admitted that he did not put a specific meaning into geometric abstraction, and everyone can interpret it in their way. At the same time, he compared the diagonal stripe with growth dynamics and called the square a symbol of security. Development and stability – this is exactly what customers expect from a bank.

In 2010, the company decided to focus on the icon to be used in any context without being tied to language. A little earlier, against Anton Stankowski’s wishes, there was a word sign next to the geometric figures. It was “DEUTSCHE BANK” in the Univers font, which became famous after the Munich Olympics. Right now, the logo only has a diagonal line and a square border. They are colored blue (shade # 0018A8).

Deutsche Bank color codes