HSBC Logo PNG
The HSBC logo is designed in a modern and futuristic style. The visual mark demonstrates profitable operations that benefit customers, as well as the cleanliness and transparency of foreign exchange transactions. The benefit is supported by the idea of stability and by the impression of a large conglomerate.
HSBC: Brand overview
HSBC began in British Hong Kong in 1865. Thomas Sutherland, a Scottish executive at the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, saw that trade between Europe, India, and China was growing faster than local banking services could keep pace with. With support from 14 Hong Kong trading houses, he raised HK$5 million.
On March 3, 1865, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation opened on Queen’s Road, followed a month later by a Shanghai branch and, in July, a London office for currency operations.
By 1875, the bank operated in seven countries. It financed trade in Chinese tea and silk, Indian cotton and jute, and Philippine sugar. By 1900, under Thomas Jackson, it had reached 16 countries. It became a major bank in Asia-Pacific trade, alongside rivals such as Standard Chartered.
In 1959, HSBC bought the British Bank of the Middle East and the Mercantile Bank. In 1965, it added Hang Seng Bank, strengthening its Hong Kong base. In 1972, it created Wardley for investment banking. The US expansion began in 1980 with a 51% stake in Marine Midland Bank, fully acquired by 1987. In 1991, HSBC Holdings plc was formed. In 1992, it bought Britain’s Midland Bank for about $7.2 billion, nearly doubling the group’s assets and moving its headquarters to London in 1993.
In 1998, HSBC adopted one global brand and its red-and-white hexagon mark. In 2000, it bought Crédit Commercial de France, a French bank. In 2003, it acquired Household International, which was later hit by the 2007-2008 mortgage crisis. In 2012, HSBC admitted to US anti-money-laundering and sanctions violations, paid $1.921 billion in fines, and began implementing compliance reforms. Later, the group reduced weaker operations and refocused on Asia.
Meaning and History
Today, HSBC is one of the largest banks, with an extensive network covering more than 70 countries. Its head office is in the capital of Great Britain, and branches under a single brand serve millions of people worldwide. At first, each of them had its own logo, which indicated only the location and name. More recently, all companies have been given a single universal emblem featuring a red-and-white triangle.
What is HSBC?
HSBC is an abbreviation for Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. This is the name of one of the UK’s largest and most influential banks.
Old logo
One of HSBC’s earliest graphic marks resembled the royal coat of arms of Great Britain, with elements of the colonial coat of arms of British Hong Kong. It contained a four-sided shield, a lion, a unicorn, and leopards. At the top crowns (one on the shield, the other on the lion), at the bottom two sailing ships, including a traditional Chinese junk. Not without Latin mottos: “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE” and “DIEU ET MON DROIT”.
1983 – 2018
When the holding company expanded its network, it needed a single symbol for all branches. So, in 1983, the brand got its first universal emblem: a complex hexagon created by Austrian graphic designer Henry Steiner. The abstract shape is based on the bank’s flag and is inspired by the symbol of St. Andrew from the Scottish flag. The black lettering “HSBC” stands for “Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.” It was on the left side and consisted of serif letters.
2018 – today
To keep the bank recognizable, the designers kept its iconic logo. They only moved the abbreviation to the right, replaced the thin vintage font with a bold sans serif, enlarged the graphic element, and increased the red color’s brightness.
Font and Colors
The flag from which the hexagon was drawn looked like a white rectangle divided into four parts by diagonal lines. Henry Steiner slightly changed its design and added two triangles on the sides. Now, the geometric figure resembles an open envelope with an hourglass shape at its center. But even with these additions, the six-triangle emblem still resembles the old flags of Hong Kong companies. It also resembles the national flag of Scotland, where HSBC founder Thomas Sutherland is from.
The font for the International Banking Organization’s emblem was based on the classic Times Roman. The font Times Eighteen (without serifs) and the inscription Univers Bold are very similar to it. All letters are uppercase and proportional.
The lettering is all black, and the hexagon is made of red and white triangles. The three contrasting colors look great against a light background. If the background is dark, the text can be white or silver, as outlined in the official HSBC branding guide.
FAQ
What does the HSBC logo stand for?
The hexagonal shape made up of red and white triangles represents the bank’s flag. It is based on the cross of St. Andrew the Apostle.
When was HSBC Bank founded?
HSBC emerged in 1991, when the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation began acquiring Midland Bank. This is how HSBC Holdings plc, a financial organization, was created.
Is HSBC a PLC or a Ltd?
HSBC stands for Public Limited Company (PLC).