Nottingham Building Society Sparks Controversy with Logo Change

Nottingham Building Society has ignited a debate over “wokeism” following its decision to remove Robin Hood from its logo. The financial institution announced that the rebranding effort, which also includes changing its name from The Nottingham, aims to “celebrate financial diversity.” However, the decision has left many customers puzzled regarding the exclusion of the iconic local hero.

Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP, a former Conservative minister, commented to The Telegraph, “There’s nothing more English than the story of Robin Hood – the classic folklore legend. In today’s global financial market, building societies remain popular because they’ve largely retained a connection to local people and their regions, so ditching Nottingham’s best-known figure doesn’t seem like a wise business decision.”

Nottingham Building Society was first established on George Street in the city in 1859 and included Robin Hood in its branding since the 1980s. Brendan Clarke-Smith, a former MP and Nottingham councillor, stated, “Robin Hood is an integral part of our history and replacing him with a squiggle is akin to cutting our heritage’s heart out with a spoon. Unlike our most famous outlaw, they appear to have completely missed the target with this one.”

Social media platforms have seen reactions from the public, with one X user writing, “Go woke go broke. I will be pulling my money out.” This perspective reflects a common theme among many who are resistant to the change.

The new logo features a bright green background with a stylised “N.” In their announcement, Nottingham Building Society expressed, “We’ve mixed our rich history with a modern twist. We want to reflect society as it is today. For us, that means championing inclusivity and celebrating financial diversity. Consider it a glow-up, but for a building society, changing to make sure we’re fresh and relevant for current and future members.”

A spokesperson for the society reiterated their pride in their roots and 175-year history, noting, “We celebrate that, while recognising that people today have a much broader range of financial needs than ever before, and it is important that we evolve to meet their needs.”

This move by the Nottingham Building Society follows similar rebranding efforts by other institutions. Last year, Nationwide underwent its first significant rebrand in nearly four decades.