Monday, July 29, 2013

A Logo for the Ages

I usually gripe about logos, and, it seems, especially bank logos. So if I see one that's acceptable, I feel a responsibility to note it.

I had commented on a different bank logo just the day before: "Bank logos are so bad because they have nothing to symbolize. What does a bank do that you can make an image of?"

So I was pleasantly surprised to see one where the bank got around that problem by referring to its age and connection to the community. Even better, it then created a visually pleasing, attention-getting mark to convey that concept:

I'm less crazy about the font they chose for the name. Sans serif seems right, but edging toward the pseudo-futuristic is a bit off.

The bank's tag line is "Rooted in Things that Matter." It was originally founded in 1870 as Seneca Falls Savings Bank, a perfectly good name, really.

But there's only so much a bank can do -- when you get to the fine print, it sounds just about as inhuman as the next corporation:
In March 2000, [the bank] reorganized into the two-tier mutual holding company structure. As part of the reorganization, the bank became a wholly owned subsidiary of Seneca-Cayuga Bancorp, Inc., and Seneca-Cayuga Bancorp, Inc. became the wholly owned subsidiary of Seneca Falls Savings Bank, MHC. The same directors and certain officers who manage the bank manage Seneca-Cayuga Bancorp, Inc. and Seneca Falls Savings Bank, MHC. In 2012, the bank's name and the insurance agency's name were changed to Generations Bank and Generations Agency respectively.
Seen in Auburn, New York.

No comments: