Wednesday, 09 Jan 2019 16:30 GMT

Fear of alienation from bank billboard

HSBC has caused a stir with its latest advertising campaign, which includes billboards and posters that have created a talking point on social media.

The bank’s latest ad campaign centres around the United Kingdom not being an island, but a part of something wider – the world. However, some have called the adverts ‘anti-Brexit’ and believe that HSBC is snubbing the decision to leave the European Union.

Britain is due to begin its exit from the EU next month, and HSBC’s campaign has been accused of being anti-Brexit because of the words that have been used.

The poster reads: “We are not an island. We are a Columbian coffee drinking, American movie watching, Swedish flat-pack assembling, Korean tablet tapping, Belgian striker supporting, Dutch beer cheers-ing, Tikka Masala eating, wonderful little lump of land in the middle of the sea. We are part of something far, far bigger.”

We are not an island. We are a Columbian coffee drinking, American movie watching, Swedish flat-pack assembling, Korean tablet tapping, Belgian striker supporting, Dutch beer cheers-ing, Tikka Masala eating, wonderful little lump of land in the middle of the sea. We are part of something far, far bigger

While some may feel that people are looking too much into this, HSBC has also moved its Polish and Irish subsidiaries from its London base to France, ahead of Brexit. However, it has committed to keeping its global headquarters in London, after considering a move in 2016.

Some are afraid that during this tense time, members of the public may feel alienated by the billboards.

There are also a number of different versions of the words that appear on signage and billboards in cities across the UK, including Manchester and Leeds.



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