PKO Bank Polski, Poland’s largest universal bank, uses one of the most recognizable corporate marks in the country: a piggy bank formed from the letters PKO. The mark was created by graphic designer Karol Śliwka in the late 1960s and has remained the core of the bank’s identity through several refinements. The current logo retains Śliwka’s piggy-bank concept while updating its color, typography and geometry for digital media.
Design and History
In the interwar period, the bank (then Pocztowa Kasa Oszczędności) had no formal logotype; documents and advertising simply used the large letters P.K.O., often accompanied by a white eagle. After World War II, the bank continued without a dedicated mark until the late 1960s, when Karol Śliwka, already an established graphic artist, designed a logotype for PKO. The project was initially shelved after an unfavorable reaction from staff, but a poster featuring the mark was entered without the designer’s knowledge in the 4th International Poster Biennale in Katowice, where it won a gold medal in 1969. From that point, the piggy bank formed from the letters PKO became the bank’s official symbol.[1]
The logo has been modified several times since. The letters, originally red, later became blue, with a dot replacing the coin. In 2000, the logotype was refreshed with lighter colors and an orange dot, and the full name “PKO Bank Polski” was set in a single typeface.[1]
A more substantial update came in 2011. The bank began a visual identity modernization in April of that year, with changes prepared by the agency White Cat Studio in close cooperation with Karol Śliwka himself.[2] The piggy bank changed from blue to a navy-black, the orange dot (symbolizing the coin) was replaced with a red one, and the “Bank Polski” wordmark was set in a new, lighter typeface. The acronym PKO was also separated from the “Bank Polski” text and integrated into the graphic mark itself.[3] The refreshed logotype was designed by Michał Łojewski.[1]
In 2025, the bank began another staged refresh of its visual identity. The new sign retains the connection to Śliwka’s iconic mark but simplifies its geometry, improves proportions and introduces a more modern, enlarged font. The characteristic blue color is replaced with black, and the spacing between the letters PKO is increased.[4][5] The change is being introduced gradually, appearing first in advertising campaigns before rolling out to branches and digital channels, in part to limit costs.[6] According to Marcin Szymkowiak, the bank’s marketing director, the previous identity was created over a decade ago for traditional media, while the new sign and typeface offer better visual effect and legibility, especially in digital environments.[6]
Earlier, more radical options were considered, including dropping the piggy bank entirely and renaming the bank to simply “Bank Polski,” which would have resolved phonetic confusion with Pekao. These plans were ultimately abandoned in favor of a more conservative refresh.[6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The piggy bank motif is a direct reference to savings, the bank’s core function. The letters P, K and O are arranged to form the shape of a piggy bank, with a dot representing a coin dropping into it.[7] In the 2011 version, the orange dot was changed to red, a more expressive color that breaks the color monotony of the mark.[8]
Typography and Design
The 2011 refresh introduced a proprietary typeface for the bank, making PKO Bank Polski the first large company in Poland to have its own custom font.[2] The 2025 update further refined the typography, with a more modern and enlarged font for the “Bank Polski” wordmark and improved letter spacing in the PKO monogram.[4]
Logo Index is an independent educational archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. All trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective owners.
