EURO faces £14m Abbey review

Abbey National is reviewing its entire £14.2m advertising account out of EURO RSCG Wnek Gosper.

The bank has confirmed it is in talks with four agencies, including the incumbent, about pitching for the business. No date for a pitch has been set, but a spokesman for the company says the pitches will take place in about two months.

EURO RSCG’s below-the-line agency KLP is also facing a review of its in-store marketing and promotion account. Abbey’s direct marketing work with WWAV Rapp Collins is unaffected.

EURO RSCG has held the business for seven years and created the light-hearted Alan Davies ads, designed to show how Abbey makes banking less complicated.

The review follows the promotion in May of savings and banking director Janet Connor to retail marketing director. Connor replaced Gary Hockey-Morley who moved up to be director of business banking.

Abbey National head of marketing communications Keith Moor says: “We have always treated these [agency] relationships as strategic partners to Abbey National, which I believe has contributed to our success. However, reviews are an essential part of keeping our brand at the front of the financial services market.”

Last month the company announced it was rebranding by removing the umbrella logo from fascias, credit and debit cards and literature in a bid to modernise its image.

In the same month the Competition Commission rejected Lloyds TSB’s £18.2bn takeover bid for Abbey.