Never mind the bollocks… ‘we are the Sex Pistols of banking,’ claims Virgin Money

Virgin Money has launched an exclusive range of Sex Pistols-themed credit cards as the banking brand celebrates the iconic punk band 38 years after it first signed to Virgin Records. The move isn’t a gimmick but representative of the financial brand’s “quest to shake up UK banking,” according to Virgin Money’s marketing director Paul Lloyd.

The cards – which will come in three different designs, including Never Mind The Bollocks branding, and feature customer personalisation details on the back of the card to protect privacy and let the Sex Pistols artwork take centre stage – are part of a wider effort to “disrupt the status quo” of financial marketing.

Lloyd told Marketing Week: “We are proud that we are building a very different kind of bank and this is about so much more than promotion.

“This is about disruptive promotion, backed by a great product set and wider customer-focused attitude.”

Referencing the start of Virgin Money’s recent There’s Money and There’s Virgin Money’ campaign, which featured dancing animals, Lloyd said the brand shares similarities with the Sex Pistols.

“Virgin Money identifies with punk rock. The Sex Pistols challenged the established ways of thinking and we are doing the same today in our quest to shake up UK banking,” he added.

The credit cards aren’t the first time the Pistols have lent their image to a British brand. Outspoken lead singer John Lydon regularly appeared in ads for butter brand Country Life.

Defending his appearances back in 2009, Lydon said the ads were not proof of “soul selling” as they helped fund a tour for his band PiL and successfully promoted the British dairy industry.

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