Citigroup Sells Red Umbrella Logo to St. Paul†

Citigroup got rid of its well-used red umbrella, but is hanging onto its red arch.

Wall Street Journal, February 14, 2007 — As part of a world-wide rebranding effort by the big bank, Citigroup Inc. reached a deal to sell the iconic umbrella logo to St. Paul Travelers Cos. — reuniting it with Travelers, which has been identified with the umbrella since the late 1800s. St. Paul, which bought the Travelers property-and-casualty business — minus the distinctive logo — for $16.4 billion in 2004, said it plans to rename itself Travelers Cos., switch its ticker symbol to TRV from STA and once again use the umbrella to market products around the globe.

Travelers Reunites With Red Umbrella†

Buys Back Logo From Citigroup After Nearly a Decade

Advertising Age, February 13, 2007 — In an attempt to shoo away the ducks, geckos, cavemen, good hands and good neighbors bombarding its would-be customers, Travelers Insurance has repurchased its signature red umbrella from Citigroup.

Just ‘Citi’ as the Brand, and a Folded Umbrella

New York Times, January 15, 2007 — Citigroup, the global banking giant, is shrinking — but only its name. Executives are prepared to rebrand the company "Citi" and to fold up its familiar red umbrella and instead use a logo with a stylized arc above the name.