A spokesman for Barclays said the brand update included a new Barclaycard logo and was part of its attempt to create a consistent brand identity across the portfolio.

"If the Barclays Group wishes to print any printed item then the print management contract with Communisis means it will be handled by ourselves," said Communisis executive director, Denise Moran.

Communisis signed a five-year group strategic partnership contract with Barclays in 2002, to provide an end-to-end print management service.

Edotech, now part of Astron Document Solutions, signed a seven-year outsourcing contract with Barclays Group in 2003, worth up to 150m until 2010. Under the arrangement Astron provides personalised, colour print and electronic billing.

The re-branding process has involved the creation of a new Expert Sans typeface family for Barclays, designed by Monotype, who were responsible for its previous Barclay Sans typeface.

The process commenced in April and the implementation of the new identity is expected to take a year. A phased approach will be adopted for the introduction of new printed matter with regards to its printed. As old style stocks run out, new ones will be ordered.

The identity will appear on transactional matter such as statements, chequebooks, letterheads, brochures and point-of-sale material.

Story by Andy Scott