Branson’s bank puts punk on credit cards

‘PUNK in your pocket’ is how Virgin Money is marketing its new series of credit cards emblazoned with the boundary-pushing artwork of the Sex Pistols.
Eyebrows have been raised by the unveiling of three cards featuring the iconic record sleeves designed by anarchist artist Jamie Reid, including the famed ‘Never Mind…’ album, punk swear word still featured uncensored, and the ‘Anarchy in the UK’ single.
It’s perhaps the biggest sign of the corporatisation of punk’s once counter culture since Sex Pistol John Lydon started advertising butter and Iggy Pop fronted an insurance campaign.
Virgin Money say the branding allows “consumers to put a little bit of rebellion in their pocket”. The online bank’s director credit cards, Michele Greene, said: “In launching these cards, we wanted to celebrate Virgin’s heritage and difference. The Sex Pistols challenged convention and the established ways of thinking – just as we are doing today in our quest to shake up UK banking.”
The cards come with 18.9 per cent APR – that’s anarchist punk rebellion.