Bicontinental Boomer: Beware of Banks Bearing Gifts!

KTA!

(Know Thy Acronyms)

20 Minutes is a freebie newsrag in French-speaking Switzerland.
You know, good for the span of a single espresso in a stand-up café.
Or mopping up spilled water.

Quick news on the fly (QNOF)

Fribourg is one of those charming Swiss places, postcard pretty and dripping innocence.

The cantonal bank of Fribourg (BCF) was recently distributing black purses covered in cool-looking graffiti to new clients, no doubt to attract young first-timers, secure the bank’s future with young Fribourgeois who would grow up to be older, practical, wage-earning Fribourgeois, and so on.

A gift with a money-theme? What better than a purse or wallet, sprinkled with silly, innocuous symbols: doves, bicycles, googly-eye glasses, boom-boxes, treble clefs, cartoon characters etc.

The acronym *ACAB appeared twice on the surface of the purse. Looking cool…….?

ACAB--for those who aren’t sure stands for All Cops are Bastards.
“ An anti-police acronym..... used as a slogan and written catchphrase in graffiti, tattoos, and other imagery to protest unethical police behavior”. Thank you Wikipedia.

AHEM by BCF Ahhh, Huge, Egregious Mistake by Banque Cantonale de Fribourg

A spokesperson for the bank pleaded ignorance:

“Nous sommes vraiment désolés de cette maladresse”

“C’est une agence de communication fribourgeoise externe qui a conçu ce graphisme.”

Gag played on the innocence of bankers?

Or something a tad more subversive?

The BCF immediately withdrew the guilty purses.

Now you can exchange your naughty purse for another gift (not yet specified).

But do you really think those kids are running back to the bank?