And finally…Never mind the bankers, here’s the new Virgin Money credit card

The cards, which feature artwork from the band’s Never Mind The Bollocks album and the single Anarchy In The UK are available from today in three design options.

A statement from the Edinburgh-based lender said one design includes “an eye-catching vertical design, with new technology allowing all customer personalisation (name, card number, expiry date) to be moved to the back of the card preserving the integrity of the Sex Pistols artwork and allowing it to be reproduced in full”.

The idea of a band who once sang “I am an antichrist, I am an anarchist” being used to sell credit cards may bring into question some people’s definition of integrity but the challenger bank is keen to cash in on its connection to the once controversial band that led the wave of punk rebellion in the late 1970s with loud, confrontational music and lyrics and provocative behaviour that sought to break the monotony of conventional popular culture.

A Virgin Money spokesman said: “The relationship between Sir Richard Branson and the Sex Pistols goes back 40 years. They were happy to be involved in this.”

And Michele Greene, director of cards at Virgin Money said: “For a long time now, UK banks have all been the same. They have the same products, the same services and the same attitude towards customers. At Virgin Money, we are aiming to change that.”

She continued: “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.

“New technology allows the artwork to be reproduced in full and these designs are available across our entire card range – from our market-leading balance transfer offer through to our competitive All-Round card.

“And our cards don’t just look different. They offer better value for customers too. We are one of the few card providers that always give customers the deal they see advertised when they’re accepted, not a poorer alternative, so what you see is what you get. It’s time for consumers to put a little bit of rebellion in their pocket.”

Sir Richard Branson, added: “The Sex Pistols are an iconic band and an important part of Virgin’s history. Virgin Money is a bank that can be proud of its past, and I love the fact that the team have chosen to celebrate it in this way.

“Even after nearly 40 years, the Sex Pistols power to provoke is undimmed, and we are still being asked to censor the word bollocks in our advertising. Over the years many things have changed, but in this case some attitudes clearly do not.”