Barclays has had an eagle logo since 1728

As the UK bank tries to buy Netherlands group ABN Amro, the Times said Barclays was worried that its eagle might offend Dutch banking customers.

However, Barclays' link to the eagle dates back to 1728, 205 years before the Nazis came to power in 1933.

An eagle has also been used in German coats of arms for more than 800 years.

The Times reported a source close to the UK bank saying: "It is rather a Teutonic-looking eagle and has unfortunate connotations."

Barclays first adopted the eagle symbol after moving to 54 Lombard Street in the City of London in 1728.

It was last given a more modern makeover in 1999.

Takeover rival

Barclays currently has a 65bn euro ($86bn; £44bn) offer for ABN Amro on the table.

However, it faces a potential 71.1bn euro rival bid from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

RBS's offer will only proceed if it can block ABN's planned sale of US unit LaSalle to Bank of America, since that is the part of ABN that RBS most wishes to buy.

ABN shareholders have gone to court to stop the sale of LaSalle to Bank of America, saying the Dutch bank should instead back RBS's higher offer.