diff --git a/contrib/banner/banner.py b/contrib/banner/banner.py
index 751d69de2770be7518114a6902aceeab1a65f0eb..bf621d5ff8bc0b9e95343c62d8410344b18621c1 100755
--- a/contrib/banner/banner.py
+++ b/contrib/banner/banner.py
@@ -64,15 +64,15 @@ def main(args):
 
       # Fill texts
       find_text = etree.ETXPath("//{%s}text[@id='database-text']" % (SVGNS))
-      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = unicode(banner['database'], "utf-8")
+      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = banner['database']
       find_text = etree.ETXPath("//{%s}text[@id='events-text']" % (SVGNS))
-      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = unicode(banner['events'], "utf-8")
+      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = banner['events']
       find_text = etree.ETXPath("//{%s}text[@id='senders-text']" % (SVGNS))
-      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = unicode(banner['senders'], "utf-8")
+      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = banner['senders']
       find_text = etree.ETXPath("//{%s}text[@id='receivers-text']" % (SVGNS))
-      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = unicode(banner['receivers'], "utf-8")
+      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = banner['receivers']
       find_text = etree.ETXPath("//{%s}text[@id='latest-text']" % (SVGNS))
-      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = unicode(banner['created'], "utf-8")
+      find_text(xml_data)[0].text = banner['created']
 
       # Insert values from database
       find_text = etree.ETXPath("//{%s}text[@id='database']" % (SVGNS))