The competition’s 424 submissions were shortlisted to four finalists by a judging panel at the end of April, for inclusion in a public vote starting 27 June and closing on 8 August.

The winning design's creator raised the flag at an official launch ceremony on 28 October at Castle Hill in Cullen.

The Pantone colours for the flag are: Design A The blue boar's head in the canton is a reference to the possible origin of the name of Banffshire (thought to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word banbh meaning "piglet").

The checkered gold and black field (together with the blue of the boar) references the main colours of the official Shades of Banffshire tartan.

The gold from the tartan symbolises the county's farming and whisky industries, while the black represents the Aberdeen Angus cattle breed, originally bred and registered in Banff.