Naming Archive
6 Reality Checks About Credit Union Community Charters
For some credit unions, a community charter may be their only avenue for survival. But for all others pondering an expanded charter, they seem to dwell on starry-eyed possibilities without acknowledging some very big branding
Name Change Wrap Up for Spring 2010
In few industries do you see players change names as often as you do in the financial space. Banks change names frequently, but usually do so because of mergers, in which case one of the
Credit Unions Dropping ‘Credit Union’ From Their Names
A reader of The Financial Brand recently asked, “Is there any credit union that does not use ‘Credit Union’ in the logo?” The answer is yes. It’s an increasingly common trend as more and more
Sunova’s ‘Bank Brighter’ Brand and Big D.O.G.
In 2008, one of Canada’s larger credit unions, South Interlake in Manitoba, decided to change names and become Sunova. Why? The credit union wanted to make the organization “a little brighter with a different name
Kansas Credit Union Says ‘We’re Not Wall Street’
During the 2010 Super Bowl pregame show, The Credit Union of Johnson County ran an ad announcing its new name — Mainstreet. The new moniker is meant to align the credit union with the sensible
Analysis of Financial Name Changes in 2009
In no other industry do companies change names more often than in financial services. It’s not just due to mergers. Banks and credit unions voluntarily choose to switch monikers quite often. Below are some of
Guam Credit Union Becomes Coast360
The credit union set its logo ablaze at a special event for members and staff where the name was unveiled. (Photo credit: Rick Cruz/Pacific Daily News). Like many credit unions that expand with a community
Is It Time to Rename ‘Checking Accounts?’
Yesterday’s article about the archaic credit union term for checking accounts (“share draft accounts”) sparked a wider debate about the very future of what checking accounts should be called. As Bryan Link with Brightleaf Financial
75 Interesting Credit Union Name Changes in 2009
Callahan & Associates, the credit union industry’s leading analytics firm and publishers of CreditUnions.com, have just released their 2010 Credit Union Directory. Comparing this year’s directory against last year’s, The Financial Brand has noted 75
Credit Union Picks ‘Wildfire’ as New Name
In response to an aging membership and a decaying telephony industry in Michigan, Communications Family Credit Union announced on Monday that it is changing names and is now Wildfire. “With any name change, there’s kind
From “America’s Who?” to “ACU Who?”
America’s Credit Union went out and did some brand equity research. “We asked if people had heard of us,” said the credit union’s marketing director, Heidi Marzolf, in an interview with the News Tribune. “The
Advanta Forces Avanta to Become ‘Altana’
Bank trademark trumps credit union The erstwhile Laurel Federal Credit Union is being forced to spend more than $80,000 changing names — again — five years after becoming Avanta FCU. Last year, Advanta Bank in
Credit Union Picks ‘Aventa’ as New Moniker
Colorado Springs Credit Union has changed names and become Aventa. The credit union Nearly 40% of the credit union’s membership no longer lives in Colorado Springs, so it was time for another new name, credit
Credit Union Completes Transformation to ‘Centric’
Last year, Forest Kraft Credit Union changed names and became Centric. The credit union was looking to appeal to a broader segment of the community by differentiating themselves in a crowded financial market with a
Name Change Wrap-Up for Spring 2009
Bank runs into all kinds of trouble with ‘Cornerstone’ The bank said it needed to change names to expand beyond its geographically-limiting moniker. Unfortunately, the bank not only chose a common name — one that
Over 1,000 Names for Banks & Credit Unions… For Free!
Here’s the easy way to pick a new name for your bank or credit union…and run into some serious trademark problems while you’re at it. All you have to do is pick something from Column
A Look at Name Changes Around the Financial Industry
First National becomes ‘First American’ This banks says that changing its name to First American Bank provides distinction from the many other First National Banks in New Mexico and throughout the country. But what about
How To Look Up Your Financial Trademark in 10 Easy Steps
There are thousands of financial institutions across North America who leave some of their most valuable assets virtually unprotected. We’re talking about their trademarks — things like names, logos, slogans, products, etc. Here’s a step-by-step
The Do’s and Don’ts of CU Acronyms
Many credit unions refer to themselves internally in acronym form. Using acronyms is common industry shorthand. Everyone does in our industry, right? And when credit unions first start looking at a name change, one option
Naming SNAFUs Plague Multiple Commerce Banks
Okay, sorry, this gets a little complicated. There was a Commerce Bank in New Jersey. But earlier this year, TD Banknorth took them over. That merger created a huge naming hassle — including a lawsuit
