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 and pair it with Column B, like “First Choice Credit Union” or “NewView Bank.”
| COLUMN A | COLUMN B |
|---|---|
| First | 1st |
| Service | Star |
| Community | One |
| Your | Oak |
| West | View |
| North | Way |
| South | Trust |
| Financial | Financial |
| Sun | Crest |
| Premier | Advantage |
| Prime | Point |
| New | Choice |
| Members | Center |
| All | Horizon |
| Horizon | Eagle |
| Regional | United |
| New | Coast |
| Partners | Valley |
| River | Family |
| Secure | Service |
You can also switch it up and pick something from Column B first:
- Service Secure Credit Union
- Horizon First Bank
You can even pick just one word from either column and just go with that:
- Sun Bank
- Advantage Credit Union
Throw in a few terms of your own (how about “Green?”), and you can easily yield a name list with a thousand names. “Green Horizon.” “Greencrest.” “Greenview.”
Reality Check: Pick a name using words like these and you run the very real risk of getting sued and having to start over. Just because there isn’t already a financial institution in your area — even your entire state — bearing a name you like, doesn’t mean you can use it, nor does it prevent a trademark lawsuit. Someone, somewhere is using something similar.