Trademark restrictions

​The Canadian Intellectual Property Office processes applications for trademarks in Canada under the Trademarks Act. However, a proposed trademark may include words that are restricted by other legislation in Canada.

Our role in trademark requests

OSFI is responsible for administering trademark restrictions under the Bank Act. These restrictions cover both identifying marks including any trademark, logo or acronym.

Restricted words

Words that are restricted under the Bank Act include:

• bank
• banker
• banking

Other words (such as banc, mybank, and bancorp) may also be restricted.

You can use restricted words in a trademark or other identifying mark only if at least one of the following applies:

• you’re a bank listed in Schedule I or II of the Bank Act (see the list of domestic banks and foreign banks under Who we regulate)
• one of the exceptions available under the Bank Act applies

Exceptions may be available

One type of common exception is the non-financial activity exception. This is for businesses, such as blood banks and food banks, who can use “bank” in their names, since their business activities aren’t financial in nature.

Contact us for more information

If you’d like more information about trademark restrictions, please contact us by email or regular mail.

name-denomination@osfi-bsif.gc.ca

For more information

• Advisory 2017-01 – Restrictions on the use of the words “bank”, “banker” and “banking”
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• Trademarks Act