---
title: O.C.G.A. § 7-1-130. Permissible names.
collection: code
id: 7-1-130
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 7-1-130 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/7-1-130
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/7-1-130.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/7-1-130/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t7-t8-(v5)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6386add7_0#page=92
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: BANKING AND FINANCE / FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS / DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND FINANCE AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS GENERALLY / NAMES, REGISTERED OFFICES, AND ADVERTISING
---

# O.C.G.A. § 7-1-130. Permissible names.

(a) The name of a financial institution shall not contain the words “Government,” “Official,” “Federal,” “National,” or “United States” or any abbreviation of any such words and shall not in the opinion of the department:

(1) Be indistinguishable from the corporate name of another financial institution conducting a banking business in this state as reflected in the records of the department; or

(2) Contain any word which may lead to the conclusion that the financial institution is authorized to perform any act or conduct any business which it is unauthorized or forbidden to perform by law, its articles, or otherwise.

(b) A financial institution may, without regard to subsection (a) of this Code section, use:

(1) Its name in use on April 1, 1975;

(2) A name in use on April 1, 1975, by another financial institution which is adopted by:

(A) A financial institution which is the resulting institution in a plan of merger or consolidation to which the institution using the name is a party; or

(B) A financial institution which is incorporated under this chapter in pursuance of a plan of segregating the banking business and the trust business of the institution using the name; or

(3) A name of another financial institution already transacting business with the consent of the latter institution, provided that the names are distinguishable in the records of the Secretary of State.

## History

Code 1933, § 41A-601, enacted by Ga. L. 1974, p. 705, § 1; Ga. L. 1998, p. 795, § 10.

## Cross References

Further restrictions on use of names by banks and trust companies, § 7-1-243.

Restriction on use of terms “savings and loan,” “building and loan,” § 7-1-779.

Permissible corporate names generally, § 14-2-401.

Use of corporate names by Secretary of State corporations, §§ 14-4-22, 14-4-25.