Print edition: 
Intrust Bank has filed a trademark infringement suit against a small Richmond, Va., credit union that serves mainly local churches and Christian-based groups.
In the suit, filed in federal court in Wichita, Intrust Bank of Wichita claims that Entrust Financial Credit Union markets itself as a nationwide financial institution. The suit contends the credit union is competing with Intrust, which operates 45 branches in Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and has a website that potentially offers banking services worldwide.
In the suit, Intrust asks the court to cancel Entrust's trademark — a logo bearing the name "Entrust" — block the credit union from using Entrust in any advertising and hand over all printed marketing material for destruction.
Intrust Bank spokeswoman Diane Iseman wrote in an e-mail Thursday that Intrust wouldn't comment on the lawsuit other than "the bank has a valuable brand that it intends to protect."
Reached Thursday, Entrust CEO Susan Adams said the bank must be confused about them.
Entrust is a credit union with a single location whose members must be employees or the family members of employees of churches and Christian organizations based in Richmond, Va.
The credit union has no national membership and isn't trying to build one, Adams said.
What appears to be provoking Intrust, Adams said, is Entrust's special website providing banking services to members who are living overseas. The site provides a full range of services, such as checking accounts, loans and credit cards. It also directs members to a worldwide network of ATMs.
"That is probably what confused them," she said.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark office understood the distinction between the two financial institutions, she said, which is why it recently awarded the credit union its trademark.
Adams is skeptical there is any potential overlap between her customers and Intrust's.
"It's very far-fetched," she said.
