Don’t bank on freedom in the naming game…

Only one problem faces Richard Williams, Richard Murray and Justin Banks: the name chosen for their consultancy, Williams Murray Banks. According to our fab three, any company using the words bank, or banks, in its title is required to gain a written “opinion” regarding the name from The Bank of England, before it registers with the Department of Trade and Industry. The safeguard is designed to stop unscrupulous companies from taking money away from gullible depositors. In the case of WMB, a positive opinion would be more likely if Banks was the first or second name in the title, explains an official from London’s Threadneedle Street. But it doesn’t have quite the same ring – and a certain car manufacturer could take umbrage.

Another option was for creative partner Justin to change his surname to Mints. Work it out.