Where did the name Kasasa come from?

When we decided to create a new banking brand for our awesome checking accounts, savings accounts, and loans (all of which are only available through community banks and credit unions), we took a lot of care choosing the perfect name. Kasasa is a new way to bank that gives back to account holders in valuable ways, so “Amazing Checking” just wasn’t going to cut it. We needed a name that would break through the clutter and give people a reason to take notice.

Despite what you may think, the word “Kasasa” wasn’t the sound we heard when someone sneezed — it was actually something we thought about for a long time and consciously chose. And, yes, it’s true that a lot of people think it’s kind of silly when they first hear it, but then they start to have a lot of fun with it. You have to admit that it’s fun to say!

What Kasasa stands for

Besides being a catchy word, Kasasa is a philosophy.It’s a belief that you should get something back for entrusting a bank or credit union with your money. It’s a belief that you should be inspired by accounts that benefit you the most, and services that give you complete control over your financial life. We strongly believe that banking shouldn't just be a necessity; it should help you make the most of your hard-earned money, and that’s what Kasasa is here to do.

What we kept in mind during the brainstorming process

We wanted the new name to:

be unique and original so we can infuse our own meaning into it
work as both a noun and a verb (like how many people use the word Google
be completely different than any other banking-related word or name
be catchy; something that would be fun to say
have the energy, strength, and passion of the brand it would stand for

Contenders that didn’t live up to the brand essence

During our naming brainstorms we came up with a LOT of names. Here are just a handful of the top contenders that ultimately did not live up to the essence of our brand as well as "Kasasa." Note that some of these names may now actually be brands and companies, and some may have been during our brainstorm since we didn’t rule anything out initially so that we could get a lot of ideas.

Imagis – similar to “imagine”
Cerus – derived from the goddess of growth and cultivation—she lived in a world where money grows on trees
Ooba – very unique and similar to “uber”
Zelus – Greek god of transformation and similar to “zeal”
Epik – play on “epic”
Moja – definitely unique and begins the same as “money”

Kasasa was the grand champ

Kasasa won for many reasons: It is very unique, can take on our own meaning, it has good rhythm, could easily be a verb or noun, and is a lot of fun to say.

No matter your specific needs, Kasasa and our national network of community financial institutions are here to help you get your finances in focus, and to be proud of your money.

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