Trademark Class 36: Financial Services | Complete Filing Guide
Everything you need to file a trademark in Class 36. Covers banking, insurance, investment, real estate, and payment services.
Class 36 covers financial services including banking, insurance, investment, and real estate. Banks, insurance companies, and financial advisors file here.
What Class 36 Covers
Class 36 includes insurance, financial affairs, monetary affairs, and real estate affairs.
The class covers:
- Banking - Banking services, loans, credit
- Insurance - Life, health, property, auto insurance
- Investment - Investment services, fund management
- Real estate - Brokerage, property management
- Payment services - Payment processing, electronic funds
Included in Class 36
Banking:
- Banking services
- Savings accounts
- Checking accounts
- Loans
- Credit services
- Mortgage services
Insurance:
- Life insurance
- Health insurance
- Property insurance
- Auto insurance
- Business insurance
Investment:
- Investment services
- Stock brokerage
- Fund management
- Financial planning
- Retirement planning
Real Estate:
- Real estate brokerage
- Property management
- Real estate appraisal
- Leasing services
- Real estate agencies
Payment Services:
- Payment processing
- Electronic funds transfer
- Credit card services
- Mobile payments
- Cryptocurrency exchange
NOT Included in Class 36
These similar items belong in other classes:
- Accounting and bookkeeping - Class 35 (Advertising & Business)
- Legal services - Class 45 (Legal & Security Services)
- Financial software - Class 9 or 42 (Electronics/Technology)
Common Services Descriptions
Using pre-approved descriptions from the USPTO Trademark ID Manual avoids the $200 custom description surcharge.
Popular pre-approved descriptions for Class 36:
- Financial services
- Banking services
- Insurance services
- Investment services
- Real estate services
- Payment processing services
- Credit card services
Well-Known Marks in Class 36
These recognizable brands are registered in Class 36:
- Chase - Banking services
- State Farm - Insurance services
- Fidelity - Investment services
- PayPal - Payment processing
- Zillow - Real estate services
- Visa - Payment services
Filing Tips for Class 36
Fintech and Cryptocurrency
Digital financial services are Class 36:
| Service | Class |
|---|---|
| Cryptocurrency exchange | Class 36 |
| Payment processing | Class 36 |
| Financial software (SaaS) | Class 42 |
| Cryptocurrency wallet (software) | Class 9 |
Regulatory Compliance
Financial services are heavily regulated. Ensure your trademark does not make misleading claims about:
- Returns or performance
- Regulatory status
- Insurance coverage
Specimens for Financial Services
For Class 36 trademarks, acceptable specimens include:
- Website showing services offered
- Account statements
- Marketing materials
- Service agreements
Related Classes
If you are filing in Class 36, you may also need:
- Class 35: Advertising & Business - Business services, accounting
- Class 37: Construction & Repair - Property maintenance
- Class 42: Technology Services - Fintech software
- Class 45: Legal & Security Services - Legal services
Filing Fees
Current USPTO fees for Class 36 trademark applications (2025):
| Filing Type | Fee per Class |
|---|---|
| Electronic filing (ID Manual description) | $350 |
| Electronic filing (custom description) | $550 |
| Paper filing | $1,000 |
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