People, People who sue People

Bank pres.Peoples Federal Savings Bank, a small chain of Boston neighborhood banks that has survived more than 100 years, today filed suit against an upstart competitor that is opening branches across Massachusetts called People's United Bank.

In the trademark-infringement suit, filed in US District Court in Boston, Peoples Federal basically argues that it was here first and that the new bank should find something else to call itself. Oh, and pay Peoples Federal a lot of money for the "irreparable injury" it's caused.

Peoples Federal, which has offices in Brighton, Allston, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and Norwood (with three additional ATMs in Brighton and Watertown), was founded in 1888 and has used "Peoples" as part of its name since 1937. People's United, which has branches in six states, was formed in 2009, when some Connecticut-based bank bought a Vermont bank. In 2010, it acquired banks in eastern Massachusetts.

Complete complaint.

Ed. note: Also, Peoples Federal President Thomas Leetch just looks like he was born to be a bank president, doesn't he? For what it's worth, we're Peoples Federal customers.