The first product to be released with an “i” name was the iMac, 18 years ago. For many it marks a turning point for Apple. While it didn’t happen overnight, it marked the beginning of a long run of “i” names in Apple’s product line. Remember iDVD and iPhoto? And of course the iPod, iBooks and iWork? While there are a few Apple products still embracing the iNames (iPhone and iPad come to mind), the nomenclature had its run and, quite frankly, is feeling old.
iBank was first released 13 years ago and, at the time, the name “iBank” was perfect. But over the last few years a couple things have nagged at us. First, iApp names have felt dated and too tied to Apple. Second, we were never able to secure the iBank dot com domain. Third, the word “iBank” is used internationally to describe a type of money transfer, e.g. “you can just iBank me that payment”. And fourth, “iBank” is sometimes used as an abbreviation for investment bank. This all builds up to a steep hill to climb to truly own the name of our products.
So today we are announcing the end of the iBank name and the beginning of our new name for our apps: Banktivity. If you are scratching your head wondering how this name came about, it’s rather simple. It has the same core, “bank”, which we love and then it comes from joining “bank” and “activity” — Banktivity. Yeah, say it out loud, it’s OK. It’s hard to get used to a new name, it might feel foreign, that is all very normal. But say it a few more times and let it sink in, and before you know it, it will become second nature.
Banktivity
(You can say it again out loud.)
From this point going forward, new releases of our apps will use the name Banktivity. We are keeping the version numbers the same to help with any potential confusion. Specifically, our apps will be renamed the following:
iBank 5 for Mac -> Banktivity 5 for Mac
iBank for iPhone -> Banktivity for iPhone
iBank for iPad -> Banktivity for iPad
iBank Investor -> Banktivity Investor
This is a big change: we expect these names to carry us far into the future and hopefully we won’t ever feel the need to change them again. You will begin seeing these new names roll out in our products over the next two days.
Before I go, I want to be clear about something. This name change in no way signals some other cultural shift at IGG. We are still producing the same great apps, with the same dedicated team working hard to bring you the best personal finance software for Mac and iOS.
Here’s to 12 great years served by iBank and to an even brighter future for Banktivity!
-Ian
- Continuing Investments in Direct Access - February 26, 2024
- Banktivity 9: The Little Changes - September 8, 2023
- Retiring services for older versions of Banktivity - August 11, 2023
I have to agree with a lot of the other posts on here that I think the original name ‘iBank’ was a far better name for your product. Not sure what consultation or feedback you sought from your existing user base before making this bold decision to rename to Banktivity. Personally I think you are going to weaken your position by this renaming.
I have to say I do enjoy the iBank (Banktivity) products, I use then across my iPhone, Mac and iPad. I would love to see some more features though that would enhance the products even further. I would particularly like Classes added. I use this feature heavily when I used MS Money for sub-classifying spending on various business products. I think there would be a lot of your existing and potential new users would would find a similar Classes feature very useful.
Again touching on what some other posts have said a wider range of reports and comparison reports would also be very useful.
I am also a fan of iBank, using it for the last 4 years daily. As a caveat, I like the fact it is tied to Apple. If the goal is to sell it to a non Apple platform, that doesn’t help me. When I downloaded Banktivity, my accounts would not update. I have removed it and am working with the older version. I hope this isn’t a harbinger of things to come. I am loyal to Apple and iBank and hate to change.
Can we add ability to search any page, ledger, report. That would be really helpful at times. Currently you cannot do that on every window iBank… er, I mean Banktivity has to offer. Custom reports would be helpful too (really customizable with any variable or parameter in the database). Also, I don’t mind the name change.
Bad name. There’s a reason why so few words in English begin with a syllable that ends in K, followed by a syllable that begins with T. Too hard to say.
I think the name change is a bad one. You should never use a product name that is difficult to say. What I really wish you would spend more time on improving you product, specifically add truly customizable reports. The report capability of this program is terrible to the point that I keep thinking of changing to something else. You have had 13 years to address this very basic need and still have not done it justice.
I wholeheartedly agree with you James. Reporting needs many enhancements. It’s one of the biggest weaknesses in “Banktivity” and, as you point out, has been ignored for far too long.
I have used iBank forever. Love the product. I hate the new name. It sounds pompous and forced. iBank was old school and trustworthy. Nothing wrong with having history.
I don’t mind the name change as long as I can have an easy to use program! I really loved Quicken 2007 for Mac but the new versions are terrible! ibank/banktivity has been an easy change, except the reports have been a bit disappointing and have taken some getting used to. Customizable reports would be helpful. Thanks for the wonderful customer support when I have had questions getting up and running!
Not too impressed with the new name guys, sounds like a child’s toy or game. Perhaps you should have run a little contest to solicit a new name from the people who use it and love it.
I switched from Quicken to iBank when iBank came out. The name was part of the reason I switched. I love your product and will continue to use it, even though you switched to a very crummy name. To tell you the truth, if I was searching for new banking software, with this new terrible name, I would not give your product a second look. I hope the name change does not diminish your sales, because I want to continue using “bank.” (in my mind I am not giving up on the old name.)
Love the software, don’t really care what it’s called. Keep up the good work.
Ditto!
I don’t care about the name, but do endorse the earlier comments about the need for more flexibility in creating reports. Also please add an option to increase the font size (across the entire interface) for us older guys.
I appreciate you guys but honestly couldn’t help it just started laughing.
Soooo, any chance for an Android client now that the name is less Apple oriented?
😛
Not a really bad name could be better “IggMoney” would have been better. As a long time MS Money user ( I still feel the sad loss of one of the most sophisticated apps ever released) I came to iBank/Banktivity which is good but could be better. Split transactions are clunky, reports are ok but not as good as in MS Money, Worse thing is you cannot merge or amend a payee.. You have put it on your list but COME ON this is basic stuff ….Get these done before worrying about a name. And we need more updates to the app with newer better user friendly features less clunkiness Sadly lacking here
Yes please – merge and amend payees – come on guys!
You guys keep getting better and better! Rock on!
iBank was fine. Adding some Quicken reporting features for managing investments would have been more useful. Have given you this input many times in the past.
hire someone to give lessons on YouTube. I am new to iBank and Mac and need all the help I can get
Not sure about the new name, but I’ll probably get used to it – anything, as long as I don’t ever have to go back to Quicken. Would like to see more functionality rather than a new name, specifically an automatic backup to a location of your choosing.
The Bard stated “a rose by any other name…. However, that doesn’t apply to this change. I disagree that “i” nomenclature translates to a dated – especially since you have developers continuing to update the app. I use this app every day and will miss the “old” name.
I would have preferred to have IGG concentrate on correcting bugs and adding long requested enhancements to their products, rather than spend time noodling about names. That would better serve existing customers, whereas changing the product name seems to be a marketing ploy designed to attract new customers.
I like “iBank” a lot. Not sure why you have to fix what is not broken. Lets face it, it does run on a lot of “i” devices. “i” is the connection to Apple devices. I guess it is your software and you can do with it what you want.
I think the change is intuitive and it came at the time when no one else did it. Congratulations on your innovative decision.
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)
dont change the name…. add more features, annual budgeting capabilities, more elaborate reports. I just started using ibank again after switching back to quicken after Ibank4. iam back here and was wondering if you are going to release a new version soon? if i buy Ibank5 and you have new version in a few moths do i upgrade for free or whats your policy?
Prior to iBank I used Microsoft Money 2000. I hate to say it, but the reporting in MS Money 2000 is still better than what passes for reporting in iBank (sorry, Banktivity!).
You have had more than a decade to get this sorted. What use is any of my transactional data if I can’t write any reports to get at it?
I’d really love for your next release to contain nothing but an entire update to the Reporting Engine.
Great new name – and thank you for the background on the name change!
Good luck with everything in 2016!!
Agree the name should change. It’s lost in the noise as iBank. Banktivity is strong once get used to it.
You have a GREAT service. I’ve tried every service like this for years. Love the way I can categorise on the go. And an amazing job of handling transfers between accounts cleverly.
Que?
Change for change’s sake.
I have never heard anybody say, ‘I’ll iBank that to you’, ever.
I always felt that the ‘i’ in iBank stood for ‘internet’ but also, ‘I’; ‘I bank’.
You talk as if iPads, iPhones and iPods are remnants of a bygone age; I think that there will still be iPads, iPhones and iPods when your next rebranding brainwave happens.
Banktivity sounds like something a bunch of people who have never sat at a computer without supervision might have come up with.
Seems to me that the only real reason is that you couldn’t get ibank.com and haven’t got over the fact that .coms are a bit passé.
But hey! Create your own adage, ‘the customers are always wrong’.
Sorry guys, have to agree. The ‘i’ prefix still works in the UK! The app is cool, but still scores about 40% against MSMoney. For me, the most valuable change would be an option to open the app with accounts showing today’s date. I store about a year’s transactions in to the future as a primitive budget, but you have to scroll back to today every time the app opens. Agree comments on reports too and the posting future transactions routine is clunky.
I would have preferred “Bankivity” – the fusion of Bank and Activity. Banktivity is too hard to pronounce.
My wife and I love your product! Thank you for completing us! In regards to the name, I am a marketing expert and think that having a brand you can own is important. At the end of the day it is all about the product and the customer. We are excited to see what is ahead for you all. We are hooked!
Appreciate the software, use almost every day. Keep up the good work! Don’t care what it is called.
Such a dreadful name but still a very good product. Why do Americans produce great IT products but mess with the English language to produce awful names? So lots of people use the term iBank. So what? Hoover and Kleenex didn’t mind their brand names becoming a generic name for vacuum cleaners and tissues respectively.
I note a number of people want to see improvements all I would like to see is an ability to customise the reports more e.g. leave out some of the graphics and I would also like to be able to use my language – cheque and not check. I live in hopes but am grateful for the product.
unfortunately have to agree with some earlier posts – name sounds forced and too complicated. Not a good sales pitch.
Also agree – search should be widened and better defined and reports need some help.
I have enjoyed all the comments. First reaction when I got the notice to download a new upgrade was a belief I was being hacked. I had to investigate the name change so I could feel comfortable downloading. As long as it works I don’t care if you call it iSore. Many things I like, but reporting and budgeting are lacking.
I believe the name change would find broader acceptance if it were accompanied by a major new update that added the features customers have been requesting. I understand the issue in owning a generic brand name that is tough to protect, but customers identify with brands and don’t like to see name changes that don’t benefit them in any tangible way.
have in the past regularly updated the app . have now 5.6.4 tried to update to 5.6.5 but update for some reason does not work . the app keeps on asking me to download where I already did it 3 times , dragged the update to applications as before , replace the file as asked , and then nothing happens . when i restart the app , nothing has changed . never happened before with previous updates. what to do next ? pls. advise . thks
Thanks for fantastic customer support – that has never changed. Have been with you from almost the beginning, and you continue to be innovative and dedicated with your products and support. Banktivity looks complex but after seeing it and saying it a couple of times – it’s fine with me.
Keep up the great work
I don’t like the new name but I don’t really care. I have been using iBank since I went Mac over 8 years ago. I do care that I have repeatedly requested features that have never been implicated, features that Quicken Windows version have had for over 15+ years. Come on, add the features that have been requested for years and the Quicken has been able to include since it’s DOS days.
I am not a fan of the new name. At all. For all the reasons people before me have outlined so eloquently, including that I don’t believe I would have purchased the app initially, had it been named Banktivity. That seems kind of silly, but it’s true. So now that I have that out of the way…. I have used iBank for several years and absolutely love it. I started with Quicken when it was an MS-DOS program and now that you know I am OLD…. I wanted to establish that I have used accounting software for many years and the ONLY complaint I have about iBank is the reporting. I have never had trouble generating reports in Quicken, Quickbooks or any other accounting software, but the reporting module of iBank evades me. It evades me to the point that often I generate accounting reports through Excel. Crazy, right? Talk about duplication of efforts! Several people mentioned training options and maybe that would solve my problem. I certainly haven’t been able to work it out on my own. The fact that I can use iBank (can’t let the name go) across my devices makes up for the reporting issue, but every time I try and generate a report… ESPECIALLY this time of year – I want to pull my hair out.
I love the product, I hate the reports.
Time for some changes, small ones, report changes. I can’t help wondering how much you spent on the name research and how much you spent on report changes, As a retired Corporate VP, I wish I could have been fly on the wall in those meetings.
Agree with most of the posts here. While I understand your reasons, I never had any confusion with the other uses of “iBank”. iBank is simple, catchy, and easy to remember. Banktivity sounds like something you do as opposed to an app you use. Still love your product. Just dislike the name.
I too liked iBank, but Banktivity is perfectly fine…. I LOVE the program and have for several years (and upgrades). Recently, I have a crazy problem… The balance in one of my checking accounts is off by $59.99 … I’ve searched MONTHS of transactions and can’t find ANY discrepancies!
suspecting a program bug… error in addition?
My Bad…. after days of searching the issue was NOT with iBank (Banktivity) BUT my own error!!!
Thanks BANKTIVITY…
STILL, I’d welcome some updates to reporting capabilities 🙂
Well, it could have been worse. Cashturbation comes to mind, so to speak. All that really matters to me is that IGG Software continues to provide the best finance apps for Mac, iPad, and iPhone. I think an update on development for 2016 would be assuage any doubts about what the new name.
I have no problem with your new name… I like the app so much I don’t care what you call it… Been using it for a few years and find it SO MUCH BETTER than Quicken…
I don’t really care about the name, more about the product. I agree with many of the others that the reports aren’t great and could be improved. As a long time Quicken 2006 user, here’s my pitch for my most desired features:
– Automatically give me a new record for entry without me having to click that stupid “+” button! I don’t understand why you can’t just create a new blank record when I’m finished with my current entry. Having to click that “+” every single time is just not necessary.
– Improved reports. Changing dates and selections feels very clunky.
– I’ve had a lot of trouble setting up my loans. That could be easier as well. I have a situation where I loaned money to somebody. I transferred this loan from Quicken and I have yet to get it set up correctly in Banktaktivity.
– I wish there was an option for a multi-window view.
Steve, just wanted to let you know you can right click on an item and choose “Open in separate window”
It’s easy enough to just change the App’s name back to “iBank 5” in the finder.
The icon is still there in the Dock, so whether it opens iBank or opens Banktivity, meh. I seldom if ever say the name of the program out loud, so if Banktivity is hard to pronounce, again meh. But here’s a little suggestion. I used to use Quicken for Mac and gave up on it, forever, when they essentially abandoned the Mac and came out with Quicken Essentials, which couldn’t even import my Quicken for Mac data! (And just try to get help . . . ) But Quicken was a bit more user-friendly than iWhatever in that it helped me avoid a lot of typing. For example, you could tab to the date, then just hit + or – to go up or down a day. Seems like in iBank a.k.a. Banktivity you have to type in the date or go to the calendar. It’s just not as convenient. So, attention there you guys at IGG: think of the user!
@Greg, you can use the [ ] keys to increment/decrement the date by day. The + and – keys are used for in-line calculations.
Many people here are commenting about the name change. It could portend a change down the road – look what just happened to YNAB. I had to leave them because they went crazy with a good product. Look at Quicken and Money…
As I mentioned elsewhere, we are the same dedicated team. It’s the same great app. We have no plans for going full SaaS model.
I agree with many others and wish you did not change the name. The old name, iBank, sounded respectable. The new name, “Banktivity” makes it sound much less respectable and much more like a kids application. I will most likely continue to use the application since there are few good choices out there for the MAC. But unlike before, when I speak with friends and co-workers about what banking software I use for my MAC, I can no longer tell them of this great product…because “Banktivity” just does not sound like the robust and versatile that it is.
Please consider going back to iBank.
I hope you can be honest with your friends and say, “it’s a great app called ‘Banktivity’, it used to be called ‘iBank’. I like the old name better.”
I think the best I can offer is to just not get engaged in the conversation with friends and coworkers. This is a good product, but to be honest, if the name were ‘Banktivity’ back when I was looking to replace my old product, I would not have even opened the app to look at it. It would not have even caught my interest.
But again, it is a good product despite the new name.
Dream on, Ian.
I can’t believe you’ve spent all this time on a name change without addressing all the improvements folks have been BEGGING for. BETTER reports and get rid of the clunkiness with split transactions!!! I don’t care what the name is, I just want the improvements implemented!