Community First Bank of Indiana

What Community First Bank of Indiana does

Community First Bank of Indiana (CFB) is an FDIC-insured, Indiana state-chartered community bank founded in 2003 and headquartered in Kokomo, with additional full-service branches in Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield, serving Howard and Hamilton Counties. The bank is the operating subsidiary of Community First Financial Corporation (a private holding company) and has grown to over $800 million in total assets as of 2025, with a customer base spanning individual consumers, small and medium businesses, high-net-worth households, seniors, youth, and commercial real estate borrowers. CFB holds SBA Preferred Lender status and is a multi-time recipient of the ISCDC Indiana Small Business Lender of the Year award.

The bank operates a full-service retail and commercial banking platform built on a conventional digital core: a mobile banking app with mobile deposit and Apple/Google/Samsung/Fitbit Pay integration, online banking with multi-factor authentication, treasury management tools (ACH origination, Remote Deposit Capture, Check/ACH Positive Pay, wire transfers), and a dedicated private banking unit. The product suite spans tiered consumer checking and savings, money market, CDs/IRAs, HSAs, a full consumer lending menu (auto, motorcycle, boat, RV, powersport, personal, CD-secured), residential mortgages originated through a 62%-owned subsidiary (1st Signature Lending, LLC, specializing in single-close construction-to-permanent loans), private student loans via an INvestEd partnership, and a comprehensive business banking stack including three business checking tiers, commercial term/construction/mortgage loans, SBA 7(a) and 504 lending, and treasury management.

CFB generates revenue primarily from net interest income on its loan portfolio (commercial, mortgage, consumer, SBA) supported by a deposit franchise; ancillary income comes from deposit and overdraft fees, debit and credit card interchange, SBA and mortgage banking fees, treasury management service charges, and a recently launched fee-based wealth management joint venture (Community First Wealth Management with Aurora Financial Strategies). Distribution is delivered through a sales-led, relationship-based model: branch-based personal bankers, a dedicated commercial lending team, an in-house private banker, a phone call center, online account opening (csinfund.com), and the Allpoint ATM network (55,000+ surcharge-free ATMs). The bank's GTM emphasizes local decision-making, community involvement (166 supported organizations, 3,018 community service hours in 2025), and cross-sell programs (Work Perks, Journey Club, Round Up Savings, referral rewards).

Name

Community First Bank of Indiana

Legal name

Community First Bank of Indiana

Website

https://cfbindiana.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Community First Bank of Indiana is an FDIC-insured Indiana community bank founded in 2003, serving consumers, small businesses, and HNW clients across four branches in Kokomo, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield with $800M+ in assets, full consumer/commercial/SBA lending, and a recently launched wealth management joint venture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small Business Banking (Microbusiness/Sole Proprietor) (FSABAAAI)

Keywords

• Community banking
• Commercial lending
• Treasury management
• Retail deposit accounts
• SBA preferred lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Kokomo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: The primary revenue stream comes from interest earned on loans including commercial loans, mortgages, personal loans, auto loans, and credit cards. The bank offers competitive rates on various loan products.
2. Deposit Account Fees: Monthly service charges on certain accounts (e.g., $6 for Community Premium Interest Checking if minimum balance falls below $1,500), overdraft fees, and non-sufficient funds fees.
3. Card Services: Revenue from debit Mastercard transactions, credit card interchange, and card-related services.
4. Wealth Management Referrals: Referrals to LPL Financial for securities and advisory services generate referral fees. Community First Investment Group provides financial product referrals.
5. 1st Signature Lending (Subsidiary): 62% owned subsidiary (as of January 2025) that originates and sells residential mortgage loans with emphasis on single-close construction-to-permanent loans, generating revenue through mortgage banking activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Community First Bank of Indiana is a community bank providing personal banking products (checking, savings, CDs, IRAs, HSAs, consumer loans, vehicle loans, mortgages, student loans, private banking) and business banking services (business checking, business savings, commercial term loans, commercial mortgages, construction loans, working capital lines of credit, SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, and a full treasury management suite). The bank distributes through four branches in Howard and Hamilton Counties, Indiana, complemented by mobile banking, online banking, a call center, and a 62%-owned mortgage subsidiary (1st Signature Lending) and a wealth management joint venture with Aurora Financial Strategies.

Product overview

Community First Bank of Indiana offers a comprehensive suite of banking products organized across Personal Banking, Business Banking, and Wealth Management divisions. The Personal Banking suite includes multiple checking account tiers (Community Free, Direct Interest, 50 Plus Interest, Premium Interest), savings options (Personal Savings, Money Market, Santa's Helper holiday savings, Piggy Bank for minors), Health Savings Accounts, Certificates of Deposit, and IRA accounts. Lending products span auto, motorcycle, boat, RV, power sport vehicles, personal loans, home mortgages (through 1st Signature Lending subsidiary), and student loans (through INvestEd partnership). The Business Banking division provides three checking tiers (Free Business, Community at Heart Interest, Commercial), business savings and money market accounts, commercial lending including SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, and Treasury Management services (ACH origination, Remote Deposit Capture, Check Positive Pay, Wire Transfer, ACH Positive Pay). Wealth Management services are delivered through a joint venture with Aurora Financial Strategies. Digital banking is supported through online and mobile platforms with mobile wallet integrations (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay). Additional programs include Round Up Savings automation, Journey Club travel club for 50+ customers, Work Perks employee benefits program, and Autobooks digital payments. The bank operates primarily in Howard and Hamilton County Indiana with branches in Fishers, Kokomo, Noblesville, and Westfield.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community First Wealth Management: Wealth management services powered by Aurora Financial Strategies, a joint venture providing financial planning, asset management, 401(k) and retirement services, and life insurance.
• Community Work Perks Program
• Mighty Minnows Kids Club
• Journey Club

Products and services

• Community Free Checking A free personal checking account with no minimum balance requirement and no monthly service charge, including a free debit card, online banking, mobile banking, bill pay, online statements, and access to surcharge-free ATMs. Targeted at everyday personal banking customers.
• Community Direct Interest Checking Interest-bearing personal checking account requiring direct deposit or automatic payment setup. Offers competitive interest rates combined with the convenience of digital banking. Minimum opening deposit $50.
• Community 50 Plus Interest Checking Interest-bearing checking account designed for customers 50 and older. Includes a free box of personalized checks annually and access to the Journey Club travel program. Competitive interest rates.
• Community Premium Interest Checking Higher interest rate checking account requiring $1,500 minimum balance. Free personalized checks, with $6 monthly charge if balance falls below minimum. Targets customers seeking higher yields on liquid funds.
• Personal Savings Basic interest-bearing savings account with competitive interest, $5 monthly charge if balance falls below $100, and $50 minimum opening deposit. Includes free mobile and online banking access.
• Personal Money Market Tiered interest-bearing savings account requiring a $1,000 minimum daily balance to avoid a $10 service charge. Interest rate increases as account balance grows.
• Santa's Helper Savings Holiday savings account with no service charge. Customers deposit throughout the year and the account balance is transferred to a companion checking or savings account in late October for holiday spending.
• Piggy Bank Savings Youth savings account for customers 18 and under with only $5 minimum opening deposit. Designed to help minors start building savings habits.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) FDIC-insured, interest-bearing account for qualified High Deductible Health Plan holders. Deposits are non-taxable, balances roll over year to year, and are portable between employers. Tiered APY from 0.50% to 3.00%.
• Certificates of Deposit (CD) Fixed-rate savings products with terms ranging from 30 days to 5 years. Includes promotional CD/IRA specials at 7, 13, 17, 33, and 59-month terms with APYs from 3.20% to 4.00%. Minimum $1,000 to open.
• IRA Accounts Individual Retirement Accounts including Traditional IRA and Roth IRA options, available with various term lengths and competitive rates through the bank's CD platform.
• Auto Loans Vehicle financing for new or used cars from 2008 and newer, with up to 100% of dealer invoice/dealer purchase agreement financing. Targets consumers purchasing vehicles.
• Motorcycle Loans Financing for new or used motorcycles from 2008 and newer, with up to 90% of dealer invoice or purchase agreement financed.
• Boat Loans Purchase or refinance loans for new or used boats up to 10 years old. New purchases up to 100% of dealer/purchase agreement; used boats up to 90% of the lesser of purchase agreement or NADA clean retail value. Terms up to 10 years.
• RV/Trailer Loans Financing for new or used motorhomes, camping trailers, and cargo trailers up to 10 years old. Flexible terms with competitive rates.
• Power Sport Vehicle Loans Loans for ATVs, UTVs, Wave Runners, Golf Carts, and Yard Tractors up to 5 years old, with up to 90% of purchase price or NADA clean retail value financed.
• CD Savings Secured Loans

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 consecutive years as Best Bank in Kokomo (2007-2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration17 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INvestEdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership with INvestEd for private student loans and student loan refinancing. INvestEd has been serving Indiana students for over 40 years, offering competitive interest rates and education on college financing options.
• Aurora Financial StrategiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Joint venture 'Community First Wealth Management' providing personalized financial planning, asset management, 401(k) management, and life insurance. The partnership brings together Aurora's advisory team led by Billy Cardwell, CFP with Community First Bank's local relationship approach.
• 1st Signature Lending (1st Signature Lending, LLC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Bank acquired 62% ownership (as of January 2025) of 1st Signature Lending, a non-bank mortgage company focused on U.S. residential mortgage market. Specializes in single-close construction-to-permanent loans.
• LPL FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferral partnership for securities and advisory services. Community First Bank refers customers to LPL Financial representatives who may discuss and transact securities business with Indiana residents.
• Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBA Preferred Lender status enabling the bank to provide SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loan solutions. The bank has been recognized multiple times as Indiana Small Business Lender of the Year.
• DeluxeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCheck ordering partner providing customers access to order checks through Deluxe website or by calling the bank.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• German American Bank: Indiana-headquartered regional bank serving Indiana and Kentucky with consumer, commercial, and wealth management services. Competes in overlapping Indiana markets but at larger scale than CFB.
• Old National Bank: Large regional bank with significant Indiana presence including the Indianapolis metro area. Competes with CFB in consumer and small business banking but operates at substantially greater scale across multiple states.
• JPMorgan Chase (Indiana branches): Nation's largest bank with significant branch presence in the Indianapolis metro area that competes directly with CFB for consumer deposits, small business banking, and SBA lending. Represents the national-bank competitive backdrop.

Direct peers

• Horizon Bank: Indiana and Michigan community bank with consumer, commercial, and mortgage lending services. Comparable in size and business model as a mid-size regional community bank serving similar Midwest markets.
• STAR Financial Bank: Indiana community bank operating in the Indianapolis metropolitan area with consumer, commercial, and wealth management services. Comparable in mid-size community bank profile and central Indiana market focus.
• Lake City Bank: Indiana-based community bank serving northern and central Indiana with consumer and commercial banking products. Closely comparable in business model, focus on relationship-based local banking, and SBA lending capabilities.
• First Merchants Bank: Indiana-headquartered community bank with a similar full-service consumer and commercial banking model across Indiana and the Midwest. Directly comparable in target market, product breadth, and relationship-based banking approach, though substantially larger in asset size.
• Centier Bank: Indiana-based family-owned community bank with full personal, business, and wealth management banking offerings. Comparable as an Indiana-headquartered relationship-focused community bank with branch-based distribution.
• Salin Bank & Trust Company: Indiana state-chartered community bank serving consumer and business customers across central Indiana. Comparable in size, geographic focus, and full-service community banking model.

Regional players

• First Internet Bank of Indiana: Indiana-chartered digital-first bank that competes with CFB on consumer deposits and small business banking without physical branches. Useful comparison for digital-channel competition in CFB's core Indiana market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookcfbindiana.com/facebook-landing-page
• LinkedIncfbindiana.com/linkedin-landing-page
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfbindiana

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community First Bank of Indiana