What Citizens Trust Bank does

Citizens Trust Bank is a privately held, Atlanta-based community bank founded in 1921, operating as a subsidiary of Citizens Bancshares Corporation. The bank is designated as both a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and a Minority Depository Institution (MDI), holds the distinction of being the first African American-owned bank to become an FDIC member (1934) and the first Black-owned bank to join the Federal Reserve System (1947), and participates in the U.S. Treasury's Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP). It serves individual consumers, small to medium businesses, commercial and corporate customers, non-profit organizations, and low- and moderate-income communities through a full-service banking platform including checking, savings, certificates of deposit, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, home equity lines of credit, business lending, merchant services, and cash management.

The bank's technology stack centers on a digital banking platform comprising separate mobile applications for consumers (CTBMobile) and businesses (CTBMobile Business), online banking with self-service account opening, the nCino cloud-based loan origination platform, and the eBusiness Cash Manager tiered cash management product. Security infrastructure includes multi-factor authentication, encryption, biometric authentication, and fraud prevention systems. An Enterprise Technology & Innovation (ETI) team was launched in 2026 to drive modernization and explore AI capabilities.

The bank's business model combines net interest income from a diversified lending book with transaction-based revenue from deposit fees (overdraft fees up to $35 per occurrence with a $350 daily cap, $5 eStatement fee), merchant services payment processing, and subscription-based cash management services. Distribution is multi-channel across physical financial centers in Atlanta and Lithonia, digital self-serve platforms, and a contact center. The bank reported pre-tax earnings of $13.8M, EPS of $4.72, and a record dividend of $1.10 per share in 2025, with a Tier 1 Capital Ratio of 45% and nonperforming loans at 0.92% of total assets.

Name

Citizens Trust Bank

Legal name

Citizens Trust Bank

Website

https://ctbconnect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Citizens Trust Bank is a privately held Atlanta-based CDFI and MDI community bank founded in 1921, serving consumers, small businesses, and low-to-moderate income communities with full-service banking, lending, merchant services, and digital channels.

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 industries

SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC), Branch & In-Person Banking (Teller/ATM Networks) (FSABAAAE)

Keywords

• Community banking
• Consumer lending
• Commercial lending
• Merchant services
• Cash management

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income: Interest income from lending activities including personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, business loans, and commercial loans, offset by interest paid on deposits
2. Deposit Account Fees: Monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees (up to $35 per occurrence, $350 daily cap), eStatement delivery fees ($5 monthly if not enrolled), and other account-related service charges
3. Merchant Services: Payment processing services including credit card processing, debit card processing, POS terminals, EBT, gift cards, and internet shopping cart services for business customers
4. Cash Management Services: eBusiness Cash Manager platform providing ACH origination, wire transfers, Positive Pay, and remote deposit capture for business customers with tiered service levels
5. Dividend Payments: Record dividend of $1.10 per share in 2025, up 10% from prior year, demonstrating shareholder return program

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Citizens Trust Bank provides retail and community banking services including checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, Visa credit cards, and consumer loans (personal, auto, home equity, mortgage). For business and commercial clients, the bank offers business lending, commercial banking, the eBusiness Cash Manager platform, and merchant payment processing services. Banking access is delivered through financial centers in Georgia, the CTBMobile consumer and business mobile apps, online banking, and Zelle person-to-person payments.

Product overview

Citizens Trust Bank offers a comprehensive suite of banking products and services through a platform architecture centered on core deposit products (checking, savings, CDs) and lending solutions (personal, auto, mortgage, business loans). Digital banking is delivered through Online Banking and mobile applications (CTBMobile for consumers, CTBMobile Business for businesses). Value-added services include eBusiness Cash Manager for commercial cash management, Merchant Services for payment processing, overdraft protection, direct deposit, and financial education tools (The Learning Center, CTBeacon). The bank integrates with Zelle for person-to-person payments and major card networks (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover) for merchant services. Products are designed to serve personal customers, businesses, and communities with a focus on financial inclusion and empowerment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Checking Accounts
• Savings Accounts Savings products including Regular Savings, Future Savings, MTA Investor Account, CTB AdvantageNOW, IRA/Money Market Accounts, and Commercial Savings with various minimum balance requirements and interest rates.
• Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Regular and Jumbo Certificates of Deposit with terms ranging from 7 days to 60 months, offering fixed interest rates and APY.
• VISA Credit Card Credit card product enabling customers to access credit for purchases with Visa acceptance worldwide.
• Personal Loans Unsecured personal loans, personal lines of credit, and additional consumer loan options for personal financing needs.
• Auto Loans Financing solutions for purchasing vehicles with competitive rates.
• Home Equity Line of Credit Secured credit line allowing homeowners to borrow against their home's equity.
• Mortgage Loans Residential mortgage products for home purchases and refinancing, with support for FHA loans and first-time homebuyers.
• Business Lending Commercial loans including small business loans, loans over $500K, and banking services for businesses of all sizes.
• Commercial Banking Large commercial loans, commercial savings accounts, and investment account services for business clients.
• eBusiness Cash Manager Online cash management platform with three tiers (Regular, PLUS, PREMIER) providing account management, fund transfers, employee access controls, ACH origination, wire transfers, Positive Pay fraud detection, and remote deposit capture.
• Merchant Services Payment processing services including POS terminals, credit/debit card processing accepting Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB and Diner's Club, EBT acceptance, gift cards, and internet shopping cart integration for businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nonperforming loans at 0.92% of total assets
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Federal Home Loan BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through Federal Home Loan Bank programs helping turn homeownership goals into reality across communities. Partnership supports mortgage lending and affordable housing initiatives.
• MLS (Multiple Listing Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through $25 million loan deal with Black Banks initiative. Working with like-missioned mainstream institutions to reach more community citizens and businesses through scalable opportunities.
• American Bankers AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational partnership for #BanksNeverAskThat anti-phishing campaign - nationwide effort to fight phishing scams and protect consumers from bank impersonator fraud.
• Georgia Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamed newest honoree in Georgia Business History Initiative with dedicated historical marker recognizing the bank's legacy and historical impact on Georgia's financial sector.
• Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating lender in SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) providing financial assistance to small businesses affected by COVID-19. Processed over 1,000 loan requests from small businesses.
• Payment Processor PartnershipcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with respected payment processor providing comprehensive suite of payment options including POS terminals, credit/debit processing, gift cards, and internet shopping cart services.
• DeKalb Better Business Loan ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local banks providing financial relief to small DeKalb County businesses impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, funded through CARES Act allocations.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OneUnited Bank: Largest Black-owned bank in the United States, providing consumer and business banking under a CDFI/MDI designation. The most directly comparable peer to Citizens Trust Bank, serving similar underbanked communities with a similar mission-aligned full-service banking model.
• City First Bank: CDFI-certified community development bank serving underinvested communities in the DC metro area. Comparable to Citizens Trust Bank in CDFI designation, mission-driven lending focus, and community-banking operating model.
• Broadway Federal Bank: Black-owned MDI bank headquartered in Los Angeles providing deposit and lending services in underserved communities. Comparable to Citizens Trust Bank as one of the remaining MDI community banks with similar deposit-and-loan product mix.
• Mechanics & Farmers Bank: MDI-designated community bank headquartered in Charlotte, NC serving underserved communities with consumer and commercial banking. Direct peer in geography, scale, and minority-owned mission alignment.
• Industrial Bank: Black-owned MDI community bank in Washington, D.C. serving consumer and small business customers. Direct peer given shared CDFI/MDI focus, community mission, and small community-bank scale.
• Carver Federal Savings Bank: Black-owned community bank and MDI located in New York, focused on serving minority and low-to-moderate-income communities with deposit products, loans, and financial literacy programs. Directly comparable to Citizens Trust Bank in mission, regulatory status, and product mix.
• Liberty Bank of Louisiana: Black-owned community bank serving New Orleans and Baton Rouge with full retail and commercial banking services. Comparable as a regional minority-owned community bank with similar CDFI-style mission and product breadth.

Broad incumbents

• Truist Financial: Large regional bank with a significant Atlanta/Southeast presence and dedicated community development banking initiatives. Broad incumbent offering overlapping services across consumer, small business, and commercial banking in Citizens Trust Bank's core geography.
• JPMorgan Chase: Largest US bank with substantial community development banking programs targeted at MDI/CDFI communities and significant Atlanta presence. Broad incumbent competing for the same deposits, loans, and customer relationships in CTB's geographic footprint.

Emerging players

• Hope Credit Union: CDFI-certified credit union serving low-wealth communities in the Deep South with deposit and small business lending products. Partial overlap with Citizens Trust Bank's community development lending mission in adjacent geography and underserved demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTBank
• Facebookfacebook.com/CTBStrong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citizens-trust-bank
• Instagraminstagram.com/citizenstrustbank1921

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Citizens Trust Bank