Private Bancorp of America

What Private Bancorp of America does

Private Bancorp of America, Inc. (OTCQX:PBAM) is the La Jolla, California-based bank holding company for CalPrivate Bank, a California-chartered commercial bank founded in 2006. Operating exclusively along coastal Southern California through seven branches in San Diego, Coronado, La Jolla, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, South Bay, and Montecito (opened November 2025), the bank targets high-net-worth individuals, family offices, privately-held small-to-middle-market businesses, and specialized verticals including legal professionals (IOLTA, escrow, settlement accounts), registered investment advisors, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Core products span deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs, IRAs), commercial lending (commercial real estate, construction, working capital lines, equipment financing), government-guaranteed SBA 7(a) and 504 programs through the PB Capital division (loans from $350K to $5M), and treasury management via the Treasury One platform with Deposit One remote deposit capture. Technology is conventional digital banking with online and mobile channels, accounting integrations to QuickBooks, Quicken, and Microsoft OFX, and merchant services through Celero — no proprietary AI/ML stack is disclosed.

The revenue model is a traditional spread-driven community bank with three streams: net interest income (Q1 2026: $32.6M, +17.6% YoY at a 5.21% net interest margin), loan interest and fees across the commercial and SBA portfolios, and transactional fee income from deposit maintenance, wires, ACH origination, Positive Pay, and treasury management. Pricing follows standard monthly subscription fee schedules for personal and business checking tiers ($0-$30 monthly maintenance with balance- or activity-based waivers), floating-rate SBA loans, and undisclosed custom commercial pricing. Distribution is a direct relationship model executed through market presidents and dedicated private bankers at each branch, supported by referral-driven marketing via community partnerships and client testimonials. Customer concentration is spread across HNW, SMB, legal, wealth management, and nonprofit segments without disclosed dependency on any single account. The institution reported Q1 2026 revenue of $34.54M (8% consensus beat), EPS of $2.07 (18% consensus beat), core deposits of $2.33B, ROE of 16.38%, and a market capitalization of $418.7M as of April 2026.

Name

Private Bancorp of America

Legal name

Private Bancorp of America, Inc.

Website

https://calprivate.bank

Company type

Public

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Private Bancorp of America, Inc. (OTCQX:PBAM) is the La Jolla, California-based holding company for CalPrivate Bank, a coastal Southern California community bank founded in 2006 operating seven branches serving high-net-worth individuals, privately-held small-to-middle-market businesses, legal professionals, wealth managers, and nonprofits with deposit, commercial lending, SBA, and treasury management products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Commercial Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Offices of Bank Holding Companies (551111), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Affluent / Mass-Affluent Private Banking (FSABADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending (FSABABAG), Private Banking Lending (Securities-Backed, Real Estate, Structured Credit) (FSABADAE), SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Small Business Banking (Microbusiness/Sole Proprietor) (FSABAAAI)

Keywords

• Community banking
• Commercial lending
• Private banking
• Treasury management
• SBA lending

Headquarters

HQ city

La Jolla

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income: Primary revenue stream from interest earned on loans and securities minus interest paid on deposits. Q1 2026 net interest income of $32.6 million with net interest margin of 5.21%.
2. Loan Interest and Fees: Interest income and fees from commercial lending, real estate financing, construction loans, SBA loans, and personal lending products. Loans include commercial real estate, equipment financing, working capital lines, and government-guaranteed SBA programs.
3. Deposit and Treasury Management Fees: Fees from deposit account maintenance, wire transfers, business banking services, and treasury management solutions including Positive Pay, ACH origination, and cash vault services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Private Bancorp of America operates through its wholly owned subsidiary CalPrivate Bank, a community/commercial bank delivering deposit products, commercial and real estate lending, SBA loans, treasury management, and private banking services to individuals, businesses, and specialized industries (legal, wealth management, nonprofits) across coastal Southern California. The bank pairs dedicated relationship managers at seven branches with digital banking, Treasury One cash management, and Deposit One remote deposit capture for business clients.

Product overview

CalPrivate Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Private Bancorp of America, operates as a regional community bank serving coastal Southern California. The bank offers a comprehensive suite of deposit products (checking, savings, money market, CDs, IRAs) through its retail banking platform, complemented by specialized lending divisions including Commercial Lending and Private Business Capital (SBA preferred lender). For business clients, Treasury One provides comprehensive online cash and treasury management. The bank also serves specific industries through dedicated services for Legal professionals (IOLTA, escrow accounts), Wealth Management advisors, and nonprofit organizations (Impact Checking). Deposit services CDARS and ICS extend FDIC coverage up to $50 million and $150 million respectively. Digital banking is delivered through online and mobile platforms with services including bill pay, mobile deposit (Deposit One), and business mobile banking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Private Business Capital: SBA lending division specializing in Small Business Administration loans including SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loans for small business financing.
• Private Business Capital

Products and services

• CalPrivate Bank Deposit Products (Personal and Business Checking, Savings, Money Market, CDs, IRAs) Checking, savings, money market, certificate of deposit, and IRA accounts offered to individuals and businesses. Personal options include Private Checking, Silver Checking (55+), Private Checking Plus, and Premier Checking Plus; business options include Business Checking, Active Business Checking, Business Interest Checking, Analysis Checking, and Impact Checking.
• Commercial Lending (Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Equipment, Working Capital, Letters of Credit) Customized commercial real estate loans, construction financing, equipment loans, working capital lines of credit, and letters of credit offered to businesses and investors. Includes cross-border lending capabilities under the Export-Import Bank guarantee program.
• Private Business Capital (PB Capital) SBA Lending SBA preferred lender division providing SBA 7(a) and 504 loans from $350,000 to $5 million for small business startups, acquisitions, expansion, and commercial real estate/equipment purchases, with terms up to 25 years.
• Private Banking Services Personalized lending and cash management solutions for high net worth individuals and family offices with complex financial needs, including business acquisition financing, bridge financing, and bespoke credit solutions through dedicated private bankers.
• Legal Industry Banking Services Specialized banking for attorneys and law firms, including IOLTA accounts, settlement accounts, escrow accounts, court-ordered conservatorships, segregated trust accounts, and practice acquisition financing across class action, workers compensation, bankruptcy, family law, and personal injury practices.
• Wealth Management Industry Banking Services Banking solutions for registered investment advisors and wealth managers, providing lending and cash management services designed to serve their high net worth clients' borrowing needs while preserving the advisor's asset management relationship.
• Impact Checking (Nonprofit Banking) Interest-bearing business checking account with no monthly maintenance fee specifically designed for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, with services for fund segmentation by program, grant, or campaign.
• Treasury One Cash and Treasury Management Comprehensive online cash and treasury management suite providing enhanced security, user role management, dual control, multi-wire origination, ACH origination, and payment file mapping for business banking customers.
• Deposit One Remote Deposit Capture Check scanning and deposit service enabling businesses to make deposits remotely using desktop scanners or mobile devices, transmitting check images electronically to bank accounts.
• CDARS (Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service) Deposit service providing FDIC insurance coverage on multi-million dollar CD investments (up to $50 million) by distributing deposits across the CDARS network of participating banks in increments under the standard FDIC limit.
• ICS (Insured Cash Sweep) Insured cash sweep service maximizing FDIC insurance coverage (up to $150 million) by placing deposits into money market deposit accounts at multiple FDIC-insured banks across the network.
• Online and Mobile Banking Platform Digital banking platform providing online bill pay, account balances and history, e-statements, internal/external transfers, mobile deposit, and business online banking access to Treasury One and Deposit One. Available via web and iOS/Android mobile apps.
• Credit Cards (Preferred Points, Low Rate, Visa Debit, Business) Credit card products including Preferred Points Card with travel/cash back/gift card rewards, Low Rate Card, Visa Debit Card, and Business Credit Cards.
• Merchant Services (Card Processing and Payment Acceptance) Card processing payment solutions including traditional terminals, internet-enabled terminals, mobile payment technology, and next-day funding for business customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Net interest margin expanded to 5.21% from 4.61% year-over-year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PB Capital (Private Business Capital)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPB Capital is a dedicated division of CalPrivate Bank specializing in SBA lending. As an SBA preferred lender, PB Capital provides SBA 7(a) and 504 loans to small businesses with competitive rates and terms up to 25 years. The division operates as an integral part of CalPrivate Bank's lending strategy.
• CDARS (Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service)coreTechnology or IntegrationCDARS is a network service that enables CalPrivate Bank to provide FDIC insurance coverage on multi-million dollar CD investments by distributing deposits across network banks in increments under $250,000. The bank acts as the primary relationship while deposits are placed across the network.
• ICS (Insured Cash Sweep)coreTechnology or IntegrationICS is a service that helps CalPrivate Bank clients maximize FDIC insurance coverage by placing deposits into money market deposit accounts at multiple FDIC-insured banks, providing coverage up to $150 million. Works through reciprocal deposit placement across network institutions.
• SBA (Small Business Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalPrivate Bank is an SBA Preferred Lender with access to government-guaranteed loan programs including SBA 7(a) and SBA 504. This status allows faster processing and approval of small business loans with favorable terms for qualified borrowers.
• Rady Children's HospitalminorOthersCommunity partner receiving charitable support from CalPrivate Bank as part of its community engagement and CRA initiatives.
• Boys & Girls ClubminorOthersCommunity partner receiving charitable support and sponsorship from CalPrivate Bank supporting youth development programs.
• San Diego Rescue MissionminorOthersCommunity partner receiving charitable support from CalPrivate Bank as part of its commitment to community service and addressing housing safety and security concerns.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heritage Commerce Corp: California community bank holding company (Heritage Bank of Commerce) focused on small-to-middle market businesses and HNW individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. Similar relationship-based commercial and private banking model.
• First Foundation Inc. California-based community bank focused on HNW individuals, families, and small-to-middle market businesses, with similar private banking, CRE, and specialty lending offerings. Operates in overlapping Southern California markets and is among the most directly comparable peers in size, strategy, and customer mix.
• CVB Financial Corp. California community bank holding company (Citizens Business Bank) serving small-to-middle market businesses and HNW clients. Closely comparable in market geography, customer mix, and relationship-based commercial banking model.
• Pacific Premier Bancorp: West Coast community bank serving small-to-middle market businesses and consumers with a relationship-driven commercial banking model. Overlapping Southern California presence, similar deposit-gathering strategy, and meaningful CRE and SBA lending exposure.
• Live Oak Bancshares: National small business and SBA-focused community bank with comparable SBA lending franchise (7(a) and 504 programs). Strategically similar focus on government-guaranteed lending to small businesses, though serving a national rather than regional footprint.
• Byline Bancorp: Chicago-based community bank with a dedicated SBA lending focus (Byline Bank) serving small businesses with government-guaranteed loans. Highly comparable in SBA lending strategy and small business banking orientation, though serving a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Banc of California: Significantly larger California-headquartered bank offering commercial, small business, and consumer banking across the state. Operates as a broader incumbent in many of the same Southern California markets and competes for the same HNW and small business customer base with a wider product set.
• Texas Capital Bancshares: Mid-size Texas-based commercial bank serving businesses and HNW individuals. Explicitly cited in CalPrivate's own benchmarking data as a profitability comparison; broader geographic and product scope but similar relationship-driven commercial banking DNA.
• U.S. Bancorp: Large national bank holding company with significant California retail, commercial, and wealth management operations. Competes for the same HNW and small-to-middle market business customers in CalPrivate's footprint with broader product set, more capital, and larger technology investment.

Regional players

• First Bank (California): Missouri-based bank holding company with a meaningful California presence (First Bank California) serving small-to-middle market businesses. Comparable relationship banking and CRE focus, with primary operations in a different core geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/calprivatebank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/private-bancorp-of-america

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Private Bancorp of America