Community Bankers of Michigan

What Community Bankers of Michigan does

Community Bankers of Michigan (CBM) is a Michigan-based, private 501(c)(6) non-profit professional trade association founded in 1974 that serves as the unified voice of the state's community banks. Operating with a small staff of 1–10 employees out of its East Lansing headquarters at 830 W. Lake Lansing Road, Suite 250, the association delivers a portfolio of member-facing services rather than a single software product: advocacy and Political Action Committee (PAC) representation before the Michigan legislature and federal regulators, professional education programs (compliance schools, credit analyst certification, executive leadership tracks, the Michigan Bank Directors' College co-developed with DIFS), specialized peer-networking forums for CFO, IT, Marketing, HR, Operations, Retail, and Risk/Fraud roles, and an Annual Convention and Expo.

CBM's operational backbone is the Novi AMS association management platform, which powers the Member Compass online portal used for profile management, event registration, invoice management, and attendance tracking. Content delivery is augmented through a partnership with Financial Education and Development, Inc. (Community Bankers Webinar Network) that resells 250+ webinars annually to members under an unlimited-attendee per-bank pricing model, plus an Affiliate Education Program through the national Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). Supporting publications include the bi-monthly Community Spirit magazine and weekly/bi-weekly newsletters (CBM Connect, Fraud Prevention Friday, Regulatory Dispatch).

CBM generates revenue from four streams: recurring annual membership dues from community banks and associate members, event registration fees for the convention, certification programs, and forums, advertising and sponsorship revenue (including Diamond, Platinum, and Gold bundled associate-partner tiers and advertising in Community Spirit and newsletters), and PAC contributions from members supporting advocacy efforts. Preferred Partners (SHAZAM, FHLBank Indianapolis, OptimaFI, Navanta, Rocket Pro, Performance Trust, United Bankers' Bank, Investors Title, PWCampbell, RJM) form a curated vendor network offering discounted services to member banks. The organization's geographic scope is exclusively Michigan, and the operating model is sales-led, direct-membership outreach supplemented by peer referrals and event-driven engagement.

Name

Community Bankers of Michigan

Legal name

Community Bankers of Michigan

Website

https://cbofm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Community Bankers of Michigan is a non-profit state trade association founded in 1974 that serves Michigan's community banks through advocacy, professional education, peer-networking forums, an annual convention, and a Preferred Partner vendor network, operating from East Lansing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services for Community Banking

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSABAEAL

Federations/Centrals & Cooperative Banking Networks (2nd-Tier Co-ops)

Financial & Insurance/Banking (Commerical, Retail & Consumer)/Community & Cooperative Banking (Credit Unions, Mutuals)

Keywords

• Community bank association
• Banking industry advocacy
• Compliance education programs
• Banking professional development
• Trade association services

Headquarters

HQ city

East Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from community banks and associate members providing recurring revenue base
2. Event Registration: Fees from educational events, conferences, certification programs, and the Annual Convention and Expo
3. Advertising & Sponsorships: Revenue from advertising in Community Spirit magazine, on website, in newsletters (CBM Connect), and sponsorship opportunities at events
4. PAC Contributions: Political Action Committee contributions from members supporting advocacy efforts

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Community Bankers of Michigan is a non-profit trade association that serves Michigan community banks through membership-based advocacy, education, networking, and compliance support. Its core deliverables include regulatory and legislative advocacy, an annual convention and expo, professional education and certification programs, peer networking forums for specialized banking roles, compliance seminars, and a Preferred Partners network of vetted vendors. Members access services through the Member Compass online portal and through in-person and virtual events held across Michigan.

Product overview

Community Bankers of Michigan (CBM) is a state association serving Michigan's community banking industry through a portfolio of member services rather than a unified software product. The core offering includes membership benefits, annual conventions, professional education programs (compliance schools, leadership development, credit analyst certification), networking forums for specialized roles (CFO, IT, Marketing, HR, Operations, Risk/Fraud), and advocacy/PAC services. Supporting offerings include publications (The Banker Brief newsletter, Community Spirit magazine), the James D. MacPhee Leadership Award scholarship program, a Preferred Partners network, and webinar training in partnership with Financial Education and Development, Inc. Members access services through the Member Compass online portal for event registration and invoice management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CBM Connect: Weekly e-newsletter providing updates and insights on banking topics and events
• Fraud Prevention Friday
• Community Spirit
• James D. MacPhee Leadership Award
• Member Compass
• Community Bankers for Compliance (CBC)
• Community Bankers Webinar Network

Products and services

• CBM Annual Convention and Expo Annual flagship event bringing together Michigan community bankers for networking, education, and industry insights, featuring more than 60 exhibitors and a national community banking perspective.
• Education Programs Comprehensive professional development offerings including compliance schools, leadership programs, credit analyst certification, and continuing education for community bank staff at all levels.
• Networking Forums Peer-based discussion forums for specialized roles including CFO, IT, Marketing, HR, Operations, Retail Banking, Risk/Fraud, Senior Lender, and Consumer Lending professionals at Michigan community banks.
• Community Bankers for Compliance (CBC) Program Quarterly compliance seminars and membership program providing regulatory updates, compliance resources, and access to Young & Associates compliance hotline for community banks.
• Community Spirit Magazine Bi-monthly magazine featuring insights, industry updates, convention news, and stories celebrating community banking impact in Michigan.
• Advocacy/PAC Services Political action committee and advocacy efforts supporting community banking interests at state and national levels, including ICBA Capital Summit participation and Michigan legislative engagement.
• James D. MacPhee Leadership Award Leadership development scholarship program recognizing outstanding community bank employees with awards for professional development and leadership training.
• Preferred Partners Program Curated network of vetted service providers and associate members offering products and services tailored to community banks, including banking technology, insurance, and consulting solutions.
• Member Compass Portal Online member portal for profile management, event registration, invoice viewing and payment, and tracking event attendance.
• Webinar Network Partnership with Financial Education and Development, Inc. offering over 250 webinars annually for bank staff training, available for unlimited attendees per bank at one price.
• Financial Literacy Resources Curated collection of educational resources for financial educators including FDIC Money Smart, Federal Reserve programs, and resources for children, teens, and adults.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and preferred.

• ICBA (Independent Community Bankers of America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation providing CBM members access to ICBA education programs, advocacy at the federal level, and exclusive member discounts. ICBA is the only national organization exclusively representing community banks, headquartered in Washington, DC. Rebeca Romero Rainey serves as ICBA President & CEO.
• Financial Education and Development, Inc. (Community Bankers Webinar Network)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership providing over 250 webinars annually to CBM members, offering popular and cost-effective training accessible from bank offices. Webinars cover compliance, fraud prevention, HR, technology, and other banking topics.
• Barret School of BankingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate-level banking school program accessible to CBM members. The school provides intensive banking education for career development in community banking.
• Community Bankers for Compliance (CBC) ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuarterly compliance seminars with membership including access to Young & Associates compliance hotline. Session topics include appraisals, closing disclosure auditing, APR software, advertising regulations, and third-party risk management.
• Folds of Honor / American Dunes Golf ClubpreferredStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual golf outing at American Dunes Golf Club supporting Michigan Folds of Honor chapter, which has raised over $350,000 for scholarships for Michigan students.
• Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of Michigan Bank Directors' College with DIFS, bringing together regulatory agency representatives from DIFS, FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve for director education.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Community Bankers Association of Illinois: A state-level community bank trade association serving Illinois community banks with advocacy, education, compliance seminars, and networking forums — the same operating model CBM uses in Michigan.
• Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota (ICBM): A Minnesota state community bank association with comparable advocacy, education, and convention offerings — a structurally identical peer competing in an adjacent state.
• Community Bankers Association of Indiana (CBAI): Indiana's state association for community banks providing conventions, compliance schools, advocacy, and PAC services. Operationally equivalent to CBM, useful as a peer benchmark in a neighboring Midwest market.
• Michigan Bankers Association: The statewide trade body for all Michigan-chartered banks, including community banks. It mirrors CBM's advocacy, education, and networking missions in the same geography and directly competes for the same member banks and associate sponsors.
• Community Bankers Association of Georgia: Georgia's community bank trade association providing conferences, compliance education, advocacy, and associate-member services — equivalent in scope and member-segment to CBM.
• Community Bankers Association of Ohio: An Ohio state association for community banks delivering parallel programming: annual conventions, compliance schools, PAC, and preferred partner programs analogous to CBM's portfolio in Michigan.
• Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT): Texas's statewide community bank association offering conventions, education, advocacy, and member services — same playbook as CBM, scaled to a much larger banking market.

Others

• Credit Union National Association (CUNA): The national trade body for credit unions; CUNA is structurally analogous to CBM (a state/national federation serving member-owned financial institutions) but for credit unions rather than community banks, useful as a business-model benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• American Bankers Association (ABA): ABA is the largest U.S. banking trade association, serving banks of all sizes including community banks. It overlaps with CBM on advocacy, education, and compliance resources, and competes for associate-member sponsorships at the national level.
• Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA): ICBA is CBM's national affiliate and the only national trade association exclusively representing community banks. It offers overlapping federal advocacy, education, and preferred-vendor programs, functioning as both a strategic partner and a direct substitute offering at the national level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cbofm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Bankers of Michigan