What Association for Financial Technology does

The Association for Financial Technology (AFT) is a private non-profit industry association founded in 1972 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. It serves as a networking and professional development organization for financial technology companies and their executives, with member companies collectively providing solutions, data, or services to nearly 100 percent of all U.S. financial institutions including banks, credit unions, lenders, and payment companies. AFT does not develop or sell technology products; instead, it operates through semi-annual summit events (Spring and Fall), industry subcommittees (Member Experience, Content Steering, Women in Fintech, Sponsorship, Speaker Relations), the Brandon DeWitt Technology Keynote series, and a long-running scholarship program established in 1985.

AFT's business model is built on two primary revenue streams. Corporate membership dues are priced at $1,250 per year (January through December), with prorated rates of $625 for organizations joining between June 1 and October 1, and a free extension through the following year for organizations joining after October 1. Event registration fees range from $1,545 to $1,745 per registrant for summits, with additional spouse/guest packages and optional activities. The association operates with a small staff of 11-50 employees and is governed by a volunteer board of directors drawn from member companies including Jack Henry, CSI, Gestalt Tech, Autobooks, Praxent, and others.

AFT's go-to-market approach is event-driven and relationship-based, with the primary member acquisition channels being referrals, partner organization cross-promotion (CBANC, FinXTech/Bank Director, EFTA, CUNA Strategic Services, ICBA, Solutions By Text), and semi-annual summits held at premium venues such as Rancho Bernardo Inn (San Diego), Fairmont Banff Springs (Canada), and Encore Boston Harbor. The association's distribution channels include direct sales via its corporate office, an online membership application, an event registration portal, and partner referrals from allied trade organizations.

Name

Association for Financial Technology

Legal name

Association for Financial Technology

Website

https://aftweb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association for Financial Technology is a U.S. non-profit industry association founded in 1972 that provides networking, semi-annual summits, and professional development for financial technology companies serving U.S. banks, credit unions, lenders, and payment companies, funded primarily by corporate membership dues and event registration fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Dues: AFT generates revenue primarily through annual corporate membership fees. Corporate membership is priced at $1,250 per year (January 1 - December 31). Organizations joining after June 1 and before October 1 receive a prorated rate of $625 expiring at year-end. Organizations joining after October 1 receive an extension through the end of the following year.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from summit registrations. AFT Member first registrant: $1,745; Additional registrants: $1,545. Non-member companies must contact AFT corporate office. Additional revenue streams include spouse/guest packages and optional activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Association for Financial Technology (AFT) is a non-profit industry association that provides corporate membership and semi-annual summit events (Spring and Fall) for financial technology companies serving U.S. financial institutions. Its core offerings include annual corporate memberships, networking summits, the Brandon DeWitt Technology Keynote series, the Women in Fintech forum, and the James E. Stoner/Allan W. Balch/James Bannister Scholarship Program. AFT also operates subcommittees (Member Experience, Content Steering, Women in Fintech, Sponsorship, and Speaker Relations) and facilitates peer collaboration among competing fintech providers.

Product overview

The Association for Financial Technology (AFT) is a professional membership organization serving the financial technology industry, not a product company. AFT provides networking events and professional development programs including semi-annual summits (Spring and Fall), the Brandon DeWitt Technology Keynote series, a Women in Fintech forum, and the James E. Stoner, Allan W. Balch, & James Bannister Scholarship Program. AFT member companies collectively provide solutions, data, or services to nearly 100 percent of all U.S. financial institutions. The organization facilitates collaboration among financial technology companies through events, subcommittees (Member Experience, Content Steering, Women in Fintech, Sponsorship, and Speaker Relations), and strategic partnerships. AFT does not offer software products, platforms, or technology services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brandon DeWitt Technology Keynote: Annual technology keynote tribute launched in 2023 to honor Brandon DeWitt's legacy in financial technology.

Products and services

• AFT Corporate Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100 percent of U.S. financial institutions reached through member companies

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 minor.

• CBANCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCBANC is the largest online community of verified FI professionals, comprised of 85% of banks and 30% of credit unions in the United States. Financial institutions rely on CBANC for policy documents, webinars, peer recommendations, and product information. AFT members can join CBANC's network of over 7,300 financial institutions at no cost and have their company profiled in the vendor directory. Members also receive a 10% discount on CBANC marketing solutions to reach verified FI professionals.
• FinXTech/Bank DirectorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBank Director created FinXTech in response to rapid technological changes in banking, serving as a resource for U.S. banks to discover potential technology partners and solutions. FinXTech brings together top decision-makers from traditional financial companies and fintechs through annual conferences, editorial content, and online resources. AFT members can subscribe to Bank Director magazine at no charge and receive 15% off FinXTech partnership packages including thought leadership and advertising opportunities.
• EFTA (Electronic Transactions Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEFTA is a cross-industry payments association focused on fostering productive government relations (more education than lobbying), educating members on developments in government that could impact their businesses, industry education (such as fintech developments), and high-level networking among board companies. EFTA regularly contributes to AFT programming and provides insight to government happenings impacting members.
• CUNA Strategic ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCUNA (Credit Union National Association) is the only national association advocating on behalf of all of America's credit unions, which are owned by 110 million consumer members. CUNA, along with its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, delivers advocacy, professional growth, and operational confidence to protect the best interests of credit unions. CUNA Strategic Services partnership provides networking and information sharing opportunities.
• ICBA (Independent Community Bankers of America)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerICBA is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through advocacy, best-in-class education, and high-quality products and services. ICBA represents more than 5,700 community banks of all sizes and charter types. AFT's ICBA partnership provides access to community banking decision-makers and promotional opportunities within the ICBA network.
• Solutions By TextminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolutions By Text is a division of Marketing Response Solutions, a full-service consulting firm serving the business community since 1995. Solutions By Text was created in 2008 to streamline client communication and leverage SMS for advanced business solutions in the mobile space. Partnership provides marketing and communication support capabilities to AFT members.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA):
• American Bankers Association (ABA): ABA is the largest U.S. banking industry trade association, offering advocacy, training, and events for the broader banking ecosystem; comparable to AFT as a financial-services membership body but with a much wider industry scope.
• Credit Union National Association (CUNA): CUNA is the national credit union trade association and a direct AFT partner; operates the same membership-association model but focused exclusively on credit unions rather than the full fintech vendor ecosystem.

Direct peers

• BAI (Bank Administration Institute): BAI is a non-profit industry association serving financial services professionals through research, training, and conferences — the closest direct comparable to AFT in mission, member base, and event-driven model.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFTWeb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Association for Financial Technology