California Bankers Association

What California Bankers Association does

The California Bankers Association (CBA) is a Sacramento-headquartered, nonprofit state trade association founded in 1891 that represents California's banking industry before the state legislature, regulators, and Congress. Its core function is advocacy, complemented by member education, training, and convening services for community and regional banks operating in California. CBA delivers its mission through four primary revenue streams: annual membership dues, sales of the proprietary CBA Compensation Survey (priced $1,099–$1,999 per license), conference and event registrations, and event sponsorships. Member-facing content assets include the CaliforniaBanker magazine (5,000+ readership), the annual convention, scholarship programs, and the Distinguished Banker recognition award.

CBA's business model is a classic membership-fee-plus-ancillary-services trade association. Member banks pay recurring dues and gain access to bundled services that include Compliance Alliance (compliance support), ABA Insurance Services, Pearl Meyer compensation benchmarking, and technology education programs. In 2026, CBA made conference registration free for member banks, signaling a strategic rebalancing toward higher member engagement and sponsor monetization rather than per-attendee fees. The organization is led by President and CEO Kevin Gould, with governance provided by a board chaired in the 2026–2027 term by Steve Miller of FFB Bank, succeeding Martin E. Plourd of Community West Bank. James Beckwith of Five Star Bank was named the 2026 Distinguished Banker. Recent strategic activity includes the 2017 acquisition of Wib (a bank-focused digital platform), partnership with Washington Bankers Association on the Banking AI Accelerator, and participation in the Countering Tech-Enabled Fraud Taskforce.

Name

California Bankers Association

Legal name

California Bankers Association

Website

https://calbankers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The California Bankers Association is a Sacramento-based nonprofit state trade association founded in 1891 that advocates for and provides education, training, and member services to California's community and regional banks. It is funded by membership dues, compensation surveys, conferences, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Banking Trade Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Commercial Banks, Nec (6029)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)

Keywords

• Banking trade association
• Legislative advocacy
• Banking education programs
• Compensation benchmarking
• Banking conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

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: Banks pay membership dues to join the California Bankers Association and gain access to advocacy representation, educational programs, networking events, member resources, and partner discounts.
2. Compensation Survey Sales: The CBA Compensation & Benefits Benchmark Survey is sold as a digital product. Participant banks pay $1,099 and non-participants pay $1,999 for access to the survey results.
3. Conference and Event Registrations: The association generates revenue from registration fees for conferences including the Annual Conference, Bank Presidents Seminar, Risk & Compliance Conference, Lending & Credit Conference, and various training programs. Fees range from $149 for single-day seminars to $895+ for multi-day conferences.
4. Event Sponsorships: Companies and vendors sponsor CBA events to gain visibility and access to bank decision-makers. Sponsorships include various levels with complimentary registrations and brand visibility options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The California Bankers Association is a trade association that advocates for the California banking industry at state and federal levels, delivers professional education and certification programs, hosts multi-day banking conferences, publishes the CaliforniaBanker magazine, and sells the annual CBA Compensation & Benefits Benchmark Survey. Membership grants California banks access to advocacy representation, networking events, vetted partner solutions, and a scholarship initiative covering graduate banking school tuition.

Product overview

The California Bankers Association operates as a trade association providing a unified platform of advocacy, education, and member services for California banks. The core offerings include government relations advocacy at state and federal levels, professional events and conferences (Annual Conference, Bank Presidents Seminar, Risk & Compliance Conference, Lending & Credit Conference), the CBA Compensation & Benefits Benchmark Survey conducted with Pearl Meyer, CaliforniaBanker Magazine, and a scholarship initiative supporting professional development. The association also facilitates partnerships through its Partner Spotlight program and maintains an Associate Member Directory. Education is delivered through multiple channels including professional development programs from the Washington Bankers Association, Banker Bootcamps, and online certifications. Together, these products form a comprehensive member support ecosystem rather than a single software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CaliforniaBanker Magazine: A bi-monthly magazine dedicated to providing timely, relevant, and unique industry content with a combined hardcopy and digital readership of over 5,000 professionals.

Products and services

• Advocacy & Government Relations Legislative and regulatory advocacy services at state and federal levels, including state government relations, federal government relations, and political action committees (State PAC and Federal PAC) representing the interests of California banks.
• Events & Education Programs Multi-day conferences, single-day programs, and online education for banking professionals at all levels, including the Annual Conference & Directors Forum, Bank Presidents Seminar, Risk & Compliance Conference, Lending & Credit Conference, and Women in Banking Forum.
• CBA Compensation & Benefits Benchmark Survey Annual compensation survey providing base salary, incentive and commission data, directors' compensation information, human resources practices, healthcare cost information, and employee benefits statistics for the banking industry. Conducted with Pearl Meyer. Participant price $1,099; non-participant $1,999.
• CaliforniaBanker Magazine Bi-monthly industry magazine with combined hardcopy and digital readership of over 5,000 professionals, featuring insights on legislation, regulatory issues, and upcoming events.
• CBA Scholarship Initiative Scholarship program for full-time employees of CBA-member banks covering tuition for graduate banking schools (Pacific Coast Banking School, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Graduate School of Banking), professional certifications (CRCM, CAMS, CFTA, CERP), and college course tuition assistance up to $2,000.
• Professional Development Programs Programs presented by Washington Bankers Association including Banking AI Accelerator, Digital Innovation Development Program, Commercial Lending Development Program, Understanding Bank Performance, Retail Branch Manager Development Program, and Management Development Program.
• Banker Bootcamps Specialized sales and service training presented by Focused Results, including Branch Manager Bootcamp, Wowing the Client workshop, and Outside Calling School.
• Online Education & Certifications Digital learning platform offering ABA Training, OnCourse Learning Webinars, and professional certification preparation programs for banking professionals.
• Associate Member Directory Directory of consulting and service partner organizations across categories including accounting, audit, compliance, fintech, legal services, lending, payments, security, and technology solutions.
• CBA Legislative Summary Annual analysis of state legislative, regulatory, and judicial activities impacting banking, providing advocacy efforts documentation for members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 professionals reached through CaliforniaBanker magazine
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Compliance AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCompliance Alliance is a key partner of CBA, helping community banks navigate complex regulatory requirements. Owned by 38 State Bankers Associations, they offer Compliance Hub, Virtual Partners, and Tailored Solutions services. CBA actively promotes Compliance Alliance programs to members through partner updates and featured events.
• ODP Business SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerODP Business Solutions provides workplace products, services, and technology solutions to help organizations operate efficiently. CBA features ODP as a partner offering member banks access to office supplies, technology, print services, and workspace solutions.
• ABA Insurance ServicescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerABA Insurance Services delivers professional liability, bond, cyber, and property & casualty insurance programs designed exclusively for banks and trust companies. As a trusted partner to the banking industry, ABAIS provides customized coverage solutions to CBA member banks.
• BankTalent HQminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBankTalentHQ helps financial institutions recruit, develop, and retain banking professionals through a specialized industry-focused career network. CBA promotes this partner to members seeking hiring and talent development solutions.
• Bank Performance ReportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBank Performance Report provides bankers with comprehensive performance rankings and peer analysis using quarterly FFIEC Call Report data. CBA recommends this partner for banks seeking benchmarking and strategic planning insights.
• BankWork$minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBankWork$ is a nationally recognized workforce development program that helps individuals launch careers in banking through free, eight-week training, job placement assistance, and ongoing coaching. CBA supports this workforce development initiative for member banks.
• Pearl MeyercoreTechnology or IntegrationPearl Meyer conducts the annual CBA Compensation & Benefits Benchmark Survey in conjunction with the California Bankers Association. They provide the digital survey platform and analysis tools used to compile compensation data for California banks.
• Kentucky Bankers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBA partners with the Kentucky Bankers Association to offer California bankers access to the annual Fraud Academy training program. This two-and-a-half day school covers fraud risk areas including check fraud, elder fraud, and cybercrime.
• Washington Bankers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBA offers professional development programs presented by the Washington Bankers Association including the Banking AI Accelerator, Digital Innovation Development Program, Commercial Lending Development Program, and Management Development Program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Bankers Association: The American Bankers Association is the national trade association for the U.S. banking industry, providing advocacy, education, and member services that directly parallel CBA's offerings. It serves as the national-level counterpart and most direct competitor for member attention and engagement.
• Independent Community Bankers of America: ICBA is the national trade association dedicated to community banking, offering advocacy, education, and member products comparable to CBA's community bank focus. It is a direct competitor for community bank membership and engagement, particularly relevant given CBA's California community bank base.
• New York Bankers Association: NYBA is one of the oldest and largest state banking trade associations in the U.S., serving New York banks with advocacy, education, and member services parallel to CBA. It is the most structurally comparable state-level peer, often cited alongside CBA as a leading state association.
• Texas Bankers Association: TBA is a major state banking trade association serving Texas banks with advocacy, education, conferences, and member services analogous to CBA's offerings. It is highly comparable in scale and product mix, making it a strong peer for benchmarking member value and revenue diversification.
• Florida Bankers Association: FBA is a state banking trade association providing advocacy, education, and member services to Florida banks with a model closely paralleling CBA's. It is a comparable peer in member structure, event programming, and regulatory advocacy approach.
• Illinois Bankers Association: IBA serves Illinois banks with state-level advocacy, education, and member services directly analogous to CBA's California offering. It is a comparable peer with similar member-driven governance and educational programming.
• Massachusetts Bankers Association: MBA is a state-level banking trade association providing advocacy and education to Massachusetts banks in a structure parallel to CBA. It serves as a useful comparator for member benefits design and event programming in a similarly regulated state environment.
• Bank Policy Institute: BPI is a policy and advocacy organization for the U.S. banking industry, focused on regulatory and legislative issues affecting large and regional banks. It overlaps with CBA's federal advocacy function and competes for member attention on national policy matters.
• Consumer Bankers Association: CBA is a national trade association focused on retail banking, providing advocacy, education, and member services to banks serving consumer markets. Its mission and product mix closely mirror CBA's educational and advocacy focus, albeit at the national level.
• Pennsylvania Bankers Association: PBA is a state banking trade association providing advocacy, education, conferences, and member services to Pennsylvania banks, with a model closely paralleling CBA's. It is a comparable peer for benchmarking educational programming, scholarship programs, and member engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calbankers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CaliforniaBankersAssociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/calbankers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-bankers-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/calbankers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 California Bankers Association