Barret School of Banking

What Barret School of Banking does

The Barret School of Banking (legally The Paul W. Barret, Jr. School of Banking) is a non-profit educational institution founded in 1972 as the Memphis School of Banking and headquartered on the campus of Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee. It provides graduate-level banking education and professional development exclusively to the US community banking industry, operating a core three-year Barret Graduate School of Banking program that delivers 130+ hours of classroom instruction to participants from 45 states and Washington DC. The institution is endorsed by the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and twelve state banking associations, and is registered with NASBA as a continuing professional education (CPE) sponsor; it has never cancelled a session in its 50+ year operating history.

The product portfolio spans the Barret Graduate School (flagship), Barret Roundtable quarterly virtual/live sessions across Compliance, Marketing, Ag Lending, HR, Commercial Lending, and Innovation tracks, a Barret On-Demand catalog of academies (Ag Lending 101/201, Commercial Lending, Consumer Lending, HR Management, Fundamentals of Banking, Building Sales Culture, Understanding Bank Profitability, Compliance Series), the Barret Executive Learning Academy (BELA), The Banque Sim (monthly virtual bank simulation competitions), Barret OnBoard (outside director self-guided onboarding), the free Barret Forum open-content platform, and the Main Street Banking Podcast (rated #1 on Apple in the community banking category). Delivery is enabled by the proprietary Barret Advanced Learning Platform (ALP) for on-demand content and the Skool platform for course registration and learner access.

Revenue is generated through subsidized Graduate School tuition (approximately $2,500 per participant, underwritten by the Paul W. Barret, Jr. endowment), tiered Roundtable subscriptions ($95/year for banks under $2B in assets, $125/year for banks above $2B), individual On-Demand course fees, Barret OnBoard registration, and partner-supported programming. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging association endorsements, the #1-rated podcast, quarterly webinars (including Banking With A Purpose), the annual Speaker Series, and a 19-state Board of Regents network. Operations are intentionally lean — three core staff members (Executive Director Chris Kelley, Registrar/Communications Director Ashley Gordon, Programming Director Byron Earnheart) — with strategic and curricular oversight provided by the volunteer Board of Regents. The institution has no parent company, no disclosed acquisitions, and is privately funded through endowment, tuition, and association partnerships.

Name

Barret School of Banking

Legal name

The Paul W. Barret, Jr. School of Banking

Website

https://barretbanking.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Barret School of Banking is a non-profit educational institution, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Memphis, TN, that delivers graduate-level banking education and professional development to US community bank professionals across 45+ states, endorsed by ICBA and 12 state banking associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Banking Education and Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Banking & Capital Markets (EDAAAPAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Banking, Credit & Lending (Underwriting, Credit Risk) (EDABAJAH)

Keywords

• Banking education
• Community bank training
• Graduate banking programs
• Lending certification
• Compliance training

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Graduate School Tuition: The flagship Barret Graduate School is a 3-year program with tuition subsidized by endowment (approximately $2500 per participant). Annual sessions for 130+ hours of instruction.
2. Barret Roundtable Subscriptions: Annual subscription model for roundtable access: $95/year for banks under $2B in assets, $125/year for banks greater than $2B. Includes quarterly sessions on Compliance, Marketing, Ag Lending, HR, Commercial Lending, and Innovation topics.
3. On-Demand Course Fees: Individual on-demand courses including Ag Lending 101/201, Commercial Lending Academy, Compliance Series, HR Management, Fundamentals of Banking, Building Sales Culture, Consumer Lending, Understanding Bank Profitability available for purchase/registration.
4. Barret OnBoard Registration: Self-guided onboarding resource for outside directors of banks. Registration fee-based program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Barret School of Banking delivers graduate-level banking education and professional development programs to community bank professionals. Its core offerings include a three-year Barret Graduate School program (130+ hours of instruction), specialized academies in commercial, consumer, and agricultural lending, compliance, HR, and profitability training, plus the Barret Roundtable subscription series and the #1-rated Main Street Banking podcast, delivered through in-person residential sessions, live virtual training, and on-demand courses via the proprietary Advanced Learning Platform (ALP).

Product overview

Barret School of Banking is a non-profit educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of banking education products. The core offering is the three-year Barret Graduate School of Banking with 130+ hours of instruction. The portfolio includes specialized academies (Commercial Lending, Consumer Lending, Barret Executive Learning Academy), compliance and HR programs, agricultural lending certifications, and board training. The Barret Advanced Learning Platform (ALP) serves as the unified technology infrastructure delivering on-demand courses, live webinars, simulation competitions, and free content through the Barret Forum and Library. Supplementary offerings include the Main Street Banking Podcast (#1 rated community banking podcast on Apple), quarterly Barret Roundtable virtual sessions, and the Banking With A Purpose webinar series. The institution has operated since 1972 and is endorsed by ICBA and multiple state banking associations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barret Forum: Open content platform for the community banking industry offering free educational resources and webinars.
• Barret OnBoard
• Barret Roundtable
• Barret Graduate School
• Barret Library
• Barret Executive Learning Academy (BELA)
• Main Street Banking Podcast
• Barret Advanced Learning Platform (ALP)

Products and services

• Barret Graduate School of Banking A three-year advanced graduate-level banking program providing 130+ hours of classroom instruction for community bank professionals, taught by industry experts and endorsed by ICBA. Held annually in person at the Memphis campus of Christian Brothers University.
• Barret OnBoard A self-guided onboarding resource designed to accelerate outside directors' understanding of basic banking concepts, including ALCO, the lending process, key financial ratios, and the language of banking.
• Ag Lending Programs (Ag Lending 101, Ag Lending 201, Ag Lending Summit) Comprehensive agricultural lending education covering foundational and advanced topics including crop insurance, ag economy impacts on loan portfolios, and inflation mitigators for agriculture. Offered in live, virtual, and on-demand formats.
• Commercial Lending Academy Training program for commercial lending professionals covering strategic loan pricing, commercial lending best practices, and loan portfolio management. Available in live/virtual and on-demand formats.
• Consumer Lending Academy On-demand training program for consumer lending professionals covering lending fundamentals and consumer lending best practices.
• HR Management Program Human resources management training for banking professionals covering employee engagement, strategic onboarding, culture development, and talent retention. Available in both live and on-demand formats.
• Barret Compliance Series Compliance training series for banking professionals covering evolving regulations, CRA requirements, fair lending considerations, and other regulatory topics. Available as 2025 on-demand option.
• Understanding Bank Profitability Training program focused on bank financial management and profitability analysis, including how to read and interpret bank financial statements. Available in live/virtual and on-demand formats.
• Bank Sim Competitions (Banque Sim) Simulation-based banking competitions preparing the next generation for the future of banking, with monthly virtual competitions operated under the Banque Sim brand.
• Barret Executive Learning Academy (BELA) Executive-level learning program for senior banking professionals covering leadership, strategic management, and executive banking topics.
• Community Banking Board Chair Forum Forum for community bank board chairs held in both summer and winter sessions, addressing governance and leadership topics.
• Barret Roundtable Series Quarterly virtual and live learning experience with 20+ sessions per year covering Compliance, Marketing, Ag Lending, Employee Engagement/HR, Commercial Lending, and Innovation topics. Sold as an annual subscription.
• Main Street Banking Podcast The #1 rated community banking podcast on Apple, featuring episodes on AI adoption, culture, lending practices, regulatory topics, and industry trends. Hosted by Programming Director Byron Earnheart.
• Senior Lending Summit Web event for senior lending professionals focusing on current lending issues and economic conditions affecting bank loan portfolios.
• Fundamentals of Banking Foundational on-demand banking course covering essential banking concepts for new and developing professionals.
• Building Sales Culture On-demand training focused on developing sales culture within community banks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45 states and Washington DC represented in programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICBA is the nation's voice for more than 6,000 community banks. ICBA provides endorsement for Barret School of Banking programs and Community Banker University powers the educational platform. ICBA Securities also provides investment products and education services to community bankers through Barret.
• Community Banker UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Banker University (powered by ICBA) is a modernized educational platform providing premier industry-specific professional development for all career stages. Barret is affiliated and shares educational mission.
• Arkansas Community BankersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState banking association committed to preserving and promoting community banks. Endorses Barret programs for member banks in Arkansas.
• Arkansas Bankers AssociationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState banking association promoting the industry, providing government relations liaison, and educational opportunities for Arkansas members.
• Community Bankers Association of GeorgiamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBA promotes preservation and development of locally-owned community banks in Georgia through unified membership efforts.
• Indiana Bankers AssociationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState association advocating for an environment where banks can succeed, providing educational opportunities for Indiana bankers.
• Community Bankers Association of KansasmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBA creates value for Kansas community banks through advocacy, education, and services for members.
• Missouri Independent Bankers AssociationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganization of small and medium-sized, locally-owned banks dedicated to meeting financial needs of Missouri communities.
• Community Bankers Association of OhiomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBAO establishes and maintains an informed network of independent community banks in Ohio with influence to serve and promote member interests.
• Community Bankers Association of West VirginiamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWVACB represents interests of banks in West Virginia.
• Bluegrass Community Bankers AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBCBA mission is to create and promote an environment in Kentucky where community banks flourish.
• Pennsylvania Association of Community BankersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPACB promotes ideals of community banking by addressing educational, legislative, and networking needs of members.
• ICBA SecuritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICBA Securities provides community bankers with quality investment products, services, and education at competitive prices through exclusively endorsed broker Stifel. Jim Reber serves on Barret Board of Regents.
• Christian Brothers University (CBU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarret School of Banking offices are located on CBU campus. Barret graduates are eligible for six hours of graduate credit upon admission to the MBA program at CBU.
• Gerrish Smith TuckmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerrish Smith Tuck LLC and PC offer business consulting, financial advisory, and legal services to community banks nationwide. Jeffrey C. Gerrish and team contribute to Barret through Board service and authored 'Gerrish's Glossary for Bank Directors'.
• Sawyers & Jacobs LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeaders in innovation, risk management, cybersecurity, and technology with mission of 'Making Banks Better'.
• Reynolds Bone & GriesbeckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRBG specializes in accounting, tax, and advisory services for financial institutions.
• National Registry of CPE Sponsors (NASBA)coreOthersBarret School of Banking is registered with NASBA as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.
• DD & F Consulting GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDD&F provides comprehensive bank consulting services to the financial services industry nationwide.
• PerformancePoint, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuman resources and talent management solutions firm focusing on culture, customer, and associate relationships. Contributed research on employee engagement to Barret roundtables.
• Holtmeyer & MonsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovers every stage of SBA Lending from loan packaging and closing to securitization and sale through portfolio servicing.
• In-Synk ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings business leaders clear perspective and proven tools to successfully align strategies, actions, and goals.
• Risk Management Association (RMA) - Memphis ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit, member-driven professional association advancing sound risk principles in financial services industry.
• Arkansas State University - MBA ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarret graduates are eligible for six hours of graduate credit upon admission to the MBA program at Arkansas State University.
• High Performance TeamsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSales, marketing, and management resource company providing training resources to build high performance teams.
• The Kafafian GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps community financial institutions become more efficient and profitable, solving challenges and taking advantage of opportunities in changing industry environment.
• Social AssuranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded 2011, provides suite of software solutions, services, and storytelling tools for financial services industry. Serves over 1,500 financial brands with mission to Empower, Ignite and Enable financial brands.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• CUNA (Credit Union National Association): The national trade association for credit unions in the U.S. Provides education and certification programs for credit-union professionals — adjacent to Barret's community-bank focus and serving a related but distinct cooperative-depository market segment.

Emerging players

• Bankers Academy: An online training provider specializing in banking, financial-services, and compliance education. Competes with Barret's on-demand courses and ALP platform via a digital-first delivery model, particularly for compliance and front-line staff training.
• Bankers Online (BOL): A long-running online resource providing compliance and regulatory training courses for community banks. Competes with Barret's Barret Compliance Series on regulatory topics, and overlaps in serving the same community-bank compliance officer persona.

Direct peers

• Pacific Coast Banking School: One of the regional graduate schools of banking serving community bank professionals on the West Coast. Operates with a similar three-year graduate-level curriculum and residential sessions, and competes for the same pool of banker students across overlapping geographies.
• Stonier Graduate School of Banking (American Bankers Association): The flagship graduate banking program of the American Bankers Association. Directly competes with Barret for community bank executives seeking graduate-level banking credentials, with overlapping curriculum (commercial lending, compliance, leadership) and similar residential format.
• Graduate School of Banking at Wisconsin: A regional graduate school of banking affiliated with the Wisconsin Bankers Association. Offers a comparable three-year graduate banking program with similar residential structure, competing with Barret for Midwest community bank talent.
• South Carolina School of Banking: A state-affiliated graduate banking program serving community bank professionals. Operates with comparable curriculum and residential format, representing direct competition in the Southeast where Barret also draws significant enrollment.

Broad incumbents

• American Bankers Association (ABA): The largest U.S. banking industry trade association. Operates Stonier Graduate School of Banking and a wide portfolio of compliance, lending, and leadership training — providing overlapping but broader-scope offerings versus Barret's community-bank specialization.
• Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA): The national trade association for community banks and a Barret endorsement partner. Through Community Banker University, ICBA provides banking education that overlaps with Barret's curriculum, though broader in scope and positioned as the industry's standard-bearer.

Others

• Risk Management Association (RMA): A member-driven professional association serving the financial-services risk and credit community. Offers credit-analysis and risk-management education that overlaps with Barret's commercial lending curriculum, though RMA's mission is industry-wide risk practice rather than community-banking leadership development.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BarretBanking
• YouTubesoundcloud.com/barretschoolofbanking
• Facebookfacebook.com/barretbanking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/barret-school-of-banking
• Instagraminstagram.com/barretbanking

Compliance1 record

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 Barret School of Banking