Commonwealth Business Bank
Commonwealth Business Bank is a California-chartered, FDIC-insured community bank (subsidiary of CBB Bancorp, OTCQX:CBBI) operating 11 branches and 4 LPOs across California, Texas, Hawaii, Georgia, and Virginia. It provides SBA, commercial, and trade finance lending, deposit products, and treasury management to small/mid-sized businesses and retail customers, with a focus on Korean-American and multi-ethnic communities.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Commonwealth Business Bank does
Commonwealth Business Bank (CBB Bank), founded in 2005 in Los Angeles, is a California state-chartered, FDIC-insured community bank operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of CBB Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: CBBI). The bank serves small and mid-sized businesses and individual retail customers with a particular focus on Korean-American and multi-ethnic communities across California, Texas, Hawaii, and New Jersey. Its distribution comprises 11 full-service retail branches in CA, TX, and HI, supplemented by four Loan Production Offices (LPOs) in California, Georgia, Virginia, and Texas. CBB crossed $2 billion in total assets for the first time in Q4 2025 and reported a Q4 2025 net income of $4.5 million, with a 19.03% CET1 ratio maintaining Well Capitalized regulatory status.
CBB's product platform is organized around SBA lending (7(a) loans up to $5M and 504 loans up to $15M, executed under Preferred Lender Program authority), commercial lending (lines of credit, term loans, CRE loans, construction), trade finance (commercial and standby letters of credit, documentary collections), and a full suite of treasury management services (ACH origination, remote deposit capture, merchant services, lockbox, smart safe, positive pay). Retail banking includes tiered personal and business checking, savings, money market, and CDs. Technology infrastructure is conventional community bank platform — online and mobile banking (iOS, Android, BlackBerry), SSL encryption, multi-factor authentication, and inactive session timeouts — integrated with Zelle for P2P/B2B payments, QuickBooks for accounting, and Elan Financial Services for Visa/Mastercard credit card issuance.
Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on the loan portfolio (SBA, commercial real estate, commercial term, construction, and consumer loans) net of deposit interest costs, supplemented by deposit account fees, commercial lending origination fees, trade finance fees, credit card interchange, and treasury management service fees. The go-to-market combines a branch-based relationship model for retail and SMB deposit gathering, a direct field sales motion for SBA and commercial lending nationwide (leveraging PLP status), and a community/marketing presence in Korean-American and other multi-ethnic communities via the CBB Bank Foundation and nonprofit partnerships. CBB has historically grown through a mix of organic branch expansion and selective M&A (notably the 2021 acquisition of Ohana Pacific Bank, which established the Hawaii footprint), and is currently undergoing senior leadership transition with new CEO Seungho Park (Nov 2025) and new CFO Kent Smith (May 2026).
Commonwealth Business Bank firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Commonwealth Business Bank
- Legal name
- Commonwealth Business Bank
- Website
- https://cbb-bank.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Commonwealth Business Bank is a California-chartered, FDIC-insured community bank (subsidiary of CBB Bancorp, OTCQX:CBBI) operating 11 branches and 4 LPOs across California, Texas, Hawaii, Georgia, and Virginia. It provides SBA, commercial, and trade finance lending, deposit products, and treasury management to small/mid-sized businesses and retail customers, with a focus on Korean-American and multi-ethnic communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Commonwealth Business Bank industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Banking
- NAICS
- Commercial Banking (52211)
- SIC
- State Commercial Banks (6022)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts) (FSABABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC), Small Business Banking (Microbusiness/Sole Proprietor) (FSABAAAI), SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)
Keywords
Where Commonwealth Business Bank is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Commonwealth Business Bank business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Net Interest Income: Interest earned on loan portfolio (SBA loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial term loans, business lines of credit, construction loans, and consumer loans) minus interest paid on deposits. Primary revenue driver for the bank.
- Deposit Account Fees and Service Charges: Monthly service fees, transaction fees, and maintenance charges across personal and business checking, savings, and money market accounts. Fees are commonly waived based on minimum balance requirements.
- Commercial Lending Origination Fees: Fees generated from SBA 7(a) loans (up to $5 million), SBA 504 loans (up to $15 million), commercial real estate loans, construction loans, and business term loans.
- Trade Finance Fees: Fees from commercial letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and documentary collections for international trade transactions.
- Credit Card Interchange and Fees: Revenue from Visa credit cards issued through Elan Financial Services, including interchange fees and annual/card fees.
- Treasury Management Service Fees: Fees for receivables management (ACH, remote deposit, merchant services, lockbox, smart safe), payables services (wire transfers, bill payment), and fraud prevention tools (Payee Positive Pay, ACH Positive Pay).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Personal Checking accounts range from $100 minimum opening deposit with monthly fees of $0-$24 depending on account type and balance requirements. |
| Subscription | Monthly | Personal Savings & Money Market accounts range from $100-$5,000 minimum opening with interest-bearing options and tiered fee structures. |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Personal CDs require $1,000-$10,000 minimum opening with fixed rates and early withdrawal penalties. |
| Subscription | Monthly | Business Checking accounts range from $100-$500 minimum opening with monthly fees of $0-$20 and transaction-based fee structures. |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | SBA 7(a) loans up to $5 million with variable rates (WSJ Prime) and up to 90% bank financing for eligible small businesses. |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | SBA 504 loans up to $15 million with up to 90% project financing, split between CBB Bank (50%) and SBA CDC (40%). |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Commonwealth Business Bank product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Commonwealth Business Bank (CBB Bank) is a community bank offering deposit and lending products and services to meet financial needs. It provides SBA 7(a) and 504 loans (up to $5M and $15M respectively), commercial lending (lines of credit, term loans, commercial real estate, construction loans), trade finance (commercial and standby letters of credit, documentary collections), and treasury management services (ACH, remote deposit, merchant services, positive pay) to small and mid-sized businesses. For individuals, it offers personal checking, savings, money market, CDs, installment savings, credit cards, and digital banking channels including Zelle and QuickBooks integration.
Product overview
Commonwealth Business Bank (CBB Bank) operates as a community bank offering a unified platform of deposit, lending, and digital banking products. The core offerings include SBA lending programs (7(a) and 504 loans up to $15 million), commercial lending (lines of credit, term loans, property loans, construction), and trade finance services for mid-sized businesses. Consumer banking includes checking, savings, CDs, and credit cards. Digital banking capabilities span online/mobile banking with Zelle® payments, QuickBooks® integration for business accounting, and Treasury Management services (ACH, fraud prevention). All services are delivered through 11 California/Texas/Hawaii branches, 4 LPOs, and digital channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SBA 7(a) Loan Program
- SBA 504 Loan Program
- Commercial Lending
- Trade Finance
- Business Checking Accounts
- Business Savings & Money Market
- Business Certificates of Deposit
- Treasury Management Services
- Business Credit Cards
- Personal Checking Accounts
- Personal Savings & Money Market
- Personal Certificates of Deposit
- Installment Savings Account
- Personal Credit Cards
- Business Online & Mobile Banking
- Personal Online & Mobile Banking
- Zelle (Personal)
- Zelle for Business
Quantifiable outcome
- Q4 2025 net income of $4.5 million ($0.42 per diluted share)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Commonwealth Business Bank
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Commonwealth Business Bank technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature6 records
Commonwealth Business Bank partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Early Warning Services (Zelle)coreCBB Bank integrates Zelle, a service owned and operated by Early Warning Services, LLC, into both its personal and business mobile banking platforms. Zelle enables fast, safe money transfers between bank accounts using email addresses or U.S. mobile numbers. CBB Bank does not charge fees for Zelle transactions. Zelle is a co-owned service by major U.S. banks.
- Intuit (QuickBooks)coreCBB Bank offers QuickBooks integration through its Business Online Banking platform, enabling Web Connect (manual transaction downloads) and Direct Connect (automatic synchronization) for business accounting. This integration allows business customers to manage finances and conduct online banking tasks directly within QuickBooks at no additional cost.
- Elan Financial ServicescoreElan Financial Services is the creditor and issuer of CBB Bank's Visa and Mastercard credit cards (both personal and business). Elan provides zero fraud liability protection, 24/7 cardmember service, and mobile payment capabilities. CBB Bank offers these cards to both personal and business customers.
- SBA Certified Development Company (CDC)coreFor SBA 504 loans, CBB Bank partners with SBA-approved Certified Development Companies (CDCs) to co-finance projects. The structure involves CBB Bank providing 50% of project financing and the CDC providing 40%, with the borrower contributing 10-15%. This tripartite structure enables loans up to $15 million for fixed asset acquisition and real estate.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreCBB Bank is an SBA Preferred Lender Program (PLP) member, enabling expedited processing of SBA 7(a) loans (up to $5 million) and SBA 504 loans (up to $15 million). As a PLP lender, CBB has delegated authority to approve SBA loans without SBA review, providing faster closings for small business borrowers.
- Community Nonprofit OrganizationsminorCBB Bank partners with local nonprofit organizations including Ability First (Stroll & Roll event), KYCC (Korean American Youth Center - Financial Literacy and Holiday Carnival programs), AllMerits Financial Group (Youth Money Camp), 5K LoveShare Marathon, Turtle Marathon, and The Midnight Mission. These partnerships support community engagement and financial education initiatives.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Commonwealth Business Bank competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cathay General Bancorp: Cathay General Bancorp operates a larger Asian-American focused community bank with strong California presence, serving SMBs with lending, trade finance, and deposit products. Directly comparable in customer demographic focus though at larger scale.
- Hanmi Financial Corporation: Hanmi Financial is the most direct competitor, a Korean-American focused community bank headquartered in Los Angeles with similar SBA lending and SMB banking focus. Comparable deposit-gathering model and customer base make it the closest comparable for CBB.
- Bank of Hope: Bank of Hope is a Korean-American focused community bank serving SMBs and retail customers primarily in California and the broader U.S. Similar cultural niche positioning, SBA lending capabilities, and relationship-based banking model directly overlap with CBB's strategy.
- USCB Financial Holdings: USCB Financial is a small-cap community bank recently went public and was explicitly compared to CBB in the source data on dividend yield and small-cap bank metrics. Comparable size, public small-cap status, and similar community banking model.
- Heritage Commerce Corp: Heritage Commerce is a California community bank serving SMBs and consumers with similar deposit and lending products. Comparable size, branch network model, and SMB focus make it a closely matched peer for CBB.
- Thomasville Bancshares: Thomasville Bancshares is a small-cap community bank explicitly compared to CBB in the source data on dividend yield metrics. Comparable small public community bank profile, though serving different geographic regions.
- First Foundation Inc: First Foundation is a California-headquartered community bank with similar SBA lending focus and small business banking model. Comparable size and similar West Coast geographic concentration make it a relevant scale and strategy comparable.
Broad incumbents
- East West Bancorp: East West Bancorp is a much larger Asian-American focused bank with a broad commercial banking franchise including SBA, CRE, and trade finance. Competes for the same customer base but operates at materially greater scale with more diversified products.
- Pacific Premier Bancorp: Pacific Premier is a larger West Coast community bank with SBA lending capabilities, CRE lending, and SMB banking. Competes in overlapping markets though at greater scale and broader geographic footprint.
Regional players
- CVB Financial: CVB Financial (Citizens Business Bank) is an Inland Empire-headquartered California community bank serving SMBs with similar deposit, lending, and treasury management products. Comparable community banking model though serving a different California sub-region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Commonwealth Business Bank social profiles
Digital presenceCommonwealth Business Bank compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Commonwealth Business Bank financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Commonwealth Business Bank leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Commonwealth Business Bank subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Commonwealth Business Bank funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Commonwealth Business Bank M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Commonwealth Business Bank
What does Commonwealth Business Bank do?
Commonwealth Business Bank (CBB Bank) is a community bank offering deposit and lending products and services to meet financial needs. It provides SBA 7(a) and 504 loans (up to $5M and $15M respectively), commercial lending (lines of credit, term loans, commercial real estate, construction loans), trade finance (commercial and standby letters of credit, documentary collections), and treasury management services (ACH, remote deposit, merchant services, positive pay) to small and mid-sized businesses. For individuals, it offers personal checking, savings, money market, CDs, installment savings, credit cards, and digital banking channels including Zelle and QuickBooks integration.
Is Commonwealth Business Bank a public or private company?
Commonwealth Business Bank is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Commonwealth Business Bank founded?
Commonwealth Business Bank was founded in 2005. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Commonwealth Business Bank based?
Commonwealth Business Bank is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Commonwealth Business Bank make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Net Interest Income is the primary driver. The others are deposit Account Fees and Service Charges, commercial Lending Origination Fees, trade Finance Fees, credit Card Interchange and Fees and treasury Management Service Fees.
Who are Commonwealth Business Bank's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cathay General Bancorp, Hanmi Financial Corporation, Bank of Hope, USCB Financial Holdings, Heritage Commerce Corp, Thomasville Bancshares and First Foundation Inc. Broad incumbents are East West Bancorp and Pacific Premier Bancorp. CVB Financial is listed as a regional player.
Does Commonwealth Business Bank have an API?
No public API is recorded for Commonwealth Business Bank.
What industry is Commonwealth Business Bank in?
Commonwealth Business Bank's product category is Community Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABABAB, SME Business Lending (Term Loans, Lines of Credit, Overdrafts), with a secondary code of FSABABAC, SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs). Its NAICS code is 52211 and its SIC code is 6022.