Article
The CBA today
Today, the Canadian Bankers Association is the voice of more than 60 domestic and foreign banks operating in Canada and their nearly 300,000 employees and it continues to provide governments and others with a centralized contact to all banks on matters relating to banking in Canada. The CBA advocates for public policies that contribute to a sound, thriving banking system to ensure Canadians can succeed in their financial goals.
The Association promotes financial literacy to help Canadians make informed financial decisions and sponsors two financial literacy seminar programs: Your Money Students and Your Money Seniors.
The Association also works with banks and law enforcement to help protect customers against financial crime and promote fraud awareness.
Member service
The CBA provides its members with information, research and operational support, and contributes to the development of public policy on issues that affect financial institutions. The Association is continually involved in financial data collection and analysis, consumer protection efforts, fighting bank fraud, and developing industry consensus on issues impacting banks in Canada.
Our purpose, vision, mission and values guide our efforts:
PURPOSE: Ensuring the sector is at the forefront of growing a sustainable economic future for Canadians.
VISION: To be an industry-driven and forward-looking organization that is responsive to the needs and interests of its membership.
MISSION: The CBA is an industry-driven organization that works to advocate for and promote banking in Canada.
Values: Our values strengthen our focus on trust, belonging, curiosity, and impact — while preserving what defines us.
Accountable Leadership: Demonstrates leadership at every level by taking responsibility for decisions, actions, and outcomes, modeling integrity, and driving results that build trust.
Digital & Innovative Mindset: Embraces technology, creative problem-solving, and continuous learning to adapt, improve, and drive change in a rapidly evolving world.
Engages Stakeholders Strategically: Proactively understands and responds to the needs of members, government, partners, and colleagues, building purposeful relationships that align with organizational goals.
Inclusive Collaboration: Works effectively across differences and teams by creating an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed, valued, and integrated into shared solutions.
Value Creation: Focuses on delivering meaningful outcomes that benefit members, the industry, and Canadians by aligning work with organizational purpose and driving continuous improvement.
CBA community involvement
Banks and their employees are among Canada's top corporate donors to charities and non-profit organizations and have a long tradition of community participation. As the industry association for the banks, the CBA and its employees are also committed to giving back to communities. Over the years, employees of the CBA have participated in events and fundraisers and are currently supporters of the the United Way of Canada.
As part of its efforts to support youth, the Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP) has also received funding and support from the CBA for more than 30 years. The PIP is a non-partisan initiative that gives young Canadians an opportunity to work on Parliament Hill with both Government and Opposition Members of Parliament. Since 1970, more than 550 young Canadians have benefited from the Programme, with many going on to senior positions in the academic, public and private spheres.
Governance
The Association’s rules and procedures are contained in the Special Act of Parliament of Canada incorporating the CBA, as amended, and the bylaws of the CBA. Decisions are made by committees that are comprised of member bank representatives.
Board of Directors
The composition of the CBA’s Board of Directors includes:
- A member representative (senior executive) from each of the 6 Domestic Banks that have been designated as a Domestic Systemically Important Bank (DSIB)
- Three member representatives from the Domestic Small and Mid-Sized Banks
- Three member representatives from the Foreign Banks
The CBA President & CEO also sits on the Board of Directors.
The CBA adheres to federal and provincial lobbyist registration rules and requirements.
The CBA operates on the basis of a privacy policy and related procedures that guide its handling of the personal information it collects. This policy deals only with personal information handled by the CBA.
Working with others
In Canada
The CBA works with federal and provincial governments, business associations and consumer groups to help ensure that regulations and other rules impacting the banking industry are efficient and effective. The banking industry is a strong driver of the Canadian economy and annually contributes tens of billions of dollars to Canada’s GDP and delivers financing for consumers and businesses. With more than 40 banks offering retail financial products and services to Canadians, consumers are well served by an innovative and competitive marketplace.
Internationally
The Canadian Bankers Association actively promotes the Canadian banking system internationally and contributes to consultations on global regulatory standards for banks lead by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The CBA is also a member of the International Banking Federation (IBFed) and presently holds the Chair of the IBFed.