ABA (American Bankers Association)

The American Bankers Association is the primary trade association for US banks. Like any other trade association, the ABA is founded and funded by the businesses that operate in their specific industry – in this case, banks or other financial institutions.

The ABA’s primary job is supporting its members, whether by lobbying for legislation that concerns banks and FIs, providing guidance when regulations change, or training individuals within the field. They also publish the ABA Banking Journal, a widely read industry publication.

Representing banks of all sizes and boasting two million employees, the ABA the largest and the oldest trade association for the financial industry, with roots going all the way back to 1875. During that time, the ABA was instrumental in shaping the progress of banking with developments like the nine-digit routing number used to identify specific banks