The Community Bankers Association of Oklahoma is a member-driven trade association.  It is funded by the membership dues of community banks owned or chartered in the State of Oklahoma.  Voting membership is not open to large, out-of-state mega-banks, even if they have branches in Oklahoma.

CBAO allows bankers to collectively accomplish many goals that would normally be attainable with the only efforts of an individual banker or individual bank.  The majority of legislation that affects the community banking industry is now decided in Washington, DC. CBAO along with 33 other state community banking associations, work hand in hand with the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).  Together, they fight proactively for legislation that would level the playing field for community banking, while at the same time maintaining a strong defense against costly and burdensome regulations.  Since both CBAO and ICBA only allow community banks in their membership, 100% of their priority issues are on behalf of the community banking industry.