City First Bank picks MANTL to speed digital account opening

City First Bank has selected MANTL Onboarding & Account Opening to modernise its retail account opening process as part of the Washington-based lender's nationwide growth strategy.

The bank plans to deploy the system across branches and digital channels so customers can open accounts remotely in minutes. It will also use MANTL's broader onboarding tools to support relationship managers and standardise account opening across channels.

City First serves communities in Washington, DC, Los Angeles and other markets. It is a Community Development Financial Institution and a Minority Depository Institution, with a lending and deposit model focused on affordable housing, small businesses and nonprofit community facilities in underinvested neighbourhoods.

The agreement gives the bank a digital way to reach depositors beyond its physical branch network, an important step for lenders such as City First that want to attract customers nationally while maintaining a community banking model.

MANTL is part of Alkami, which sells digital banking and account opening software to US banks and credit unions. For City First, the platform is expected to automate more than 85% of application decisions, including Know Your Customer, Anti-Money Laundering and Bank Secrecy Act checks, as well as funding and core booking.

This level of automation is intended to reduce manual work for relationship managers and move more applications through without staff intervention. The bank aims to combine that operational shift with the personalised service that sets it apart.

Brian Argrett, President and Chief Executive Officer of City First Bank, said the change is intended to widen access to the bank's services.

"At City First Bank, making banking accessible starts at the front door. Today that door is digital. Partnership with MANTL means our community can open an account in minutes from anywhere, without encountering obstacles.

"It is a simple change that makes a huge difference in helping people save, grow, and build their financial future," Argrett said.

Growth focus

The rollout reflects a broader shift among banks seeking to acquire customers beyond their traditional catchment areas without building new branches. Digital account opening has become a key way for smaller and mid-sized institutions to compete for deposits, especially as customers increasingly compare banks on convenience as well as mission and brand.

For City First, that strategy sits alongside its social finance mandate. The investment in onboarding technology is intended to support expansion while maintaining its focus on the communities it already serves and on new customers who want to bank with a mission-led institution.

Benjamin Conant, Chief Product Officer of Alkami, linked the partnership to expansion into new markets and the bank's longer-term plans.

"Today's financial institutions need technology that helps them grow relationships, expand into new markets, and create omnichannel experiences that differentiate their institution," Conant said.

"City First Bank has a clear vision for growth while remaining deeply committed to its mission and the communities it serves. We're excited to partner with their team as they execute that vision with an omnichannel account opening experience that supports deposit growth, strengthens relationship banking, and positions the bank for long-term success," he added.

City First is also a Certified B Corporation and Public Benefit Corporation, and a member of the National Bankers Association. The bank said these affiliations reflect its focus on financial access and community development as it extends its reach beyond its existing footprint.

The lender offers commercial real estate loan products, services and depository accounts tied to investment in affordable housing, small businesses and nonprofit facilities, particularly in underinvested areas. Its wider network includes affiliated nonprofit organisations under the City First brand.

The new system will automate more than 85% of application decisions, covering checks, product setup, funding and core booking while reducing the need for manual intervention.