American Bankers Association Launches Yearlong Campaign Celebrating 150th Anniversary

In honor of the American Bankers Association’s 150th anniversary in 2025, ABA today kicked off a yearlong celebration of this milestone moment for the nation's largest and oldest banking trade association. Among other anniversary initiatives, ABA launched a new 150th anniversary webpage with an interactive timeline tracing key moments and accomplishments over ABA’s long and proud history of serving and representing the banking industry.

Inspired in part by the success of the suffragette movement, ABA was founded in July 1875 in Saratoga Springs, New York, when 349 bankers from 31 states and the District of Columbia came together to form a new national advocacy organization. They were driven by the belief that they could accomplish more through collective action and collaboration.

“150 years ago, bank leaders from across the country had the vision to create the American Bankers Association and give banks of all sizes, charters and business models a single, national voice to advocate on their behalf," ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols said. "Today, 150 years later, ABA remains the voice of the nation's banking industry, and we are excited to celebrate this important anniversary with our members, policymakers and the public throughout 2025."

ABA will celebrate its 150th anniversary at the association’s major events and conferences throughout the year, including the 2025 ABA Washington Summit in the nation’s capital from April 7-9. The annual event offers bankers the opportunity to hear from the top policymakers in Washington, as well as to advocate on key banking issues before members of Congress and regulators. An official anniversary celebration is also planned for July in Washington. 

“I'm honored to serve as ABA chair during this anniversary year, and I look forward to celebrating ABA's many accomplishments over the last 150 years over the course of 2025,” said John Asbury, Atlantic Union Bankshares CEO and current ABA chair. "As we reflect on our past, we will also spend this year focused on the future. Just as our founders did in 1875, we need to fight for a policy environment that will ensure that banks of all sizes and their customers can thrive for the next 150 years and beyond."

The new ABA webpage is available at www.aba.com/Celebrate150.