Armed Forces Bank Logo

Armed Forces Bank began at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, one of the oldest active U.S. Army posts, founded in 1827. On January 1, 1907, the Army National Bank of Fort Leavenworth was created there to serve military personnel and their families. Its location on a major Army base shaped the bank’s audience from the start, including active-duty service members, veterans, and relatives with financial needs tied to military life.

For decades, the bank mainly served the Fort Leavenworth garrison. World War II and the Korean War increased the size of the U.S. armed forces. They raised demand for military banking services, but the institution remained a relatively small regional player until the late 1980s. In 1989, it made its first documented acquisition, buying Fort Carson National Bank at the U.S. Army base in Colorado.

In 1990, the bank changed its name to Army National Bank. On January 1, 1997, it became Armed Forces Bank, National Association. This name reflected a wider focus across all branches of the U.S. military. By then, it was part of Dickinson Financial Corporation, a Kansas City, Missouri-based holding company. Its sister institution, Academy Bank, focused on civilian customers in several states.

In the 2000s and 2010s, Armed Forces Bank expanded through branches on military bases, competing with USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union. Its model is centered on physical presence inside military installations, with 23 branches on 17 bases. In 2021, it agreed to acquire KS StateBank’s mortgage division. By 2025, about 75% of its employees had direct military ties, and the bank’s assets stood at nearly $1.4 billion.