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Leadership Banks

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Leadership Banks

Eligible institutions that voluntarily provide above-market interest rates on IOLTA/IOTA accounts are recognized as CBF Leadership Banks.

Leadership Banks generate the majority of IOLTA funds, which help low-income Connecticut residents access free civil legal aid for challenges like housing instability, domestic violence, immigration, accessing educational resources, accessing health care resources, and more.

Learn more about Leadership Bank eligibility and benefits.

Banking with a Leadership Bank is banking on justice!

Leadership Banks pay the highest rates on IOLTA and IOTA balances and generously waive service fees to provide additional funding for civil legal aid in Connecticut. CBF thanks to these institutions and encourage attorneys to bank with them. Doing so directly impacts the amount of interest earned for legal aid programs and helps close the justice gap.

CBF Leadership Banks

Banking on Justice Award: Investing in Justice, Empowering Communities

The Banking on Justice Award is an annual honor recognizing a Connecticut Bar Foundation Leadership Bank for its exceptional commitment to advancing access to justice. The award celebrates leadership in supporting the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts/Interest on Trust Accounts (IOLTA/IOTA) program and broader efforts to strengthen civil legal aid in Connecticut. The awardee is recognized at CBF’s James W. Cooper Fellows Annual Reception.

Leadership Banks voluntarily provide above-market interest rates on IOLTA/IOTA accounts, generating the majority of CBF’s  funding for civil legal aid. Their commitment extends further through event sponsorships, networking opportunities, and volunteer leadership, including service on CBF’s Board of Directors.

2026 Inaugural Banking on Justice Award

This award celebrates a bank whose partnership strengthens Connecticut’s civil legal aid system—helping families avoid eviction, access healthcare, and seek safety from domestic violence. By investing in justice, it exemplifies the power of collaboration in stabilizing communities and achieving equal access to justice for all.

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