Alkami Technology, Inc., a digital sales and service platform provider for financial institutions in the United States, announced that City First Bank has selected MANTL Onboarding & Account Opening to modernize its retail account opening across both physical and digital banking channels.

Under the partnership, City First Bank will deploy the full omnichannel suite of MANTL solutions to create a more seamless account opening experience, equip relationship managers with more efficient workflows, and establish a scalable foundation for expanding beyond its traditional footprint. Through the implementation of MANTL Retail Account Opening, the bank is investing in technology designed to support sustainable growth while continuing to deliver the level of service its customers expect. Account opening is typically a customer's first substantive interaction with a bank, and moving that step beyond paperwork-bound, branch-dependent processes has become a competitive priority for U.S. institutions seeking deposits outside their home markets.

"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," said Brian Argrett, president and chief executive officer at City First Bank. "It is a simple change that makes a huge difference in helping people save, grow, and build their financial future."

City First Bank continues to lead with its mission at the forefront. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a Minority Depository Institution (MDI), a Certified B Corporation, a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), and a member of the National Bankers Association, the bank is reinforcing its commitment to investing in innovative technology such as MANTL that expands financial access for the communities it serves throughout Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and beyond. CDFIs are certified with the mission of broadening access to credit and financial services in underserved communities, while MDIs are depository institutions defined by minority ownership or leadership — designations that tie City First Bank's technology investments directly to the broader push for financial inclusion.

As the bank continues to broaden its reach, MANTL is expected to help City First Bank connect with more customers nationwide by delivering a modern account opening experience that preserves the personalized service that differentiates the institution.

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

With MANTL, City First Bank will be able to automate more than 85% of application decisions, including Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) checks, as well as product setup, funding, and core booking, reducing manual intervention and increasing operational efficiency. The compliance checks in question — KYC, AML, and BSA — are core federal requirements every U.S. bank must satisfy when onboarding customers, making their automation one of the more consequential elements of the deployment. What to watch from here is execution: rollout across the bank's physical and digital channels, and how far City First Bank extends account access beyond the Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles communities it serves today.