Commercial · Industry Specific
Banking for Corporate PACs and Separate Segregated Funds
Deposit accounts, treasury management, and lending reviewed for applicable FEC rules, for corporate and trade association PACs from officers who know how separate segregated funds operate.
Political Banking Team
(571) 899-6660politicalbanking@chainbridgebank.com
Relationship officers open corporate PAC accounts nationwide and coordinate directly with PAC managers, treasurers, compliance firms, and counsel.
Overview
Opening a corporate PAC bank account
A corporate PAC is a separate segregated fund (SSF) established and administered by a corporation, trade association, membership organization, or labor organization. To open the account, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. generally requests the PAC’s Employer Identification Number (EIN), a copy of its FEC Statement of Organization (Form 1), the name of its connected organization, and identification for authorized signers. The account should be opened in the committee’s name using the committee’s EIN.
Many banks rarely handle these entities. Chain Bridge works with corporate and association PACs regularly. Our officers understand how separate segregated funds operate, including PAC management, the restricted class, compliance, and reporting schedules. We work with the compliance firms, treasurers, and counsel who manage PAC accounts professionally, as well as corporations and connected organizations standing up a PAC for the first time.
Informational only. This page describes the documents Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. typically requests to open an account. It is general information about banking with the Bank and is not legal, tax, accounting, or campaign-finance advice. Registration, the permissible solicitable class, contribution limits, and reporting obligations for separate segregated funds are governed by the Federal Election Commission and applicable law. For requirements that apply to your PAC, consult the Federal Election Commission and your own legal counsel.
Step by step
How to open your account in four steps
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Contact the Political Banking Team
Start with a relationship officer, who confirms the documents your PAC, connected organization, and signers need for account opening.
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Provide entity documentation
Provide the PAC’s IRS EIN assignment letter, a copy of its filed FEC Statement of Organization (Form 1), and the name of its connected organization.
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Provide signer information
Provide a government-issued photo ID and the Bank’s signer information form for each authorized signer on the account.
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Configure account services
Work with your relationship officer to set up treasury management, card, lending, and deposit services that fit the PAC’s operations.
What you’ll need
- EIN: the PAC’s federal Employer Identification Number
- FEC Form 1: the PAC’s Statement of Organization
- Connected organization: the corporation, association, membership organization, or labor organization that administers the SSF
- Authorized signers: identification for the treasurer and other signers
New to PAC formation?
Before opening an account, a PAC typically obtains an EIN from the IRS, files the FEC Statement of Organization (Form 1), and designates a treasurer. Your relationship officer can point you to public resources and explain the Bank’s account-opening process.
Reference
Separate segregated funds, in brief
A concise reference on how SSFs are formed, funded, and banked. Experienced PAC professionals will know much of this already; it is included for newcomers and for teams briefing a connected organization.
Connected organization
An SSF is established and administered by a corporation, trade association, membership organization, or labor organization, known as its connected organization.
Administrative and solicitation costs
The connected organization may generally pay the SSF’s establishment, administration, and solicitation costs under FEC rules. These costs are handled separately from the PAC’s own funds.
The solicitable class
An SSF may solicit contributions only from a restricted class defined by the FEC, such as the connected organization’s executive and administrative personnel and, for trade associations, member companies’ restricted classes.
FEC registration
An SSF registers with the FEC on the Statement of Organization (Form 1) and reports on a schedule set by the Commission.
Contribution limits
Contributions to and from an SSF are subject to federal limits set by the FEC. Limits and indexing are determined by the Commission, not the Bank.
Corporate and association PACs
Corporate PACs are sponsored by a corporation. Trade association and membership PACs are sponsored by associations or membership organizations. The Bank serves both.
Treasury management
Political banking and treasury solutions
Treasury Management is available to political committees and tax-exempt organizations as a structured digital environment for managing cash flow, payments, and reporting, with configurable permissions, multi-level approvals, and visibility across supported payment channels.
These tools are designed to support the operational discipline and reporting cadences that committees and tax-exempt organizations must maintain. Custodial and trust services are also available through the Bank’s Trust & Wealth Division for committees holding reserves or investing surplus funds.
ACH and Wire Origination
Domestic ACH and Fedwire® plus international wires, with reusable templates and configurable approval tiers.
Positive Pay
Check and ACH monitoring with optional payee-name verification to help identify unauthorized payments.
Revenue-Only Accounts
Segregated accounts that accept deposits but cannot originate outbound payments.
Secured Business Credit Card
Secured by a deposit account pledged as collateral, it may suit newly formed PACs and other organizations without borrowing capacity or traditional financing. Financial statements are not required, and there is no annual fee. Subject to credit approval.
Image Cash Letter (ICL)
Deposit activity from X9.37 electronic check image files cleared through the Federal Reserve.
QuickBooks® Integration
Direct connection for treasurer workflows, reconciliation, and reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Corporate PAC banking questions
The answers below are general information about banking with Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. They are not legal, tax, accounting, or campaign-finance advice. For rules that govern your PAC, consult the FEC and your own counsel.
What is a corporate PAC, or separate segregated fund (SSF)?
A corporate PAC is a separate segregated fund (SSF): a political committee established and administered by a connected organization, such as a corporation, trade association, membership organization, or labor organization. The SSF registers with the FEC and raises and spends funds subject to FEC rules. This is general information, not legal or campaign-finance advice.
How do I open a corporate PAC bank account?
Contact the Political Banking Team at politicalbanking@chainbridgebank.com or (571) 899-6660. A relationship officer identifies the documents the Bank needs, which generally include the PAC’s Employer Identification Number (EIN), a copy of its FEC Statement of Organization (Form 1), the name of its connected organization, and identification for authorized signers. Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. opens corporate PAC accounts nationwide.
Can a corporation pay its PAC’s administrative costs?
Under FEC rules, a connected organization may generally pay the establishment, administration, and solicitation costs of its separate segregated fund, separately from the PAC’s own contribution funds. The specific rules and any exceptions are set by the FEC. Consult the FEC and your own counsel for how they apply to your PAC.
Whom can a corporate PAC solicit for contributions?
An SSF may solicit contributions only from a restricted class defined by the FEC. For a corporation, this generally includes its executive and administrative personnel and shareholders. For a trade association, it generally includes member companies’ restricted classes, subject to FEC conditions. The Commission’s rules govern who may be solicited and how.
Does Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. offer lending to PACs?
Yes. The Bank works with corporate and association PACs on lending solutions reviewed for applicable FEC rules, including secured lines of credit for short-term and seasonal spending needs. Lending is subject to the Bank’s credit approval.
What is the difference between a corporate PAC and a Super PAC?
A corporate PAC, or SSF, is connected to a sponsoring organization, may make contributions to candidates within FEC limits, and may solicit only its restricted class. A Super PAC is an independent expenditure-only committee that may raise unlimited sums but may not contribute directly to candidates. These are distinct committee types under FEC rules.
Can a newly formed PAC get a business credit card?
Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. offers a Secured Business Credit Card that may suit newly formed PACs and other organizations without borrowing capacity or traditional financing. It is secured by a deposit account pledged as collateral. Financial statements are not required for Secured Business Credit Card requests. Cards are available to organizations with a Chain Bridge deposit relationship and are subject to credit approval. This is not a commitment to extend credit.
Do you bank trade association and membership PACs?
Yes. In addition to corporate PACs, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. banks separate segregated funds sponsored by trade associations, membership organizations, and labor organizations.
Do you bank other political committees besides corporate PACs?
Yes. Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. banks the full range of political committees, including candidate campaigns, party committees, Super PACs, and advocacy organizations. See the Political Committees page for the complete overview and a step-by-step guide to opening an account.
How do I contact the Political Banking Team?
Call the dedicated political banking line at (571) 899-6660 or email politicalbanking@chainbridgebank.com. The relationship team works with PAC managers, treasurers, and political finance professionals nationwide. The Bank’s headquarters is at 1445-A Laughlin Avenue, McLean, Virginia 22101.
Ready to begin
Open a corporate PAC account
The Political Banking Team welcomes inquiries from PAC managers, treasurers, compliance firms, and counsel, as well as organizations opening their first PAC. Call (571) 899-6660 or email politicalbanking@chainbridgebank.com. Banking another committee type? See the Political Committees page.
Chain Bridge Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Deposits are insured by the FDIC up to applicable limits.
Deposit and treasury services are subject to account approval, identity-verification requirements, agreements, disclosures, and fees. Lending and credit products are subject to credit approval. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, campaign-finance, or compliance advice.
Committee registration, contribution limits, permissible activities, and reporting obligations are governed by the Federal Election Commission and applicable federal and state law. Committees should consult the FEC and their own legal, tax, accounting, and compliance advisors regarding the rules that apply to them.
Last reviewed: June 2026.
