Pennsylvania Cannabis Banking

Every cannabis business in Pennsylvania eventually hits the same wall when trying to get access to financial services. You can be fully licensed, operational, and growing fast, but your entire operation remains on a shaky foundation without reliable Pennsylvania cannabis banking.

You’re handling too much cash, your books are messy, your risk exposure increases, and the compliance headaches never stop. The unfortunate reality is most banks won’t touch cannabis due to its federal status. That doesn’t mean you're out of options, though.

A handful of Pennsylvania institutions are stepping up to serve the industry, and if you’re willing to meet strict compliance requirements, you can gain access to legal, consistent financial services. That’s where Solvent comes in.

Our cannabis credit card processing and compliance solutions help you simplify your operation and gain the operational clarity that most traditional providers still won’t offer. Learn more below, or reach out now to take the next step towards securing reliable cannabis banking!

The Current Outlook for Pennsylvania Cannabis and Banking

Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana in 2016 under the Medical Marijuana Act (Act 16), creating a licensed program that includes growers, processors, dispensaries, labs, and transporters.

Although adult-use legalization remains stalled in the legislature as of 2025, public support and pressure are mounting. It’s only a matter of time before this passes as well.

The state’s medical program has matured into one of the largest on the East Coast, and it’s currently handled by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which imposes strict rules around patient registration, tracking, and financial reporting.

This means your operation needs to be airtight, especially when it comes to how you manage and move money. Now the hard part: most federally chartered banks will not serve cannabis clients, no matter how compliant they are.

Offering banking services exposes institutions to risk under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations because cannabis remains federally illegal. That’s why large banks like Wells Fargo and Chase automatically reject CRB applications.

As a result, cannabis businesses in Pennsylvania often operate without:

Reliable checking and savings accounts
Legal debit or ACH payment tools
Cash management services
Vendor payment options
Reconciliation and reporting systems

But it doesn’t have to - and shouldn’t - be this way. You just need to find the right state-chartered institution, and there are a handful of options here in Pennsylvania.

Weighing Your Options for Pennsylvania Cannabis Banking

While you won’t have tons of choices at your disposal, there are five great options for Pennsylvania cannabis banking worth exploring as potential partners for your business.

First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union

This credit union based in eastern Pennsylvania offers business accounts and deposit services to cannabis companies that meet its compliance requirements - which are very strict. They’re a strong option for smaller operators who want local support.

Herring Bank

Herring Bank serves multiple cannabis-friendly states with commercial accounts, transaction tracking, and onboarding support for high-risk industries. Their multi-state experience makes them a reliable option for larger operations or multi-license entities.

Safe Harbor Financial

A fintech-backed solution that partners with financial institutions to deliver infrastructure and compliance monitoring for CRBs. Safe Harbor is often used by businesses that want hands-on control over compliance and visibility into banking workflows.

JBT Bank (Jonestown Bank & Trust Co.)

This independent community bank based in Pennsylvania has shown willingness to work with cannabis businesses, but their onboarding process is selective and based on risk assessment.

Parke Bank

Though headquartered in New Jersey, Parke serves cannabis businesses in Pennsylvania through tailored account services and secure deposit handling. They do a pretty good job of balancing compliance with accessibility.

Tips on Choosing the Right Provider for Cannabis Banking in Pennsylvania

Choosing a Pennsylvania cannabis banking involves quite a bit of due diligence. This isn’t something you should take lightly. You need a partner who understands and meets your unique needs as a CRB. Here’s what to look for when comparing your options:

Business Account Access: You need more than a checking account. Look for business savings and deposit accounts, online/mobile banking tools, and integration with accounting software.
Cash Management Services: If you're dealing in cash (and you likely are), you’ll need armored cash pick-up or smart safe solutions, daily deposit limits that meet your volume, and in-branch deposit availability.
Compliance Infrastructure: Your bank should help you stay compliant, not just hold your money. That means monitoring for suspicious activity, SAR support, seed-to-sale and license verification tools, and alerts and audit logging.
Reliable Support: Banking delays can derail your entire business. Choose a provider with cannabis-specific support staff, dedicated reps or account managers, and most importantly, quick response times and 24/7 options.

Take your time to evaluate fees as well. You can expect to pay a bit more given the extra work and risks these state-chartered providers take on in serving you, but you shouldn't have to deal with surprises. Transparency is key.

Partner With Solvent for Seamless Payment Processing and Compliance Solutions!

Solvent is redesigning how CRBs manage financial infrastructure in a market that’s set up to make life harder. We give you access to the systems and services that cannabis-friendly banks expect from their clients yet don’t provide themselves.

Whether you’re running a licensed dispensary, delivery operation, or vertically integrated brand, we’ll help you take control of your payments, compliance, and cash flow. Here’s how:

Legal Debit Transactions: Accept debit card payments at the counter, during curbside pickups, or on delivery runs. Our terminals are built for cannabis retail and display your business name for full transparency.
Real-Time Reporting and Dashboards: Our portal gives you up-to-the-minute visibility into transactions, fee summaries, and compliance metrics. Download reports instantly in Excel or PDF format.
Built-In Compliance Monitoring: We track Pennsylvania-specific requirements, suspicious activity, audit logs, and seed-to-sale integrations. Solvent helps you stay ready for any inspection or financial review.
Document and Role Management: Store licenses, documents, and reports in a secure platform. Assign roles and access levels across your team to control visibility and reduce risk.
Fast, Predictable Settlements: Unlike other providers who hold your funds, we move quickly. You’ll see money in your account within two business days or less.
Live Human Support, Around the Clock: Our US-based support team knows cannabis, and we don’t outsource your questions to bots or call centers.

Beyond supporting those in need of Pennsylvania cannabis banking, we can also help if you’re looking for Ohio cannabis banking, New Jersey cannabis banking, cannabis banking in New York, Maryland cannabis banking, Delaware cannabis banking, and more.

There’s so much more in our solution, too. We encourage you to get in touch to learn all that we can do for you. Reach out now to make sure your business runs like a business should - compliantly, predictably, and professionally!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Can’t Cannabis Companies Use Banks in Pennsylvania?

Federally chartered banks are prohibited from serving CRBs without risking penalties or audits because cannabis remains federally illegal. Only select state-chartered credit unions, community banks, or fintechs can legally work with cannabis clients.

What is the Banking Act for Cannabis?

The SAFE Banking Act is a proposed federal law that would allow financial institutions to serve cannabis businesses without federal penalties. It has passed the House several times but remains stalled in the Senate, so don’t hold your breath waiting for it to go through.

Can I Get a Loan for My Company?

It’s possible, but difficult. Most traditional banks won’t issue loans to cannabis businesses. Some credit unions and private lenders offer limited financing, usually for equipment or short-term working capital. Solvent doesn’t offer loans, but we might be able to refer you to someone who does.

Does Solvent Support Other CRBs Besides Dispensaries?

We support cultivators, manufacturers, labs, delivery services, processors, and ancillary providers - any licensed operator working in legal cannabis can trust us for help with Pennsylvania cannabis banking.

What Now?

Reach out to the Solvent team for a quick consultation. We’ll walk you through the process, connect you with what you need, and get you set up with secure, compliant payment systems fast. It’s time to stop operating in the dark and working harder than necessary!