CBC and CSUF College of Business and Economics Launch AI Training Partnership

Program will bring AI-certified CSUF business students into CBC for supervised internships focused on process improvement, responsible technology use and workforce development

IRVINE and FULLERTON, Calif., - [Sept. 16, 2026] - Commercial Bank of California and California State University, Fullerton's College of Business and Economics today announced a new partnership to launch the Responsible AI Community Program, a practical training initiative designed to bring AI-trained CSUF business students into the bank for hands-on experience in responsible AI, process improvement and operational learning.

The program will create a supervised internship pathway for CSUF business students to work with CBC teams to identify opportunities for AI-assisted workflow improvement, operational efficiency and responsible technology adoption. The goal is to connect classroom learning with real-world banking experience, furthering the college's commitment to experiential learning and CBC's broader commitment to innovation, financial education and community development.

The partnership comes at a time when employers across industries are moving quickly to adopt AI but are still working to close the gap between access to new tools and practical training. Recent workforce research from TrustedTech found that 46 percent of U.S. respondents said their organization lacks adequate training on safe and secure AI use, while 36 percent of employees said they are primarily self-taught in AI, compared with 23 percent who received formal employer training.

"AI is going to change how every business operates, but in banking, it has to be done with discipline, responsibility and a clear purpose," said Ash Patel, Chairman, CEO and president of Commercial Bank of California. "The conversation around AI has moved faster than the training behind it. This partnership gives us a practical way to invest in emerging talent, bring fresh thinking into the bank and explore smarter ways to improve how we work, serve clients and support our communities."

The Responsible AI Community Program is designed around structured, applied learning. Participating students will complete required onboarding and training, comply with CBC confidentiality and information security standards, and participate only in approved activities under supervision. The program will also include responsible AI literacy, financial capability education, digital banking awareness and fraud prevention awareness for communities within CBC's Community Reinvestment Act assessment areas.

CBC will serve as the lead financial institution and program owner, overseeing governance, operational controls, curriculum review, employee participation, monitoring procedures and documentation. CSUF's College of Business and Economics will support student recruitment, educational coordination, faculty supervision and responsible AI practices.

"Experiential learning is an important part of how we prepare students for a rapidly changing business environment," said Dr. Sridhar "Sri" Sundaram, Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Cal State Fullerton. "This partnership with Commercial Bank of California gives our students the opportunity to apply their AI training in a real business setting where responsible use, confidentiality and practical problem-solving matter. Just as importantly, they will see firsthand how organizations can embrace emerging technology while exercising the judgment and responsibility required to use it effectively."

The program also reflects the need for responsible AI use in highly regulated industries such as banking. Under the program's safeguards, no confidential customer information may be entered into public AI systems, and AI demonstrations will use fictional or approved sample scenarios only.

"Technology should make people better at what they do," Patel added. "Our goal is not to chase AI trends. Our goal is to use responsible tools to strengthen our work, support our employees and create better outcomes for the people and businesses we serve."

The Responsible AI Community Program will operate for an initial one-year term, with the goal of building a scalable model for student participation, applied AI learning and future hiring opportunities.

About Commercial Bank of California

Commercial Bank of California is a privately held, full-service commercial bank serving businesses, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and communities across California. Headquartered in Irvine and Oakland, CBC provides customized banking, lending, treasury management and payment solutions designed to help clients grow with confidence. As a purpose-driven institution, CBC is committed to long-term client success, local decision-making and strengthening the communities it serves. For more information, please visit www.cbcal.com.

About Cal State Fullerton College of Business and Economics

California State University, Fullerton's College of Business and Economics is one of the largest AACSB accredited business schools in the country. The College prepares students for leadership in a changing global economy through applied learning, faculty expertise and strong engagement with the business community. For more information, please visit https://business.fullerton.edu.