Cannabis-related business (CRB)
A cannabis-related business, or CRB, is any business connected to the cannabis industry, from licensed growers and dispensaries to landlords, vendors and service providers that depend on them.
What a cannabis-related business is
Cannabis-related business, or CRB, is the term banks and credit unions use for any business connected to the cannabis industry. It covers licensed cultivators, manufacturers and dispensaries, and often the businesses that serve them, such as landlords, security firms, consultants and software providers. FinCEN's 2014 guidance uses the similar term marijuana-related business, or MRB.
How institutions categorize CRBs
Many institutions sort CRBs into three tiers. The tiers are an industry convention, not a federal rule, and definitions vary by institution.
- Tier 1: licensed businesses that grow, process or sell cannabis.
- Tier 2: businesses that earn a significant share of their revenue from Tier 1 businesses, such as landlords or equipment suppliers that specialize in cannabis.
- Tier 3: businesses that serve cannabis clients occasionally, as a small part of a broader customer base.
Why it matters
A business's tier usually decides how much due diligence it goes through, what documents it must provide and how closely its account is monitored. Some ancillary businesses are surprised to learn they count as CRBs and have had accounts closed at institutions without a cannabis program.
What to look for
- Whether your institution treats your business as a CRB, and at which tier.
- What documentation it needs at onboarding and over time.
- Whether it has a dedicated program for cannabis-related accounts.
How Safe Harbor helps
Safe Harbor banks licensed operators and ancillary cannabis businesses, with due diligence built for each.
Related terms
Cannabis banking · Customer due diligence · Full glossary
This page is for general information only. Last reviewed November 2026.