James Ballentine

Meet the Founder

James Ballentine is the Founder and CEO of Ballentine Strategies, a government relations and strategic consulting firm with practice areas in financial services and small business.

Mr. Ballentine has over three decades of banking and small business policy, political and legislative experience working with the largest banking trade association in the country and members of Congress on both sides of the political aisle. Mr. Ballentine brings a unique set of communication skills combined with the integrity needed to get things done on Capitol Hill. His keen understanding of banking and small business industries, the legislative process, political and grassroots strategy gives him exceptional insights into shaping and influencing policy outcomes.

Named in 2022 to Washingtonian Magazine’s “Washington DC’s 500 Most Influential People” and also named multiple times as one of the “Top Lobbyist” by the Hill Newspaper, Mr. Ballentine has been involved in nearly every relevant banking policy issue for the past two decades. He has led the American Bankers Association (ABA) Congressional Relations and Political Affairs Department and has been responsible for managing and directing the association’s legislative and political operations. Prior to heading the congressional relations area, Mr. Ballentine was responsible for the ABA’s grassroots operations and directed the association’s Center for Community Development and housing policy.

Prior to his 22 year career at ABA, Mr. Ballentine was appointed by the White House to serve as the Associate Deputy Administrator at the Small Business Administration (SBA). This appointment occurred while Mr. Ballentine was serving as the Senior Advisor to SBA’s Deputy Administrator.

A ten-year veteran on Capitol Hill, Mr. Ballentine served two members of Congress as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Maryland Congressman Albert Wynn (D-MD) and as Legislative Director to New York Congressman Frank Horton (R-NY).

During his extensive career in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ballentine has been a featured and frequent speaker at conferences, schools and on political panels. He has also been quoted extensively on multiple media platforms. Mr. Ballentine has also served in advisory roles on local and federal political campaigns.

Additionally, Mr. Ballentine is Co-Founder of the Cheerful Giver Foundation, a charitable foundation designed to help underserved groups throughout Washington, D.C.

Mr. Ballentine is a 1989 graduate of the University of the District of Columbia with a degree in Communications and Mass Media.