With a down-home — yet high-tech — approach to banking (not to mention a management team that's predominantly women), Citizens Bank of Edmond is proving that there still are advantages to being small.

The decision to leave Charles Schwab for a startup seemed crazy, especially since Carrie Dolan wasn't entirely sure, when a headhunter first called to recruit her for Lending Club, precisely what peer-to-peer lending was. But now her move looks like a good one.

A nonprofit she started in 2010 helped to earn Suni Harford a prestigious award from the U.S. Army.

Joyce Chang has made it her mission to encourage more young women to pursue careers in finance.

Katia Bouazza has built HSBC's Latin American franchise into an investment banking powerhouse.

Since Julie Monaco became Citigroup's global head of public-sector corporate and investment banking in 2013, she has reoriented the $1.8 billion business to focus on clients, rather than products.

In an industry known for its high turnover, Wells Fargo Securities, under Diane Schumaker-Krieg, has thrived by committing to a culture of promoting from within.

The highest-ranking female at Key's corporate and investment bank, Amy Carlson built the debt capital markets business from the ground up.

Veteran investment banker Elinor Hoover strives to keep Citi's clients ahead of the latest trends.

Liz Myers and her team are winning deals by tapping into the banking giant's existing capabilities and entering new business lines.

Tracey Brophy Warson is leading Citi's North American private bank to new heights. As one of the bank's highest-profile women, she's also playing an increasingly important role in helping to advance the careers of promising women.

Paula Polito has revived UBS' wealth management business in the Americas by targeting the emerging affluent and upgrading the firm's client service.

Under Fiona Bassett, Deutsche Bank's nascent U.S. exchange-traded fund business into one of the fastest-growing ETF platforms in North America.

TIAA-CREF's unit that provides financial advice to individuals has more than doubled in size since Kathie Andrade took the helm in 2011.

Dawn Fitzpatrick overcame a childhood speech impediment to become one of the few women to run a major hedge fund, not to mention a fixture on financial news shows.

Louise Kelly devised the unusual business model for EnerBank USA and had to fight to put it into practice. Selling her idea to CMS Energy proved to be pivotal.

In a career filled with difficult assignments, Jane Fraser tackles perhaps her biggest challenge yet as Citigroup's CEO of Latin America.

Kathy Rogers, a 27-year veteran of U.S. Bancorp, is now a member of its management committee following her January promotion to CFO.

A successful run heading retail at Zions' lead bank has earned LeeAnne Linderman a higher-profile job and a seat on the company's management committee.

Fifth Third Mortgage has a ways to go to become one of the industry's biggest lenders, but it's making major strides under Michelle Van Dyke's leadership.