American Banker's 10 most-read stories of 2025

December 19, 2025 1:31 PM

As the curtain closes on 2025, bankers can look back on a year of technological revolution, political upheaval and economic uncertainty.

As a result, American Banker's top articles of the year have a common theme: how the people and institutions of the banking industry navigated their way through an extraordinary 12-month period.

Some banks managed to harness the new opportunities of AI and cryptocurrency. Others struggled to cope with President Trump's volatile trade policies and crusades against "debanking." And through it all, a number of emerging leaders, particularly female ones, found ways to shine.

Below is a look back at our most-read stories of the past year, as measured by the number of views they received from our readers:

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1. The Most Powerful Women in Finance

The financial services industry is undergoing a technological revolution, and women are at its forefront. In October, American Banker took a look at the ways 25 female professionals are leading on AI, blockchain technology, stablecoins and the ever-growing list of their uses in finance. Read the full list of winners here.

The Most Powerful Women in Banking Gala 2025

2. The Most Powerful Women in Banking

For banks, 2025 was a year of daunting challenges. Higher-for-longer interest rates raised deposit costs and pressured borrowers. Consumer credit quality became a bigger concern, requiring higher provisions. President Trump's unpredictable policymaking introduced new levels of macroeconomic uncertainty.

Somehow, women in banking rose to the occasion. Toward the end of the year, American Banker ranked the 25 most powerful female executives in the industry and took a close look at how they weathered the storm.

3. The 15 most recent bank failures

Since the late 2010s, bank failures have been a relative rarity in the United States. In 2021 and 2022, no banks failed at all. But the regional banking crisis of 2023, when five lenders collapsed, reminded Americans that it can still happen. Here are all the banks that have gone belly-up since 2019, including their total assets and deposits.

4. The Most Powerful Women in Banking's Women to Watch

They may not have made it onto our list of the Most Powerful Women in Banking, but these 25 women will likely get there soon. Every year, American Banker compiles a list of "Women to Watch": female bank executives who are making their mark and rising fast. In 2025, these women navigated economic uncertainty, innovated with AI, expanded their banks' offerings and generally moved their industry forward. Here are their stories.

5. The Most Influential Women in Payments, 2025

The payments industry is changing fast. In 2025, a combination of geopolitical upheaval, economic uncertainty and security threats rocked the sector, while AI, digital assets and mobile commerce advanced at a dizzying pace. Here are the women who are not only keeping up with it all, but writing the industry's next chapter.

6. The best credit unions to work for in 2025

In 2025, pickleball and food trucks were among the most common perks offered by the Best Credit Unions to Work For. The 68 credit unions on our list offered a wide variety of benefits to their employees, from the practical (discounts on auto loans) to the altruistic (paid time off for volunteer work) to the unusual (free cardio drumming classes). Read the full list here.

7. The Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT 2025

As the banking industry selects its next leaders, it has a deep well of female talent to draw from. Our Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT list encompasses leaders ages 40 and below, in business and functional roles ranging from payments to investment banking. Some of the honorees came through internships or college recruiting programs and started in the industry right out of school. Read about them here.

8. What banks are doing about workers returning to the office

In 2020, "work from home" was the order of the day. In 2025, the byword was "return to work." But different banks have brought their employees back to the office at different rates — from JPMorganChase's five-day-a-week policy to Ally Financial's more flexible, role-dependent approach — and the policies were changing all the time. Here's our list of the back-to-office policies at 12 of the world's largest banks.

9. Best Places to Work in Fintech 2025

As AI and crypto revolutionize the world of banking, it's a good time to work in financial technology. But not all fintechs are created equal. In May 2025, American Banker ranked the industry's top workplaces, based on their benefits, culture, time-off policies and other factors — including what their employees say about them. Learn about the 29 winners here.

10. Navy Federal offers members a debt-free path to credit

A good credit score can be the doorway to cheaper loans and credit, while a bad one can become a major obstacle. Now the largest credit union in the U.S. is offering a new way for Americans to improve their numbers: If they choose to report the information, members of Navy Federal Credit Union build up their scores just by paying their rent and utility bills. Read about the potential benefits of the innovative approach here.