American Banker Magazine December 2016

For its commitment to improving the long-term health of depositors, and a nimble, failure-is-not-a-dirty-word approach to innovation, USAA has earned an honor American Banker normally bestows on a single individual.

Anthony Labozzetta, CEO of Sussex Bancorp in New Jersey, isn't afraid of change. His unusual approach to banking helped Sussex emerge from the financial crisis with momentum. Now he's building a branch model that could serve as a blueprint for growth-minded banks.

Kevin S. Kim thought he was joining a bank board to bring youth to an aging slate of directors. Eight years, four acquisitions and a banking crisis later, he is now the chief executive of the nation's largest Korean-American bank.

Mark Schroeder has led the Jasper, Ind., company to six straight years of record profit by sticking to a simple model that emphasizes relationship banking and small, strategic acquisitions.

After more than two decades bringing underbanked consumers into the mainstream, Bryant has found a way to combat financial illiteracy that also addresses two critical business problems facing banks today: keeping branches relevant and finding new customers.

Ray Davis is stepping down as Umpqua's CEO at yearend and transitioning to a new role as head of its year-old innovation lab. In his 22 years, he built Umpqua from a sleepy local bank into a regional powerhouse and internationally recognized brand.