Having amassed 39 years of experience in financial services, Katy Knox is one of the longest-tenured female leaders in the U.S. private banking sector. Knox, president of
"As Marian Wright Edelman said, 'You can't be what you can't see.' For many associates at
The Private Bank employs more than 4,000 professionals, including the 300 private client advisors who've come aboard since 2018. Thanks in part to "exceptional talent," the bank added more than 700 clients in the first half of 2025, she said. In addition to overseeing the Private Bank, Knox is executive sponsor for
Beyond wealth strategies, trust and estate planning, investments, and customized lending, Private Bank employees address clients' specialized needs. For example, the bank's Art Services Group helps collectors borrow against their art, incorporate it into legacy planning, and prepare for sales through auctions or private channels, Knox said.
Through initiatives such as the Art Services Group, Knox has transformed the Private Bank — with more than $400 billion in AUM and $3.9 billion in annual revenue — into even more of a powerhouse. In 2024, for instance, the bank saw year-over-year gains of 11% in client balances, 9% in loan balances and 7% in deposit balances. The Private Bank also scored wins in the first quarter of 2025, including year-over-year jumps of 6% in client balances and revenue.
To help achieve financial success, the Private Bank has increased its technology spending by 300% since 2020, according to Knox. Among the tech-enabled features available to clients are AI-powered wealth planning tools and digital onboarding. Knox said 93% of Private Bank's clients are now "digitally active," up 18% over the past five years.
Overall,
Knox has seen a massive amount of tech changes since entering the banking business in 1986 and since joining
"While people remain at the heart of the Private Bank, technology is enhancing how we serve. We're investing in digital tools like streamlined onboarding to operate more efficiently and deliver a seamless, elevated experience across every client interaction," she said.
According to Knox, today's emerging technologies appeal to the children and grandchildren of the Private Bank's clients. To serve clients, and their children and grandchildren, the bank has built multigenerational teams that connect with people digitally and face-to-face, she said. The multigenerational approach helps ensure the Private Bank is "well-positioned to support these clients now and in the future," said Knox.
As it pertains to the future, Knox takes pride in the Private Bank's talent development programs. In partnership with the
Additionally, Knox leads the Women's Leadership Council at the Private Bank, and said she and other senior executives involved in the council "are using their voices" to, among other things, mentor female employees and nurture talent. Knox is also a member of the
"One of the most impactful moments for me as a global ambassador was meeting the founder of the Imbeleko Foundation, which supports children in rural South Africa through education and afterschool programs," Knox said. "We've expanded our partnership to include school supply drives and access to technology. Today, thanks to a collaboration we helped establish, the school is now fully digital."
