The Most Powerful Women to Watch, No. 8, Deborah Guild, PNC Bank

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Deborah Guild, the head of enterprise technology and security at PNC, has served in a number of tech leadership roles at the bank over the last 12 years. This year, however, her challenges look a little different, given  the acceleration of AI, global cybersecurity threats, and an alarming increase in consumer fraud perpetrated by bad actors. 

Additionally, deepfake technology and sophisticated cyberattacks have made traditional identity verification more challenging than ever. 

"The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence is creating new, expansive cybersecurity challenges," Guild said. "It is not just a matter of banks having to develop AI-based methods for authenticating our customers' identities; we also try to support our customers with tools and techniques to help them verify the identities of those who contact them, be it their bank or someone impersonating an authority or someone they know."

In 2024, PNC Financial Services Group reported revenue of $21.5 billion, essentially flat from $21.49 billion in 2023. Net income interest increased 3% from $13.499 billion to $13.96 billion. 

In the second quarter of 2025, PNC reported diluted earnings per share of $3.85, surpassing analyst expectations and reflecting both solid loan and revenue growth amid a challenging economic environment. Some industry analysts attribute this performance, in part, to ongoing tech investments. 

Her proudest accomplishment during the past year, Guild said, is her team's work with telecom companies to combat fraud. "We have continued to work to advance our partnerships with telecommunications carriers to build and establish new controls to help stem spoofed calls and texts, impersonating corporate brands, at the root," she said. "PNC is leading the charge on these efforts, but they will ultimately deliver benefits to the whole industry and beyond."

She views the role of artificial intelligence through the lens of human expertise, emphasizing that its value still depends on the people using it.

"AI is a tool, and it is only as useful as the expert who is building the model it will run on," she said. "I tell my team to view it as they would an automobile where they are the drivers." 

Earlier this year, PNC Bank announced that, through its strategic partnership with Coinbase, clients will be able to buy, hold and sell cryptocurrencies securely, leveraging Coinbase's crypto-as-a-service platform. PNC will also provide select banking services to Coinbase as part of the  agreement.

As the head of technology, , Guild emphasizes the importance of adaptability and continuous learning as core leadership principles.

"Tech moves fast: You have to have a hunger to learn and experiment to keep up with it," she said. "To be successful in both banking and cybersecurity, you will need to have a pulse on tech trends so you can best position your career and your organization for growth." 

Aside from overseeing tools and safety measures for PNC customers, Guild's also plays a part in the global cybersecurity initiatives as a chair of the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council (FSSCC) that, in partnership with the U.S. Treasury, has been in talks with the G7 Cyber Expert Group.

"We meet regularly to discuss emerging challenges on a global scale," Guild said. "The information sharing is enormously beneficial."