Special Program Root Tag

Mellody Hobson, the president of Ariel Investments in Chicago, is a ubiquitous presence in the media, educating the public about the importance of responsible investing.

These highly profitable banks all have one thing in common: women in key roles.

With nearly a quarter of U.S. Bancorp's revenues derived from the corporate and institutional payments group led by vice chair Pamela Joseph, the retail business of the Minneapolis banking company can sometimes get overlooked. Not this year.

In 2004, a dozen top female executives at what was then The Bank of New York decided to establish an internal networking group to help mid-level female executives break out of their shells. Five years later, the Women's Initiatives Network (WIN) at what is now BNY Mellon has more 2,000 members.

Diversity in the executive ranks of a bank remains an unusual enough occurrence to know that it doesn't come about by accident. In Kansas, Sunflower Bank, which has $1.7 billion of assets, has been a model for diversity.

Heidi Miller is arguably the highest-profile woman in banking, so when she speaks, people take notice. Take her keynote address at this year's NACHA Payments conference, where the chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase Treasury and Securities Services outlined "dangers."

Citigroup's Pam Flaherty has worn many hats in her four decades at Citi, but she's saved her most meaningful work for last.

When Dana Lorberg was asked to name an inspirational executive outside of the financial services industry, she cited Steve Jobs, the Apple visionary.

The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking is U.S. Banker's annual tribute to the professional achievements, personal tenacity and influence of top-performing financial executives in 2008.

It's easy to lead in good times, but during times of crisis that true leadership shows iteself. Good times these aren't. But if a crisis is "an opportunity riding the dangerous wind," as the Chinese proverb holds, then those profiled in the sixth-annual ranking of The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking have achieved much-market conditions be damned-with barely a trace of windburn.

Think diversity doesn't affect profits? Think again. Research indicates that the most highly diverse executive management teams generate far greater revenues and profits than those organizations with the lowest percentage of women on their executive teams. In its third-annual ranking of the Top 3 Banking Teams, U.S. Banker examines the effect of gender diversity on the overall performances of top U.S. financial institutions-something that savvy CEOs and their boards are paying closer attention.

Each year US Banker conducts a confidential survey of honorees to get their take on what it takes to rise to the top, and what the view is like from there.

From newcomers to those taking on new assignments, these women's star quality has them front and center. A look at whose influence is gaining ground and growing fastest. This is the 25 Women to Watch for 2007.

They're not bankers, but their prowess in the financial-services field is legendary: Meet the other women who matter.

After five years of ranking the industry's most influential women, it's clean top performers are going places.

Success in business requires that leaders see the race to the top as a marathon and not a sprint. The most effective leaders have the ability to size up competitors, while also gauging the distance between where they are and where they want to be. Those who make perseverance an inherent part of their behavior set the pace for rivals in their pursuit of excellence.

Women have gained ground in executive management ranks, but not much. They held 17.9 percent of executive positions at the 100 largest nationally charted banks last year, an increase of only 1.9 percentage points since 2003. The women who have reached that level in their institutions have the influence to change this, both in their banks and the financial industry. Inside, U.S. Banker presents its fifth anniversary of The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking.

Ask any Beltway insider what oils the innards of the capital city and the answer won't have a thing to do with the greenback. Of course, money helps oil the wheels of progress more efficiently, but it can never surpass the premier power of the relationship, this town's only true currency.

Women hold only 12.6 percent of executive positions at the top 50 U.S. commercial banks, according to a recent survey by Financial Women International Foundation. But U.S. Banker's third-annual ranking zeroes in on the industry's 25 top performers, each of whome has amazzed power and influence. Who has the most clout? Bank of America's Amy Brinkley.

USB's second-annual ranking honors the most influential women in banking, who are gaining more ground each year. Meet the high achievers changing the way that banks-and the world-operate.