Banking

Of the world's 10 largest financial services firms by revenue, only JPMorgan Chase has a woman as its chief information officer.

Di Gangi has already seen tremendous success in running small and medium business lending, but this year she stretched even further. Among other things, she spearheaded the launch of WE Source, an online tool that helps women entrepreneurs with insights into funding, networking, strategy and other business essentials.

A classically trained pianist who co-heads investment banking for consumer products at Citigroup, Hoover sees a parallel between the focus she and her team bring to their business and achievement at the highest levels of classical music.

Ranjana Clark, recently named as head of global transaction banking for MUFG Americas Holding Corp., led the rollout of a tool aimed at creating a better customer service experience for employees and customers alike.

Innovation in banking typically means developing or investing in some cutting-edge technology that will appeal to younger, tech-savvy customers. But to Luanne Cundiff, it can also mean finding new ways to meet the needs of senior citizens who aren't all that interested in digital banking.

Maria Veltre knows what it's like to feel disrespected. Early in her career, she was in mid-sentence when a senior executive turned her back and walked away. Veltre vowed never to make others feel the way she did in that moment, no matter what their situation or station.

McNiff, American Banker's No. 1 Woman to Watch for 2019, was promoted to the CEO role in April following the retirement of Barbara Desoer.

In the last two fiscal years, the treasury and payments solutions unit that Haward-Laird runs has had the highest return on equity of all BMO Financial's business lines.

The research division Browning has built at Bank of America Merrill Lynch is consistently ranked among the best in the world.

In an increasingly competitive financial services marketplace, tiny Citizens is thriving, thanks largely to tech innovations Castilla has pioneered and the loyalty built through Castilla's relentless promotion of the bank's customers and the broader Edmond community.

Under Chang, J.P. Morgan has been named the world's top global research firm for two years running.

"I had a vision of upping our client servicing game to give Citizens' commercial clients a best-in-class experience," Wyper said, "no matter how large or small their relationship with us."

Two newly minted CEOs, Citibank's Mary McNiff and City National Bank's Kelly Coffey, top the list of Women to Watch for 2019. Check out who else earned a spot in the ranking.

As a longtime commercial real estate lender and one of highest-ranking women at Key, Mago has made it her mission to improve female and minority representation at both the bank and in her industry.

Even as her company invests heavily in cutting-edge technologies designed to improve service and efficiency, Keane is making sure that Synchrony is also investing in educating and training employees whose jobs are at risk of disappearing.

During the past year, Dorothy Savarese has pushed her bank's employees to think more creatively, introducing an innovation contest to facilitate the sharing of fresh ideas within the institution.

Anne Finucane has led Bank of America's effort to reorient itself as the U.K. attempts to leave the European Union, helping to set up the bank's European headquarters in two new locations.

When Sharon Miller was tapped to lead small business banking at Bank of America, she says it was her dream job. "In my three years in this role, I feel I've helped elevate our small business capabilities beyond what I envisioned," she said.

StreetShares, started as a peer-to-peer service for veterans, has added a platform intended to connect small financial institutions and underbanked companies.

See American Banker's 17th annual ranking of the Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance.