Commercial lending

All of the GOP members on the House Financial Services Committee called on the regulator to consider "administrative decisions" to offset the impact of the 2015 decision.

Building capital will help the mortgage agencies move toward the private sector; Virtual Wellness needs to assure banks it's safe to do business with them.

Tepid loan demand, falling interest rates and heightened competition from nonbank lenders are just some of the headwinds facing commercial lenders these days, but Ardalan believes MUFG can expand its credit appetite without compromising safety and soundness.

The Pennsylvania community bank has seen rapid growth in recent years, thanks in large part to its success in attracting women clients.

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.

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.

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.

By turning to investors outside traditional banking, private-equity firms are finding it easier than ever to get loans to finance their buyouts of corporations that are nowhere close to being profitable.

The Michigan company sold collateral tied to Live Well, a mortgage company that has filed for bankruptcy protection.