Diversity and equality

Division is making progress, helped by a rise in branded credit cards; about 200 bankers in agriculture and energy lending let go in recent months.

Banks have been pressured to improve diversity in leadership; Visa reports higher volume while PayPal says Venmo now contributing.

Citigroup promoted Jane Fraser to president, its second-highest post, making her a likely candidate to succeed CEO Michael Corbat and someday become the first woman to run one of the largest U.S. banks.

Arleas Upton Kea shares her 30-year journey to become the first African-American woman to serve as deputy to the FDIC chairman and chief operating officer.

A federal judge says the agency can’t issue national bank charters to fintechs; Facebook’s CEO will state his case at a House hearing.

Fisher Investments is out more than $1 billion following Ken Fisher’s controversial remarks at a conference. Where do men pull ahead of women in promotions? Right from the start. Plus, a girls’ high school soccer team makes national news.

The big five banks had divergent results; San Francisco Fed publishes 18 papers on the dangers posed to businesses and communities by climate change.

Within the first 24 months of appointing female CFOs, companies saw, on average, a 6% increase in profits and an 8% better stock return, compared to performance under male predecessors.

Employee programs need to embrace a wide range of groups including women, minorities and the LGBTQ community.

The banking industry will continue its fight against the credit-loss rule; the bank posted gains in consumer, wealth management and commercial lending.

Companies are turning off prospective customers and employees with misguided approaches.

Institutions that offer fewer than 500 open-end lines of credit will get another two-year exemption from reporting requirements under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.

The series of print, digital and billboard ads uses children of Citigroup employees to draw attention to the bank's own efforts to promote women to senior roles.

The financial industry should take notes from regulators that have diverse leadership.

Bank executives at the Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance gala stressed the importance of male allies in combating gender inequities.

Investors expect banks to be honest and transparent about employee wages.

The awards gala was a who's who in banking, both at the podium and in the audience. The FHFA settles the sexual harassment complaint involving Mel Watt. And an OCC veteran talks about her career.

Speakers at the Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance gala stressed the need to use their power to help the next generation of women as well as enlist others in seeking gender parity.

Cathy Bessant, American Banker's Most Powerful Woman in Banking, discussed the difference between fearlessness and bravery at the 2019 gala.

Words of wisdom from Lifetime achievement honoree LeeAnne Linderman, who was honored at American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance gala.