Regional banks

Three years into her role as chief information officer, Jennifer Smith is leading the largest employee group at Zions Bancorp. and is overseeing a core banking conversion that is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.

Get ready to meet some of the rising stars who the Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance believe are poised to disrupt the industry.

Innovative. Influential. Impactful. The 25 female leaders in this ranking are skillfully navigating industry disruption and — in many ways — driving it as well.

A promotion to CFO in March, which made Dukes the first woman to hold that job in the company's 127-year history, was in large part a recognition of a job exceptionally well done in her previous role as head of commercial and business banking.

For Rosilyn Houston, success at BBVA Compass centers on improving its workplace culture.

This year, Kate Quinn, U.S. Bank's chief administrative officer, put the bank's brand in the national spotlight, launching a social media campaign and overseeing a marketing blitz during the Super Bowl.

Union Bankshares in Virginia has been adding executives from much larger competitors as it looks to compete more effectively with bigger banks

Seven other banks passed on a chance to bid on FCB Financial, perhaps showing the small pool of large buyers eager to make a big commitment to the Sunshine State.

Senior managers at selling banks often get big payouts and move on. But some decide (or are allowed) to stay and can make major contributions. Here are examples of execs who famously became difference makers after sticking around, or of keepers from recent deals who could have a big impact.

Bennett Bradley, BB&T's chief digital officer, discusses how an investment in Enigma, which helps companies leverage data, fits within the regional bank's fintech strategy.