Regional banks

The Pittsburgh company’s “branch lite” approach to retail and middle-market banking in new markets will break even sooner than expected and has had a noticeable impact on loans and deposits.

The Minneapolis company attributed the uptick to new tech tools, additional loan officers and other process improvements — not to mention the refi boom fueled by lower rates. It’s a formula other banks are expected to copy.

Executives sent a letter to the federal banking regulators last month expressing concern that an alternative to the London interbank offered rate could limit credit availability.

The Minneapolis bank says recent investments in its retail operation contributed to strong improvement in home lending and mortgage banking fees.

The central bank finalized a host of regulatory-relief changes mostly benefiting midsize and regional banks that hew closely to proposals issued in April and last fall.

American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Banking and Finance gathered at the Gitano Jungle Room in New York on Wednesday for an evening of cocktails and conversation.

Linderman helped build Zions Bank into a retail force and shaped the multistate retail strategy of its parent company, but she will best be remembered for opening countless doors for women and minorities.

Nearly a third of the women in the annual ranking are new additions, the largest amount in years. Here's an overview of the changes. Plus, Citi's Corbat on its bold gender equity move, and Wells Fargo's less bold CEO decision.

From wrestling with the potential impact of Brexit to charting a course for responsible artificial intelligence, the Most Powerful Women in Banking have faced many challenges during the past year. See who earned the top spots in our ranking.

Since joining U.S. Bancorp in 2007, Leslie Godridge has been largely responsible for building its corporate bank from a regional operation to a nationwide powerhouse.

The Women to Watch

A handful of newcomers join some familiar faces on our list of the Most Powerful Women in Finance for 2019.

Diane Morais, the head of consumer and commercial banking for Ally Bank, is forthright about what went wrong after her institutions started offering mortgages in 2017 — and how the institution went about fixing the situation.

Karen Larrimer, who oversees retail banking for PNC Financial, is encouraging women who frequently get caught up in trying to do it all to think harder about prioritizing.

Kate Quinn, the vice chairman and chief administrative officer of U.S. Bancorp., said that banks have long been focused on the experience of customers, but could benefit from greater emphasis on employees as well.

Wolverton has been accumulating responsibility and influence at Synovus in recent years and is the highest ranking woman at the company.

The success of Erminia "Ernie" Johannson's United Way campaign is a testament to her skills as a leader and motivator and goes a long way toward explaining why BMO Financial CEO Darryl White keeps giving her bigger and more important jobs.

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.

First Republic Bank has been understandably mum about who might replace founder and Chief Executive James Herbert when he retires in two years, but Hafize Gaye Erkan, its 39-year-old president, is considered a leading candidate.

Nandita Bakhshi, CEO of Bank of the West, has pushed the bank's environmental commitments further, including $1 billion in clean energy financing over the next five years.