The Latest from Women in Banking

Whether it's raising money to build schools in Africa or creating programs internally to help advance the careers of women, the dozen women's networks at U.S. Bancorp strive to make a real difference in women's lives.

Like all banks, BMO Harris is trying to keep ahead of demographic and technological shifts that are transforming retail banking, and its female leaders are spearheading many of the initiatives it has underway.

A formal mentoring program Zions started in 2009 has helped to advance the careers of hundreds of women — and some men — inside the bank. Now Zions' top women leaders are sharing what they've learned with other firms in hopes of preventing women from leaving the workforce.

The decision to leave Charles Schwab for a startup seemed crazy, especially since Carrie Dolan wasn't entirely sure, when a headhunter first called to recruit her for Lending Club, precisely what peer-to-peer lending was. But now her move looks like a good one.

A nonprofit she started in 2010 helped to earn Suni Harford a prestigious award from the U.S. Army.

Joyce Chang has made it her mission to encourage more young women to pursue careers in finance.

Katia Bouazza has built HSBC's Latin American franchise into an investment banking powerhouse.

Since Julie Monaco became Citigroup's global head of public-sector corporate and investment banking in 2013, she has reoriented the $1.8 billion business to focus on clients, rather than products.

In an industry known for its high turnover, Wells Fargo Securities, under Diane Schumaker-Krieg, has thrived by committing to a culture of promoting from within.

The highest-ranking female at Key's corporate and investment bank, Amy Carlson built the debt capital markets business from the ground up.