The Latest from Women in Banking

Colleen Johnston is taking swimming lessons this fall, as she works toward her goal of completing a sprint triathlon. Mind you, she has a fear of swimming.

The top retail-banking executive at BBVA Compass was a little frustrated a week after the Alabama bank took over Guaranty Bank of Austin, Tex., in an FDIC-arranged match.

For Diane Reyes, winning a client comes down to establishing trust. In one instance last year, Reyes was trying to secure a contract with Kuwait's national oil company.

Kay Hoveland never intended to become a banker. But in 1973 she applied for a loan at a credit union to buy flooring and appliances for the home she was building with her family.

It's been tough being a banker over the past year, when "bank" has often been considered "a four-letter word," says LeeAnne Linderman of Zions First National Bank. "This has been the most challenging ... "

Few women in banking draw as much attention as Sallie Krawcheck. A mainstay on lists of powerful women, Krawcheck joined Bank of America in August to take over its brokerage and wealth management operations.

In November of last year, Morgan Stanley appointed Cece Sutton president of the new retail banking group. Bank deposits grew to $46.8B by the end of the first quarter of 2009.

Among her peers, Citigroup's Jane Fraser may stand out just for the sheer number of air miles she logged last year while leading the troubled company's re-engineering effort.

Long days are the norm now for Pat Callahan, the executive vice president in charge of integrating the former Wachovia into the now nearly $1.3 trillion-asset Wells Fargo.

Earlier this year, as many bankers moved cautiously through chaos, Bank of America's Cathy Bessant forged ahead, focused on making a deal. The result: A joint venture agreement with First Data.