The Most Powerful Women in Banking

Ally Bank is an online deposit-gathering powerhouse that aspires to be more well rounded. New CEO Diane Morais is charged with leading that transformation, which will include adding loan products and successfully cross-selling them to depositors.

Janet Garufis runs the largest community bank in the affluent and highly competitive California counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura. She also runs marathons.

Thasunda Duckett overcame doubts about accepting a promotion while raising two small children and now manages a business unit that ranks as one of the nation's largest auto lenders.

More is expected of all chief risk officers these days given the heightened regulatory scrutiny across the industry. But Helga Houston's responsibilities extend beyond those of most CROs.

Bita Ardalan is MUFG Union Bank's go-to executive for starting and building new business lines or turning around existing ones — with good reason.