The Most Powerful Women in Banking

Besides transforming her own bank, Stewart has left her mark more broadly on the industry through advocacy.

Over the past year, Centric Financial CEO Patricia Husic has made several big hires and added a 25,000-square-foot corporate office for the bank.

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.

Outside of CEO Tim Sloan, Hope Hardison is the Wells Fargo executive who is most responsible for rebuilding the bank's damaged reputation.

A good leader leads by example. A great one gets down in the trenches with her team even as she is dealing with serious health issues and the demands of her job are pulling her in multiple directions. That was Paulette Mullings Bradnock in early 2017.