Most Powerful Women in Banking 2022

Stephanie Novosel, head of commercial banking at PNC Bank, faced one particularly significant challenge last year — helping with the acquisition of BBVA's American banking business.

As head of new product development at U.S. Bank, Vanessa Angeles leads a team that creates cash management solutions for corporate and commercial clients.

At the end of 2020, when Melissa Stevens began running both digital and marketing for Fifth Third Bank, fewer than 10% of new customer checking accounts came through the digital channel. Now the bank is on track to end 2022 with more than 25% of sales originating online or on mobile. 

Tara Latini, country head of wealth and personal banking for HSBC USA, has been a key decision-maker as the bank has shifted away from the mass-market retail business in the U.S., focusing instead on "globally connected affluent and high-net-worth clients."

For years, Sound Community Bank in Seattle organized its workforce around bank branches and specialists for retail lending, commercial banking and home mortgage. But in the last year, "we threw all that out the window," said Laura Lee Stewart. 

Julieann Thurlow is working to ensure that smaller institutions don't get left behind as the megabanks make better use of new technology. 

Not only does the banking industry have a problem developing more female senior leaders, it also struggles with ethnic diversity. Kimberly Moore-Wright is working to change that.

Last year, HSBC USA made the decision to exit its U.S. mass market retail banking business. Kavita Mahtani, CFO of the Americas for HSBC, played a crucial role in the process.

Helga Houston's corporate risk team played a critical role in Huntington completing its acquisition of Twin Cities-based TCF Financial.

After filling various roles at the Columbus, Georgia-based bank for almost 20 years, Liz Wolverton was tapped to lead the consumer bank in December 2021.