The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking in 2012: 21-25

21. LeeAnne Linderman
EVP, Retail Banking, Zions Bank

• Spearheaded a months-long effort to revamp checking lineup and rolled out changes in December, reducing the number of types of accounts from 12 to three and making fees more transparent

• Grew net checking balances 7% in the four months from the launch of the new lineup through the end of the first quarter, and doubled new credit card openings during the period, as a monthly fee could be waived on one account with a Zions Bancard

• Introduced a training program and incentives to support a wealth management initiative last year, which increased referrals for Executive Banking and Private Banking 77% over the prior year

• Drove a strategic change to better compete with credit unions in consumer lending last year and helped increase auto loans 114.8%, home refinancings 121.7% and home equity lines of credit 38.9% for 2011, compared with the previous year

22. Alberta Cefis
EVP And Head Of Global Transaction Banking, Scotiabank

• Expanded her business last year in both geography and function by consolidating all transaction banking products and sales activities in every country where Scotiabank operates

• Secured multimillion-dollar commitment from Scotiabank to improve its cash management technology over the next three to five years, and created roadmap to consolidate cash management worldwide under her business unit

• Executive champion of Scotiabank Pride, which promotes inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the workforce and community

• Has been the chair of a nonprofit baroque opera company called Opera Atelier since 2003, helping it achieve financial stability; won the National Opera Directors Recognition Award in 2010, from Opera.ca, Canada's nationwide opera association, for exemplary leadership

23. Michelle Van Dyke
Regional President, Fifth Third Bank

• Oversees a region that spans parts of five states with $25 billion in assets and $34 billion in deposits

• Increased her responsibility in January to nine of Fifth Third's 18 geographic affiliates, adding four new ones in Pennsylvania and Ohio

• Served as one of key architects for "One Bank" initiative to collaborate across business lines, under which 2011 referrals per branch, which measures retail referrals to other lines of business, increased 50% from 2010

• Played instrumental role in starting the charter school Grand Rapids University Prep, which aims to graduate 90% of every class and ensure 90% of graduates go on to college

24. Jean Hale
Chairman, President And CEO, Community Trust Bancorp

• Runs $3.7 billion-asset firm in Pikeville, Ky., with 80 branches in three states

• Improved efficiency ratio to 54.6% at the bank unit as of midyear, from 59.6% a year ealier, partly through renegotiating contracts with technology providers and controlling expenses such as legal fees

• Increased net income 31.9% in the first half, to $24.1 million, from $18.3 million in the same period a year earlier, and reduced nonperforming loans to 1.39% of total loans, well below the average for bank holding companies with assets of $3 billion to $10 billion

• Board chair of the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority; also serves on the board of the state Economic Development Partnership and Commonwealth Seed Capital

25. Diane D'Erasmo
EVP And Regional President, Commercial Banking, HSBC Bank USA

• Manages commercial banking in the Northeast, overseeing relationships with about 1,600 businesses that have $50 million or more in annual revenue

• Credits her team with adding 150 new-to-the-bank clients last year

• Contributed to a decision to make strategic changes in asset-based lending-such as switching it to a product line from a profit center and hiring a business development officer for each region-which in 2011 helped the bank increase that book of business 30% from 2010

• On the boards of multiple industry and community organizations, including the Financial Women's Association, Junior Achievement of New York City and Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City