BILL DEMCHAK
The PNC executive completes his first year as CEO in April. Demchak has been leading some of the industry discussions around rethinking the consumer banking model, and PNC is quickly becoming a tech innovator, particularly in mobile, as it searches for ways to rein in expenses and offset slipping mortgage revenue.
CARL CHANEY AND JOHN HAIRSTON
Analysts have been pressing the co-CEOs of Hancock Holding to get more aggressive with cost cuts. In November, the Mississippi company announced plans to consolidate its bank charters. Will the slashing pick up in 2014?
RAY DAVIS
Oregon's Umpqua Financial is set to close its purchase of Sterling Financial in Spokane, Wash., this year. As CEO, Davis will helm a $22 billion-asset company that will face integration challenges and new capital requirements tied to Basel III.
CECE STEWART
Citigroup has been talking up its consumer strategy recently, and the person charged with executing on it is Stewart, president of the company's U.S. consumer and commercial banking business. Branch optimization has been one of her priorities. Will her efforts be enough to help Citi finally punch its weight in retail?
RYAN MCINERNEY
The former head of retail branch banking at JPMorgan Chase became president at Visa at a time when the card issuer is working through a high-profile merchant services deal with ... JPMorgan Chase. Many consider him a rising star.
BRYAN JORDAN
First Horizon's CEO has his hands full. The Memphis, Tenn., company posted a large third-quarter loss due to mortgage repurchase costs. Jordan's challenge now: finding revenue in a tough environment.
BOB WILMERS
M&T Bank's veteran CEO wrote a heckuva letter to shareholders last year, taking to task competitors and accounting firms in particular. With regulators stalling M&T's purchase of Hudson City Bancorp over anti-money laundering concerns, many will be curious what Wilmers will say in this year's letter.
ARKADI KUHLMANN
He launched ING Direct in 2000 and spent a dozen years building it into a retail powerhouse, until its Dutch parent was forced to sell it. Ever the innovator, Kuhlmann is now CEO of ZenBanx, a startup working on a mobile-banking tool that promises to revolutionize the way money is moved. "We're going to set money free so it can travel as far, as fast and as simply as people do," ZenBanx says in a promotional video on its website.
STEVE GARDNER
Gardner, CEO at Pacific Premier, loves niches. In late 2012, his firm bought a bank that targets homeowner associations. In November, it acquired a specialty finance concern focused on franchise lending. The heat will be on now to show returns on the strategy.
EVERYONE AT JPMORGAN CHASE
Jamie Dimon & Co. had quite a year in 2013 with massive legal settlements and considerable executive shuffling. Who will stay in 2014? Who will go? Who will finish the year with the same job? CFO Marianne Lake, COO Matt Zames, asset management chief Mary Callahan Erdoes and others at the top of the house are sure to face another year of intense scrutiny.
