SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- One hundred and thirty five years
ago today, Zion's Savings Bank and Trust Company first opened its doors for
business in 1873. Now known as Zions First National Bank, the subsidiary of
Zions Bancorporation has another reason to celebrate: U.S. Banker's ranking of
"The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking," published in October, lists Zions
Bank as the No. 2 Banking Team in the nation.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081001/LAW040)
This year's publication marks the third-annual recognition of the Top 3
Banking Teams, which ranks overall staff diversity, the percentage of women
corporate officers and the aggregate performance of women-led businesses and
functional areas. For the past two years, winning teams have been led by U.S.
Bancorp, Wells Fargo & Co. and Citigroup. This year, U.S. Bancorp ranked
first and Citigroup third.
According to U.S. Banker, Zions' No. 2 ranking was based on a number of
factors: the institution's overall year-to-date financial performance as a
company; the percentage of women corporate officers and management committee
members; the total number of senior women executives firmwide; the overall
financial performance of women-led business units and functional areas; and
feedback from analysts on women leading business units positioned for
significant growth in the coming 12 months.
When Zions opened its doors for business on October 1, 1873, there were no
female employees who helped tally the receipts from 46 depositors totaling
$5,876. Today, the bank's women executives have helped grow the company to
$18 billion in assets, ranking as the largest bank in Utah and the tenth
largest in Idaho, based on deposits (Source: FDIC). Within Zions, women
bankers oversee 69 percent of the bank's business units, manage 67 percent of
its employees, and comprise 41 percent of its corporate officer positions.
Women executives were budgeted to contribute to 52 percent of the bank's 2008
earnings YTD, but have already surpassed this and are contributing to 64
percent of total actual earnings as of June 2008. Revenues in women's groups
are on budget and expenses are flat.
"In what continues to be a turbulent and difficult environment for
financial institutions, Zions Bank continues to be profitable and
well-capitalized due in part to the leadership of the bank's women
executives," said Zions Bank President and CEO Scott Anderson. "I'm so proud
that these talented bankers are being recognized for their leadership, hard
work and community involvement. Because of them, our regional bank can go
head-to-head with large national banks and win, as this honor demonstrates."
Members of the team cited in U.S. Banker's publication were executive vice
presidents Diana Kirk, who directs the Private Services Division, and LeeAnne
Linderman, who heads the Retail Banking Division and is also serving this year
as the first woman chairman of the Utah Bankers Association. Also listed in
the publication are 15 senior vice presidents: Lisa Banner, Kim Casaday, Lori
Chillingworth, Jeanine Flint, Sylvia Haro, Gena Jones, Becky Kearns, Teresa
Law, Janet Louie, Cece Mitchell, Toni Nielsen, Nancy Olson, Cristie Richards,
Cindy Smith and Susan Speer.
"The outstanding performance of women-led businesses is commendable given
that it has occurred against an industry backdrop of unprecedented challenge,
change and opportunity," said U.S. Banker editorial director Holly Sraeel.
"As a journalist covering the industry and founder of 'The 25 Most Powerful
Women in Banking' community, this year's ranking was indeed a fierce
undertaking given the economic and financial challenges that so many players
faced."
Beyond the team recognition, other executives were also recognized
individually among the top 50 women in banking. Cindy Smith, senior vice
president and director of Bankcard Operations, was listed as No. 20 on the
"Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking" list. Lisa Banner, senior vice
president and manager of Executive Banking, ranked No. 9, and Lori
Chillingworth, senior vice president and director of Business Banking, ranked
No. 23 among the "Top 25 Women to Watch" list.
Zions First National Bank, a subsidiary of Zions Bancorporation
(Nasdaq: ZION), operates 140 full-service branches and nearly 200 ATMs in Utah
and Idaho. In addition to a wide range of traditional banking services, Zions
offers a comprehensive array of investment and mortgage services, and has a
network of loan origination offices for small businesses nationwide. The
company is also a leader in providing electronic banking services, including
electronic municipal bond trading. Founded in 1873, Zions has been serving the
communities of the Intermountain West for 135 years. Additional information on
Zions Bank is available at www.zionsbank.com.
SOURCE Zions First National Bank
Contact: Heidi Prokop, Public Relations Manager, +1-801-844-7915, or Diana Kirk, Executive Vice President, +1-801-844-7177, or LeeAnne Linderman, Executive Vice President, +1-801-844-7910, all for Zions First National Bank