CBA Celebrates 70th Anniversary of Executive Banking School
WASHINGTON – Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Richard Hunt today released the following statement recognizing the 70th anniversary of CBA’s Executive Banking School, being held virtually this year July 18-28.
“Being chosen to attend EBS is a great achievement, reflecting the confidence and trust bank leadership has placed in their future leaders. As the banking industry rapidly evolves, we need capable and willing leaders to guide our institutions from a position of strength for years to come. EBS equips each student with the tools to do just that. Despite being held virtually this year, I am confident all attendees will grow their skillset, make new friends and network with the next generation of banking leaders from around the world.”
CBA Board Chair and Head of Community Banking and Client Protection at Bank of America Christine Channels added:
“This year marks the 70th anniversary of EBS, a program designed to accelerate the professional growth of the next generation of retail bankers through an immersive learning experience focusing on finance, risk and strategic leadership. Through these experiences, students will gain a deep understanding and appreciation of how various segments of retail banking are interrelated, while being taught by expert industry leaders.”
Welcoming this year’s students to EBS, CBA Education Council Chair and President and Vice Chairman at Eastern Bank Quincy Miller, added:
“I’m excited to welcome more than 200 banking leaders from across the country to EBS this year. As a graduate of the program, I have always credited EBS with advancing my understanding of not only what a successful bank looks like, but how to run a successful bank. The breadth and depth of learning – both from the curriculum and my classmates – has been invaluable, and many of the friendships I made more than 17 years ago are still a part of my life today. Although we are not meeting in person this year, I am confident the program will continue to make the same meaningful difference in the careers of these talented individuals and the banking industry as a whole.”
ENGAGING CURRICULUM
The CBA Executive Banking School provides rising stars in the industry with the critical skills and broad perspective to propel them into more complex leadership opportunities. Students graduate with a deep understanding and appreciation of how various segments of retail banking are interrelated.
For 10 days over the course of three years, students will learn:
- Year 1 – Head of Retail Perspective: Focusing on how to manage the retail segment of a bank. This includes sessions on acquiring, segmenting and retaining customers, designing and price products, and effectively tailoring marketing messages.
- Year 2 – CFO & CRO Perspective: Focusing on concepts for managing a bank’s profitability. This includes sessions on analyzing financial data to measure future performance and how to assess and manage risk.
- Year 3 – CEO Perspective: Focusing on managing a bank from the top down. This includes sessions on how to consider analysts’ recommendations, structure a merger, and evaluate key economic indicators.
In addition to Hunt, students this year will hear directly from:
- US Bank Chairman, President and CEO Andrew Cecere on leading one of the nation’s largest bank holding companies through a challenging environment full of ambiguity and complexity.
- First Financial President and CEO Archie Brown on preparing the context for the last period’s performance and building the case to the investor relations community for future investments.
- Bank of America, Head of Community Banking and Client Protection and CBA Board Chair Christine Channels & Wells Fargo EVP, Regional Bank Executive, and CBA Board Chair-Elect Michelle Lee on being leaders in retail banking in a post-pandemic world - where diversity, equity, and inclusion are top of mind for all stakeholders.
- Ally Financial Chief Financial Officer Jenn LaClair on being a financial steward and driving shareholder value by balancing risk and return, keeping the bank safe and viable for all of its stakeholders, and achieving the bank’s strategy of meeting customer needs.
- Citizens Bank EVP, Head of Core Banking, Simon Griffiths on recognizing and managing banking’s future trends and digital transformations.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the 2021 EBS Curriculum
A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE
This year, CBA’s Executive Banking School will feature students from more than 30 banks, with the average student garnering eighteen years of banking experience. US Bank will represent the largest share of students across years 1-3, while the largest percentage of students will come from the state of Ohio. Women make up nearly 45 percent of EBS students this year.
Alumni from CBA’s Executive Banking School have gone on to become leaders within the industry. Some notable graduates include:
- Andy Harmening - 2006 – Associated Bank – President and CEO
- Todd Barnhart – 2008 – PNC – EVP and Retail Distribution Executive
- Archie Brown – 1996 – First Financial – President and CEO
- Quincy Miller – 2004 – Eastern – President and Vice Chairman, CBA Board Member
- Jim Fugitte – 1974 – Retired, former CEO of Wind Energy and Fort Knox National Bank
- Cassandra McKinney – 1998 – Comerica – EVP, Retail Bank, CBA Board Member
- Ricardo Serano – 2011 – BBVA – EVP, Risk Control Assurance
- Lori Von Heyking – 2018 – Woodforest – EVP, Chief Human Resources Officer
Click HERE to read a collection of testimonials from EBS graduates who have utilized the skills they learned in the program to become distinguished executives within their banks.
Click HERE to learn more about the 2020 graduating class of EBS
Click HERE to learn more about the 2019 graduating class of EBS
THE EVOLUTION OF EBS
The Consumer Bankers Association established the School of Consumer Banking in 1952 at the University of Virginia to recognize retail banking’s growing role in the nation’s economy and its importance as a contributor to bank profits. The School was founded to “fill a long-felt need to educate and train bankers who want and need added knowledge and greater understanding of the field of consumer banking.”
Hundreds of consumer loan administrators graduated from the School and subsequently assumed places in the overall management of their banks. In 1971, the “School of Consumer Banking” was renamed the “Graduate School of Consumer Banking” to better describe the level of studies. Later in the decade, the School was again renamed to reflect a focus on retail banking trends and management.
In 2002, the Tem Wooldridge Award was established, honoring long-time faculty member, Tempie Leslie Wooldridge, to recognize the top Executive Banking School student each year who demonstrates outstanding academic performance, high integrity and a strong work ethic. In 2008, CBA moved the location of the School to Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. This move allowed CBA to provide a higher level of executive-quality facilities for students. In 2015, the name of the School was changed from the Graduate School of Retail Bank Management to its current name, the CBA Executive Banking School, or “EBS.”
Today the CBA Executive Banking School is a fast-paced, quality-focused educational opportunity for bankers destined for greater management responsibilities in all areas of retail banking.
Follow #BackToBankingSchool on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates from EBS 2021
If you are interested in speaking with CBA President Richard Hunt, members of the faculty, or students attending the 2021 Executive Banking School, please contact Billy Rielly at brielly@consumerbankers.com
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About the Consumer Bankers Association:
The Consumer Bankers Association represents America’s leading retail banks. We promote policies to create a stronger industry and economy. Established in 1919, CBA’s corporate member institutions account for 1.7 million jobs in America, extend roughly $4 trillion in consumer loans and provide $275 billion in small business loans annually. Follow us on Twitter @consumerbankers.
