Jane Fraser, Chair and CEO of Citi, has been named No. 1 on American Banker’s 2026 Most Powerful Women in Banking list, marking her sixth consecutive year at the top of the publication’s annual ranking.
American Banker describes the 2026 list as its 24th annual ranking, recognizing 25 women whose leadership and innovation are influencing the banking industry.
Fraser leads Citi, a financial institution with approximately $2.9 trillion in assets, according to the information highlighted in American Banker’s announcement. The publication also points to Citi’s record $85.2 billion in revenue in 2025, describing it as the bank’s highest revenue level in more than a decade.
Jane Fraser Continues to Lead Citi’s Transformation
Fraser’s continued position at the top of the list comes as Citi advances a broad transformation of its business.
American Banker’s 2026 coverage focuses on leaders navigating a rapidly changing financial environment, where technology, artificial intelligence, customer expectations, operational efficiency and evolving competitive dynamics are influencing strategic decisions across the sector.
For Fraser, the recognition reflects the scale of her leadership at one of the world’s largest banking institutions and Citi’s ongoing efforts to reshape its operations and business model.
Gunjan Kedia Moves to No. 2
Gunjan Kedia, CEO of U.S. Bancorp, is ranked No. 2 on the 2026 list, moving up from fourth place in 2025.
Kedia became CEO of U.S. Bancorp in April 2025. American Banker highlights several developments during her leadership, including the bank’s acquisition of capital-markets firm BTIG, a partnership with Amazon involving a small-business credit card, and U.S. Bank’s sponsorship relationship with the NFL.
Her rise in the 2026 ranking reflects the publication’s assessment of her leadership and the developments at U.S. Bancorp during the period covered by the ranking.
JPMorganChase Executives Hold Three of the Top Five Positions
JPMorganChase has a significant presence among the top five women recognized by American Banker.
Marianne Lake is ranked No. 3, followed by Jennifer Piepszak at No. 4 and Lori Beer at No. 5.
Lake served as CEO of JPMorganChase’s Consumer & Community Banking business before announcing her retirement in 2026. Piepszak serves as the bank’s Chief Operating Officer, while Beer is Global Chief Information Officer.
Their positions reflect the increasingly broad range of responsibilities women executives hold across major financial institutions—from consumer banking and enterprise operations to technology and digital infrastructure.
Lori Beer Highlights the Scale of Banking Technology
Lori Beer’s position illustrates the growing importance of technology leadership within global banking.
As JPMorganChase’s Global CIO, Beer oversees technology operations supporting 86 million active customers, more than 7,000 applications and nearly an exabyte of data, according to American Banker. The publication also reports that the bank has a technology budget of approximately $19.8 billion and processes around $12 trillion in digital payments each day.
The scale demonstrates how technology has become inseparable from modern banking operations, with technology executives increasingly responsible for infrastructure, data, innovation and customer-facing digital capabilities.
AI and Technology Are Becoming Leadership Priorities
Technology and artificial intelligence are recurring themes throughout American Banker’s 2026 coverage.
The list includes leaders working directly across data, analytics, technology and AI. Among them is Teresa Heitsenrether, JPMorganChase’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer, whose approach to AI emphasizes using the technology to solve practical business problems and help employees become more efficient.
At Citi, Pam Habner, Head of U.S. Consumer Cards, is also highlighted for establishing an AI operating model aimed at integrating AI tools into the business to improve efficiency, customer engagement and revenue opportunities.
These examples show how AI is increasingly being approached not simply as a technology experiment, but as part of broader operating and business strategies.
A Broader View of Women’s Leadership in Banking
The 2026 list extends beyond CEOs to include executives responsible for technology, risk, commercial banking, payments, compliance, data and other critical functions.
Among the 25 honorees are leaders from organizations including Citi, U.S. Bancorp, JPMorganChase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, BMO, Truist, Regions Financial, TD Bank, HSBC, BNY and Fifth Third Bank.
The range of positions represented demonstrates the increasingly diverse pathways through which women are influencing financial institutions.
American Banker’s 2026 Top Five
According to American Banker’s 2026 ranking, the top five are:
- Jane Fraser — Chair and CEO, Citi
- Gunjan Kedia — CEO, U.S. Bancorp
- Marianne Lake — CEO, Consumer & Community Banking, JPMorganChase
- Jennifer Piepszak — Chief Operating Officer, JPMorganChase
- Lori Beer — Global Chief Information Officer, JPMorganChase
The ranking is American Banker’s editorial recognition and should be understood within the publication’s own methodology and criteria rather than as an independent industry-wide measurement.
Leadership in a Changing Banking Landscape
American Banker’s 2026 list arrives at a time when banking leadership is increasingly connected to transformation across technology, data, customer experience, operational efficiency and talent.
The careers and responsibilities of the executives featured demonstrate how leadership roles are expanding beyond traditional banking functions. Technology infrastructure, AI adoption, digital payments and enterprise transformation are now central to the strategic direction of major financial institutions.
Jane Fraser’s sixth consecutive appearance at No. 1, alongside the advancement of Gunjan Kedia and the strong representation of JPMorganChase executives, underscores the continued prominence of women leaders across some of the industry’s largest institutions.
About American Banker’s Recognition
The Most Powerful Women in Banking is an annual American Banker program recognizing women leaders across the banking industry. The 2026 edition is the 24th annual ranking and features 25 executives. American Banker also presents separate lists covering women in finance and women to watch.
Source: American Banker — The Most Powerful Women in Banking 2026.
Share your Details for subscribe