More Women Make It Big In Smaller Banks

Friday, March 1, 2002

More Women MakeIt Big In Smaller Banks (NAPSA)—Studies suggest women interested in a career in banking, and bank customers who want to deal with them, should start small—with the smaller institutions, thatis. A recent survey found that women make up almost a third of the executive management in the 100 smallest banks in the United States. Of these, nine had female CEOs or presidents. In contrast, in the largest community banks in the U.S., only 16 percent of the executive managers are female and there are no women CEOs. Since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 63 percent of the 7.6 million people employed in finance, insurance and real estate industries are women, it would appear womenstill have a way to go in these industries. Consider the case of Julie Cripe. As president of OmniBank in Houston, Texas, a mid-size bank, she’s responsible for business development and the bank’s $25 million loan portfolio for more than 300 small business customers. She also serves as the bank’s liaison for a numberof government agencies and the community and is on its board of directors. Cripe has been a member of Financial Women International (FWI) for 19 years. Cripe credits FWI with helping Bank president Julie Cripe of Texas is one of a few women in America to hold such a position. her achieve her career goals by providing “opportunities, encour- agement, self-esteem and confidence, long-term friendship, knowledge about specific lines of business and practice in public speaking and presentations.” This organization is dedicated to the advancementof financial services industry professionals, providing tools, resources and opportunities that will benefit the individual, the industry, and the community at large. You can learn more about FWI and about women in banking online at www.fwi.org.

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