2026 Women In Banking Conference OBL

2026 Women In Banking Conference

2026 OBL Women in Banking Conference

Friday, March 20, with an evening reception Thursday, March 19, 6 – 8 p.m.

We invite you to attend and help celebrate our twelfth year for the OBL WIB Conference. The Women in Banking Conference offers women in Ohio’s banking industry the opportunity to gather for networking, recognition and listen to power sessions from presenters across the United States, tailored to strengthen and deepen their involvement in the industry, community, and the Association.

This conference encourages professional development and leadership, while also promoting the importance of fostering relationships and inspiring women to achieve their career goals and aspirations. This conference benefits all levels of women in finance interested in career growth.

Join us to get fresh ideas to better serve your bank, community, and YOURSELF.

PLUS! Ohio Bankers League Industry Awards

The following 2026 awards will be announced at the Women in Banking Conference:

OBL Exceptional Woman in Banking Award

OBL Woman in Banking Rising Star Award

Deadline for submission for the above awards is February 20, 2026. Nominate your picks today!

Learn More & Nominate for the 2026 Awards: https://www.ohiobankersleague.com/OBL-Awards

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Registration

$395 per member

Registration questions reach out to Emily Schwegman at eschwegman@ohiobankersleague.com

Program questions reach out to Julie Kiplinger at jkiplinger@ohiobankersleague.com

Location Hilton Columbus at Easton

Tags Chief Credit Officer; Chief Financial Officer; Chief Information Officer; Chief Lending Officer; Chief Marketing Officer; Chief Operating Officer; Compliance; BSA; CRA; Human Resources; Training; Personnel; Mortgage Lending; Mortgage Loan Processing; Retail Banking; Retail Management; Frontline; HR & Training; Lending; Operations; Retail Management; Sales & Marketing; Security & Technology

Registration Fees

Price Description	Amount
OBL Bank Member - Conference Registration	$395.00
SBA Members (TriState League of Finl Institutions)	$395.00
Non-OBL Member Bank Only	$790.00
AM & BP - Conference Registration	$395.00

Agenda

Thursday, March 19 - Thursday, March 19
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
	Networking Reception Welcome & Networking Reception Attend this casual networking reception, which includes light hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets per person.
Friday, March 20 - Friday, March 20
7:30 am - 8:30 am
	Registration & Networking
8:30 am - 8:45 am
	Welcome/Opening Remarks with Mike Adelman, President & CEO, Ohio Bankers League and Emcee Amber Farley, EVP \| Brand Development, FMS
8:45 am - 9:45 am
	Opening Keynote - The Power of Pivoting with Monica Ortega, Award Winning Emcee & Author Change can be scary. But if you learn to do it right, you can find purpose in the pivoting. Too often people use these times of unexpected change to play the comparison game and go through all the “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” in their lives. These can be two of the worst words in the English language if we don’t learn to step back and evaluate our progress without our emotions attached to it. Shift your mindset, reach your goals, and build the resilience to handle whatever comes your way!
9:45 am - 10:00 am
	Coffee Break
10:00 am - 10:45 am
	Power Session – Managing a Multigenerational Workforce for Competitive Advantage with Abby Petersen, CXO, HC3 For the first time in history, up to five distinct generations are working side-by-side in financial institutions - one of the most complex leadership challenges facing today's financial executives. HC3 CXO, Abby Peterson will share proven strategies for bridging communication gaps, motivating diverse age groups, and creating a cohesive culture where employees are engaged and productive. Learn how to transform generational tension into a powerful engine for innovation and superior customer service.
10:45 am - 11:00 am
	Stretch Break
11:00 am - 11:45 am
	Power Session - Stewarding Success: Reclaiming Rest & Gratitude in a Productivity - Obsessed Culture with Kara Kennedy, President, ClearTrust, LLC. In an industry that rewards relentless productivity, how do we lead with impact without losing ourselves? This session explores gratitude as the foundation for stewarding success in two ways: through generosity—creating opportunities for others with our resources and influence—and through intentional rhythms of rest that demonstrate our value comes from our humanity, not our output. Hear the story of Proxies with Purpose, a program bringing trafficking survivors into financial services roles, and discover how leading from gratitude rather than striving creates a counter-cultural model for the next generation of women in banking.
11:45 am - 1:00 pm
	Lunch & Awards Presentation for Women in Banking Rising Star and Exceptional Women in Banking
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
	Networking Session with A Twist - Assemble Your A-Team for Professional Growth Advocates, Allies, Angels and Aliens…Oh My! with Christine Zust, President, Zust and Company Beyond traditional marketing methods lies a more strategic way to build your network: cultivating and expanding your core base of contacts. Many of those contacts are ready, willing and able to help you grow, yet they often are overlooked because you are busy doing other things. This program is designed to introduce you to four powerful groups of individuals who can help grow your network of contacts and expand your business reach: Your A-Team (Advocates, Allies, Angels and Aliens). Presenter Christine Zust demonstrates how easy it is to maximize your network when putting your strategic mind to work.
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm
	Snack Break
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
	Power Session: The Real Cost of 81 Cents: Unpacking the Gender Wage Gap in Banking with Amanda Smith, Head of Marketing, Darling Consulting Group 81¢. A deceptively simple number. But this figure may be one of the most misunderstood metrics when it comes to women’s careers – especially in finance. 81¢ represents the national gender wage gap, yet for women in banking, the hard truth is that the gap is even wider… and over the past two years alone it has grown alarmingly. Why? How do we get this number? And what drives it? (Spoiler alert: it’s not what you may think.) The good news: there’s plenty that women in banking can do to address it. Join Amanda Smith of Darling Consulting Group as she illuminates the misconceptions and realities behind women’s “81 cents on the dollar,” and offers practical steps forward that bankers at every level can take to help advance women’s careers.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
	Closing Keynote - The Voice of the Brand: Why Women Are Key to Building Trust with Amber Farley, EVP \| Brand Development, FMS In a world where trust is the true currency of banking, brand is everything — and women are uniquely positioned to shape it. Whether you're leading a team, serving customers, or representing your bank in the community, you are the voice of the brand. This session explores the powerful role women play in building brand trust — both for their institutions and for themselves. Drawing on real-life examples from bank rebrands and branding strategy work across the country, we’ll uncover how qualities often attributed to women — empathy, intuition, consistency, and authenticity — are not only leadership strengths but brand-building superpowers.
4:00 pm
	Wrap UP & Prize/Raffle Drawing

Speakers

Name	Speaking At
Amber Farley <div><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">Amber Farley, Partner & EVP of Brand Development at FMS, is a well-known and respected teacher, presenter, consultant and thought leader on bank branding, marketing, and leadership strategies for banks around the country. She strategizes ways to help banks be purpose-driven, inspirational and more relevant to today’s customer—including both internal and external customers, and regularly presents and teaches at national banking schools, banking conferences, and other statewide banking institutions.</span></p><p> </p></div><div> </div>	Closing Keynote - The Voice of the Brand: Why Women Are Key to Building Trust
Kara Kennedy <p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(0,0,0);font-size:11px;"><span class="TextRun SCXW179225340 BCX0 NormalTextRun" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-user-drag:none;font-family:Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:none !important;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:24px;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;user-select:text;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US">Kara Kennedy is president of </span><span class="TextRun SCXW179225340 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-user-drag:none;background-image:var(--urlSpellingErrorV2,url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQiPjxnIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCI+PHBhdGggc3Ryb2tlPSIjRUIwMDAwIiBkPSJNMCAzYzEuMjUgMCAxLjI1LTIgMi41LTJTMy43NSAzIDUgMyIvPjxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wIDBoNXY0SDB6Ii8+PC9nPjwvc3ZnPg=="));background-position:0px 100%;background-repeat:repeat-x;border-bottom:1px solid transparent;font-family:Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:none !important;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:24px;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;user-select:text;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US">ClearTrust</span><span class="TextRun SCXW179225340 BCX0 NormalTextRun" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-user-drag:none;font-family:Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:none !important;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:24px;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;user-select:text;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US">, an award-winning stock transfer agent representing community banks. Kara applies over 20 years of experience in the financial markets to serve banks and shareholders; and also consults for transfer agents and banks in matters related to shareholder services and employee training. MEET KARA She serves on the Board of Directors of the Securities Transfer Association and is a published writer and speaker. Kara graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and International Business. She completed the Business </span><span class="TextRun SCXW179225340 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-user-drag:none;background-image:var(--urlSpellingErrorV2,url("data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSI1IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjQiPjxnIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCI+PHBhdGggc3Ryb2tlPSIjRUIwMDAwIiBkPSJNMCAzYzEuMjUgMCAxLjI1LTIgMi41LTJTMy43NSAzIDUgMyIvPjxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wIDBoNXY0SDB6Ii8+PC9nPjwvc3ZnPg=="));background-position:0px 100%;background-repeat:repeat-x;border-bottom:1px solid transparent;font-family:Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:none !important;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:24px;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;user-select:text;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US">Programme</span><span class="TextRun SCXW179225340 BCX0 NormalTextRun" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-user-drag:none;font-family:Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:none !important;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:24px;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;user-select:text;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US"> of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics in 2014 and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard University.</span><span class="EOP SCXW179225340 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-user-drag:none;font-family:Arial, Arial_EmbeddedFont, Arial_MSFontService, sans-serif;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:24px;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;user-select:text;white-space:pre-wrap;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":360}"> </span></span></p>	Power Session - Stewarding Success: Reclaiming Rest & Gratitude in a Productivity - Obsessed Culture
Monica Ortega	Opening Keynote - The Power of Pivoting
Abby Petersen	Power Session – Managing a Multigenerational Workforce for Competitive Advantage
Amanda Smith <p><span>Amanda Smith is Darling Consulting Group’s Head of Marketing. She leads all aspects of the firm’s marketing strategy in its mission to help banks and credit unions across the U.S. take a transformed, data-driven perspective. </span></p><p><span>She is a frequent speaker on women in financial services.</span></p><p><span>Prior to her current role, Amanda was Senior Vice President at Fidelity Investments, where she led the thought leadership, communications, and marketing consulting teams for Fidelity’s business serving broker-dealers, banks, and insurance firms. She also was the Head of Marketing for National Financial Services (NFS), Fidelity’s brokerage clearing business.</span></p><p><span>She previously held marketing roles at Liberty Mutual Group and Nortel Networks.</span></p><p><span>Amanda holds a BA in Literature from Duke University, an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and an MA in Public Policy with a Credential in Data Analytics from the University of Chicago. </span></p>	Power Session: The Real Cost of 81 Cents: Unpacking the Gender Wage Gap in Banking
Christine Zust	Networking Session with A Twist - Assemble Your A-Team for Professional Growth Advocates, Allies, Angels and Aliens…Oh My!

Exhibitors

Location Information

Hilton Columbus at Easton
3900 Chagrin Drive
Columbus, OH 43219

Get directions

Hotel Information

2026 OBL Women in Banking- Reservations Link: OBL Women in Banking Conference 2026

If you prefer to call in and book your room please use the OBL Group Code 96F.

** Link will be bookable until the cutoff date on February 24^th, 2026, or until the block sells out (whichever comes first!)