Chairpersons

ABA Elects New Officers and Board Members for 2025-2026

Strategic Insights

Oct 20, 2025 — 1 min read

The American Bankers Association's annual convention in Charlotte, N.C. has elected new ABA officers and directors to serve on ABA's board for the 2025-2026 association year. Keynote speakers and attendees alike witnessed the election of Kenneth Kelly as Chair, Catherine Owen as Chair-Elect, James C. Ryan III as Vice Chair, and K. Wayne Wicker as Treasurer.

The new board members will join existing directors, including Marianne Lake, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking at JPMorganChase, and Thomas Ogaard, Chairman, President and CEO of Native American Bancorporation Co. The newly elected officials will work alongside ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols to shape the association's advocacy priorities and drive economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

Kenneth Kelly, chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank, Detroit, has been elected as the new ABA Chair for the 2025-2026 association year.
Catherine Owen, executive chair of Eagle Bank & Trust Company and chair and CEO of State Holding Company, will serve as the ABA Chair-Elect.
James C. Ryan III, chairman and CEO of Old National Bancorp, Evansville, Ind., has been elected as the new ABA Vice Chair.
K. Wayne Wicker, chairman and CEO of South Atlantic Bank, Myrtle Beach, S.C., has been elected as the ABA Treasurer.
Cynthia N. Day, president and CEO of Citizens Trust Bank, Atlanta, is among the new board members starting their terms in 2025-2026.
The ABA board now has a total of 16 members, including existing directors and new appointees.

Statistics:

The American banking industry is worth $25 trillion in size.
The banking industry employs approximately 2.1 million people.
Deposited funds total $19.7 trillion.
Extending loans totals approximately $13.1 trillion.
The ABA's board consists of 16 members, with new members starting their terms in 2025-2026.

Sources:

American Bankers Association, https://www.aba.com/en/about-us/press-room/press-releases/board-confirmations-2025-2026.
American Bankers Association, https://www.aba.com/en/about-us.

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