Columbus, Ohio—Ohio Bankers League (OBL) is proud to announce that Jenny Saunders, Division President of FCBank, a Division of CNB, has been honored with the first-ever OBL Exceptional Women in Banking Award. This accolade, presented by the OBL, recognizes women who exhibit the highest level of vision and innovation and those that have pioneered and paved the way for women in leadership within the banking sector.
Striving for excellence through a culture of social impact and inclusivity guides the foundation of Jenny Saunders’ leadership and business practices. As the president of FCBank, a division of CNB Bank, a multi-billion-dollar institution serving clients in central and northern Ohio, Jenny manages more than 70 employees on any given day. Since the onset of Jenny’s presidential venture, she has established ways to innovate commercial community banking, while incorporating and distributing civic leadership into the communities that FCBank serves. By recognizing the need for customer-focused and community-centered practices, FCBank, under Jenny’s guidance, is recognized as a foundational pillar in the community, offering a high-quality consumer and commercial banking experience, tailored for each customer’s needs.
Jenny continues to push against the glass ceiling by further exploring leadership and empowerment opportunities for women. She has been instrumental in creating opportunities for her staff to grow both personally and professionally. At FCBank, Jenny spearheads a team that intentionally participates in and sponsors women’s networking events within the communities they serve.
Jenny has also spoken publicly on issues related to women in leadership and encourages intentional efforts to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into the banking industry. She believes that every person has the potential to make a difference in their own way. By making it a priority to sponsor and speak at events dedicated to leadership such as Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD), Jenny has furthered her role as a mentor in the community and in the banking industry. She treads these spaces with a mindset of growth, ready to collaborate rather than compete. It is in these environments that Jenny believes in creating connections that last a lifetime, recognizing that by supporting one another, women can collectively break barriers and pave pathways towards success. Jenny is a true believer in celebrating other’s successes, learning from shared experiences and stops at nothing to ensure that every woman can have a seat at the table.
"The first ever Exceptional Women in Banking Award could not have gone to a more deserving person than Jenny Saunders. She embodies the spirit of the award and is truly intentional about empowering other women. Whether it is through her career at the bank or through her community efforts, Jenny is a role model, walking the walk, raising women up in the banking industry and in her community. Jenny will be serving as the Chair of the OBL Board of Directors in 2025. She is the first woman to hold this position in over 15 years. We look forward to her leadership and hope she can encourage more women to take their rightful place in leadership,” said Michael Adelman, President & CEO, Ohio Bankers League.
The Ohio Bankers League is the trade association for the Ohio banking industry – and is Ohio’s only organization focused on meeting the needs of all banks and thrifts in the Buckeye State. For more than 125 years, the OBL has been the voice of the Ohio banking industry fostering a cooperation that has made it one of the strongest and most reputable financial trade associations in the country. By linking banks, bankers, and industry experts – and by pooling their intellectual and capital resources – the OBL serves as a powerful creator of knowledge and collective resources. The non-profit association is comprised of 174 FDIC-insured financial institutions including commercial banks, savings banks, and savings and loan associations ranging in size from just over $13 million in assets to more than $1.5 trillion.