New York, NY — Reading Cooperative Bank (RCB) is proud to announce that RCB President & CEO Julieann Thurlow has been named to the 2025 list of The Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the financial services industry.
Now in its 23rd year, The Most Powerful Women in Banking program honors the women whose leadership, performance, and impact are transforming the banking sector and shaping the future of financial services.
“For any leader — in any industry — what it takes to operate at the top of their game requires more than brilliant strategy,” said Holly Sraeel, SVP, Strategy and Content at American Banker Live Media. “It calls for agility to anticipate, adapt, and respond to radical changes that will redefine their businesses. For these banking leaders, who happen to be women, their performances shape the destinies of so much more than their companies. The vast array of customers they serve depend on them to deliver solutions and services that change lives and open doors of business opportunity.”
Chana R. Schoenberger, Editor-in-Chief of American Banker, said, “These honorees showed why they’re the best in the industry through their performance in this tough and volatile year. Their strong results show the value of leadership, resilience, and innovative thinking.”
Shanna Cahalane, SVP Director of Marketing & Community Development, said, “At RCB, we are proud to see Julie recognized for the innovation, inspiration, and results she delivers every day. Her leadership is shaping not only our organization, but also the future of the banking industry,”
Cahalane continued, “While this honor highlights Julie’s impact, she would be the first to say that it’s the dedication of our staff, the trust of our customers, and the strength of our community that make this work meaningful and possible.”
Honorees will be recognized during The Most Powerful Women in Banking Conference & Gala, taking place Oct. 21–23 in New York City. In addition to the Gala celebration, Banking honorees will participate in a private Honoree Roundtable and take part in panels and leadership sessions during the weeklong conference.
The 2025 Most Powerful Women in Banking awards are made even more memorable this year with Tiffany & Co. designing this year’s trophies. Tiffany & Co. also crafts trophies for the Super Bowl, U.S. Open, and Formula 1, among other global events. As part of the partnership, Tiffany & Co. hosted the American Banker cover photography shoot at “The Landmark” — the brand’s invitation-only space on Fifth Avenue featuring designs by Peter Marino.
To learn more about the Most Powerful Women in Banking Conference and the women profiled in the various rankings, visit the website: the-most-powerful-women-in-banking.americanbanker.com/the-most-powerful-women-in-banking/.
To read Thurlow’s entry, visit: www.americanbanker.com/news/2025-the-most-powerful-women-in-banking-no-20-julieann-thurlow-reading-cooperative-bank.
About American Banker:
American Banker is the essential resource for senior executives in banking and financial services, keeping its members updated on vital developments and focusing sharply on their most important concerns — innovation, transformation and disruption; technology, regulation and reform. Financial industry professionals turn to American Banker every day and throughout the day to stay informed — drilling down on complex issues, keeping up with breaking news and downloading research and data.
About Reading Cooperative Bank:
Reading Cooperative Bank is a depositor owned co-operative founded in 1886. This community-centric North Shore financial service provider has branches in Andover, Burlington, Lawrence, Lynn, Lynnfield, Melrose, Nahant, North Reading, Reading, Wakefield, and Wilmington. They also operate teaching branches at Northeast Metro Tech in Wakefield (open to the public) and at Reading Memorial High School (students and staff only), as well as an online branch at readingcoop.com.
