Two NJ Women Are National Banking Leaders

Jean Quinn of Parlin, NJ, and Maria Romano of Marlboro, NJ, both vice presidents at The Provident Bank, recently received certificates from the American Bankers Association upon completing the Senior Leadership Institute’s Banking Leadership Program, a two-year executive development program.

Quinn and Romano participated in an extensive series of discussions, readings and casework on effective leadership with other top-level financial services executives from around the country. The highly-selective program admits only a small group of senior banking executives each year.

The senior leadership program gives participants in-depth ideas on how to better manage a team, set goals and oversee activity with a vision that goes beyond day-to-day operations. The first part of the program was given last year in Ohio and focused on personal leadership skills.

“It gave me an opportunity to evaluate myself and my management skills. It’s important for us to continue to set goals to carry the bank’s vision forward,” said Romano, a regional manager who oversees 12 branches.

“We received input from peers and subordinates that helped us identify our strengths. Banking is all about relationships, and successful leaders practice building those relationships,” said Quinn, who heads up the bank’s corporate communications department. “The program gave me insight into my own abilities and suggested ways to tap into the strengths of other team members as well.”

The second of the two full-week sessions took place this past summer in Maryland. It focused on identifying leadership in those around us and encouraging collaboration.

“This program helped us understand how to keep momentum going. As a leader, you have to focus on how you can continually increase performance and production and bring your team to the next level,” said Romano.

“The ABA Senior Leadership Institute not only provides an advanced level of leadership training, it offers participants a great opportunity to cultivate and expand a network of people in similar positions throughout our industry,” said Quinn.

“Provident consistently encourages continued training and education for our employees. Participating in educational programs like this fosters growth among our senior managers,” said Provident President and CEO Christopher Martin. “We congratulate Jean and Maria on their accomplishments.”

The American Bankers Association is the largest banking trade association in the country. Its members include community banks, regional and money center banks and holding companies, savings associations, trust companies and savings banks.

About The Provident Bank

With $4.9 billion in deposits, The Provident Bank serves its customers via a network of 84 branches throughout northern and central New Jersey. The Provident Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS), which reported assets of $6.8 billion as of September 30, 2009.