The American Bankers Association’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking recognized 233 graduates today, awarding Stonier diplomas and Wharton leadership certificates. Patrick Harker, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, delivered the keynote address for the graduation ceremony, held on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.
“Since a strong and sound economy can only exist when it’s underpinned by a strong and sound financial system, the people who run those institutions have a unique responsibility,” Harker told the graduates. “We don’t usually have a say in what life throws at us, but we do decide how we handle it. Our financial system needs people at the top who can roll with those changes and make the right calls, even when they’re the hard ones.”
This year, 732 students attended Stonier, representing banks of all sizes and geographies, various regulatory agencies and international organizations. Stonier’s intensive education program complements extension projects throughout the year. The three-year program focuses on preparing future industry leaders with curriculum covering a variety of topics including capital planning, enterprise risk management, marketing strategy and technology and innovation.
