#5 Jill Castilla - Small Bank, Big Impact

With only 18 percent of startups ever accessing a bank loan, finding community banks that see the long-term value of working with early stage entrepreneurs even if they are not bankable right away, is a rare find. Jill Castilla, President and CEO of Edmond Citizen’s Bank is one of those rare finds. As a Fintech inventor herself, she believes in fostering the next generation of businesses and has even transformed 15,000 square feet of unused office space into Vault 405, a co-sharing space for startups and early stage entrepreneurs. Jill is also a big proponent of organic growth and is the chief architect of Heard on Hurd, an outdoor community appreciation event drawing more than 45,000 visitors.

But the Journey hasn’t been a smooth ride for Jill. She took over the bank at a time of turmoil and was forced to make difficult decisions in order to save the bank. She also had to deal with peers who didn’t believe in her unconventional approach. Jill ultimately led a successful turnaround and changed the bank’s story from one of near collapse and failure to one of transformation.

Jill has been named “Most Innovative CEOs in Banking”, "Community Banker of the Year" and one of the "Most Powerful Women in Banking". But she still remembers her humble beginnings, and like most of us, she suffers from the impostor syndrome from time to time. Join us as we find out more about her passion for entrepreneurs and how she’s managed to keep her small bank competitive using technology and social media.