Bank Executive Leadership Program

Master finance, strategy, risk management and corporate governance to shape the future of banking leadership.

Counts toward the Certificate in Leadership & Management
Counts toward the Management Development Certificate

Upcoming Dates

Program Dates

Format

Time Commitment

Program Fee

9-13 Feb 2026

In-Person, Charlottesville, VA

5 days

$9,950.00

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Overview

Technological disruptions and banking crisis lead to heightened economic uncertainty and strained financial systems. Join senior banking and financial leaders to gain strategic insights to navigate financial disruption and manage transformation.

Led by Yiorgos Allayannis, a Wall Street veteran with almost 30 years of experience at Darden, this program blends corporate finance with leadership training to provide executives with the skills necessary to excel in the banking sector. Our small cohorts provide direct engagement with Darden's world-renowned faculty, lively and engaging discussion, and relaxed receptions and meals that foster networking with your peers.

Enjoy world-class accommodations at The Forum Hotel, located at the entrance to Darden's picturesque Grounds. Sitting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Darden provides an ideal environment for learning and reflection away from daily distractions.

Earn 29.6 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.

Intended For

Executive, C-Suite

Focus

Leadership, Finance & Banking

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This immersive and highly-targeted program will help senior banking leaders enhance their overall capabilities by combining leadership training with strategic, whole enterprise thinking and financial expertise using hands-on practice to help solve daily business challenges while managing the ever-changing financial environment.

Examine the strategic decisions facing bank executives, including evaluating acquisitions and divestitures, implementing effective risk management, managing capital and liquidity, and addressing regulatory expectations.
Review capital requirements, current debt and equity markets for banks and strategies for raising capital.
Explore new ways of managing and reducing your bank's exposure to risk and practice scenario analyses in a workshop that will prepare you to turn results into action.
Engage in real problems that bank leaders face and debate solutions to arrive at best practices.
Explore the impacts of emerging banking models and technologies, including fintechs.

Check out Professor Yiorgos Allayannis' Q&A on our blog, "Revitalizing the Bank Executive Leadership Program" for more information on how the program addresses current needs of banking leaders in times of change and crisis.

Darden's New Home for Lifelong Learning

The Forum Hotel by Kimpton at the UVA Darden School of Business in Charlottesville is now open! We’re excited to welcome our EELL participants to learn and stay with us in this dynamic new meeting place.

Learn More

About Darden Executive Education & Lifelong Learning

Get a glimpse of the Darden Grounds and learning experience, as well as the beautiful on-Grounds accommodations at The Forum Hotel.
Video has no audio.

Schedule & Topics
The program begins at 5:30pm the first day with a welcome reception and opening dinner. The remaining days generally run from 8am-5pm, wrapping up at 12pm on the final day. Featured session topics and workshops include:

Becoming an Outstanding Finance Leader

What is Strategy?

Balance Sheet Strategies

The Strategic Decisions Facing Bank Executives

What is your bank worth and how do you improve it?/Valuing Bank

M&A session

Financial Innovation (Green Bonds/ESG)

Articulating Strategy Workshop

Bank Capital, Basel III and Future of Banking

Effectively Managing a Bank's risk

Scenario Planning Workshop

Bank & Fintech Competition

Sustaining Your Leadership
Impact & Outcomes
Develop best practices for your daily and long-term responsibilities, including risk and balance sheet management, competitive analysis, bank value creation, acquisitions and capital planning.

Articulate your bank’s strategy and defend it, working through a scenario planning analysis to decide how to manage the various risks posed.

Managing bank-wide change, reconcile differing perspectives and align cross-functional efforts toward a shared vision or goal.

Develop strategic approaches for balancing the tension between earnings growth and capital efficiency.

Understand the future of fintech and impact in the banking sector.

Integrate leadership frameworks for professional growth and fostering a value-adding culture in your team.

Gain a network of industry peers with whom you’ve shared a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience.
Participant Profile

Designed for current and next generation bank and credit union senior leaders, across all functions, who want to expand their skills in strategy, leadership and finance to become a more effective, well-rounded leader.

Open to senior banking leaders from institutions of all sizes. Participants from past cohorts have included (but not limited to) CEO of Consumer Lending, Regional Banking Directors, Regional Presidents, Chief Wholesale Officer, President of Commercial Lending, Head of Strategy, Senior VP of Underwriting, SVP of Marketing, VP Controller, Chief Lending Officer, Finance Director, and CHRO. Participants typically have 10 years of experience in the banking industry.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Sponsorship
UVA Darden Executive Education offers continuing education credits as part of our commitment to encourage lifelong learning.

Instructional Delivery: Group Live

CPE Credits: 29.6

Fields of Study: Finance, Business Management and Organization, and Personal Development

Program Level: Beginner

There are no prerequisites for participation. Advanced preparation includes case study readings. The selected case studies will be sent prior to the program for all participants to read and prepare for discussion on the first day of the program.

This program would also provide 2.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Refund/Cancelation/Concern Resolution Policy:

All cancellations and transfers must be received in writing. Submit your request via email to Darden_ExEd@darden.virginia.edu with the name of the program, followed by "cancellation" or "transfer" in the subject line. Cancellation or transfer fees may apply. Visit our Registration & FAQ page for full details on transfers and cancellations.

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints, please contact us at 1-434-924-3000 or Darden_ExEd@darden.virginia.edu to resolve your issue.

UVA Darden School Foundation - Executive Education is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Concerns regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
Location & Accommodations

Location

Darden School of Business
100 Darden Blvd.
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

Accommodations

Lodging will be provided at our new on-Grounds hotel for participants of this program as part of your program fee. If you register within 30 days of the program start date, accommodations at The Forum Hotel cannot be guaranteed. Alternate lodging would be provided. We encourage you to register early to reserve your spot!

The Forum Hotel
Kimpton Charlottesville
UVA DARDEN
540 Massie Rd.
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Enjoy access to all the hotel’s perks during your stay, including morning coffee and tea service, on-site fitness center, Birch & Bloom steakhouse, The Good Sport craft beer bar and large outdoor terrace.

Anchored by the beautiful Tahja Arboretum and LaCross Botanical Gardens with outdoor learning and reflection spaces, as well as state-of-the-art indoor classroom and event spaces, The Forum Hotel is the new home for Executive Education & Lifelong Learning programming.

The program begins at 5:30pm the first day with a welcome reception and opening dinner. The remaining days generally run from 8am-5pm, wrapping up at 12pm on the final day. Featured session topics and workshops include:

Becoming an Outstanding Finance Leader
What is Strategy?
Balance Sheet Strategies
The Strategic Decisions Facing Bank Executives
What is your bank worth and how do you improve it?/Valuing Bank
M&A session
Financial Innovation (Green Bonds/ESG)
Articulating Strategy Workshop
Bank Capital, Basel III and Future of Banking
Effectively Managing a Bank's risk
Scenario Planning Workshop
Bank & Fintech Competition
Sustaining Your Leadership

Develop best practices for your daily and long-term responsibilities, including risk and balance sheet management, competitive analysis, bank value creation, acquisitions and capital planning.
Articulate your bank’s strategy and defend it, working through a scenario planning analysis to decide how to manage the various risks posed.
Managing bank-wide change, reconcile differing perspectives and align cross-functional efforts toward a shared vision or goal.
Develop strategic approaches for balancing the tension between earnings growth and capital efficiency.
Understand the future of fintech and impact in the banking sector.
Integrate leadership frameworks for professional growth and fostering a value-adding culture in your team.
Gain a network of industry peers with whom you’ve shared a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience.

Designed for current and next generation bank and credit union senior leaders, across all functions, who want to expand their skills in strategy, leadership and finance to become a more effective, well-rounded leader.

Open to senior banking leaders from institutions of all sizes. Participants from past cohorts have included (but not limited to) CEO of Consumer Lending, Regional Banking Directors, Regional Presidents, Chief Wholesale Officer, President of Commercial Lending, Head of Strategy, Senior VP of Underwriting, SVP of Marketing, VP Controller, Chief Lending Officer, Finance Director, and CHRO. Participants typically have 10 years of experience in the banking industry.

UVA Darden Executive Education offers continuing education credits as part of our commitment to encourage lifelong learning.

Instructional Delivery: Group Live
CPE Credits: 29.6
Fields of Study: Finance, Business Management and Organization, and Personal Development
Program Level: Beginner

There are no prerequisites for participation. Advanced preparation includes case study readings. The selected case studies will be sent prior to the program for all participants to read and prepare for discussion on the first day of the program.

This program would also provide 2.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Refund/Cancelation/Concern Resolution Policy:

All cancellations and transfers must be received in writing. Submit your request via email to Darden_ExEd@darden.virginia.edu with the name of the program, followed by "cancellation" or "transfer" in the subject line. Cancellation or transfer fees may apply. Visit our Registration & FAQ page for full details on transfers and cancellations.

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints, please contact us at 1-434-924-3000 or Darden_ExEd@darden.virginia.edu to resolve your issue.

UVA Darden School Foundation - Executive Education is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Concerns regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Location

Darden School of Business
100 Darden Blvd.
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

Accommodations

The Forum Hotel Kimpton Arboretum & Gardens

Lodging will be provided at our new on-Grounds hotel for participants of this program as part of your program fee. If you register within 30 days of the program start date, accommodations at The Forum Hotel cannot be guaranteed. Alternate lodging would be provided. We encourage you to register early to reserve your spot!

The Forum Hotel
Kimpton Charlottesville
UVA DARDEN
540 Massie Rd.
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Enjoy access to all the hotel’s perks during your stay, including morning coffee and tea service, on-site fitness center, Birch & Bloom steakhouse, The Good Sport craft beer bar and large outdoor terrace.

Anchored by the beautiful Tahja Arboretum and LaCross Botanical Gardens with outdoor learning and reflection spaces, as well as state-of-the-art indoor classroom and event spaces, The Forum Hotel is the new home for Executive Education & Lifelong Learning programming.

Earn Your Certificate

Bank Executive Leadership Program counts as one program toward a noncredit Darden Certificate in Leadership & Management. Complete this program and three additional programs within a seven-year period to earn your certificate.

The Bank Executive Leadership Program allowed me to step away from the daily grind and think about larger context, strategy and leadership under the guidance of three tremendous professors. They each brought unique insight, that combined over the course of the week, challenged me to think about how I can do things better and more efficiently.

Emily Chin

EVP, Business Growth Strategy Executive, Wells Fargo

Faculty

George (Yiorgos) Allayannis

Robert F. Bruner Distinguished Professor of Business Administration

George (Yiorgos) Allayannis

Robert F. Bruner Distinguished Professor of Business Administration

Finance

Allayannis is an expert in corporate finance, risk management, financial institutions and international finance. His research focuses in the areas of financial institutions, fintech, capital markets and international finance.

Full Bio

Sankaran Venkataraman

MasterCard Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research

Sankaran Venkataraman

MasterCard Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Research

Strategy, Ethics & Entrepreneurship

Focusing on strategy, ethics and entrepreneurship, Sankaran Venkataraman ("Venkat") is an internationally renowned scholar and educator in the field of entrepreneurship. He has published extensively and has lectured around the world. As a corporate planning executive in a major Indian firm, he was a part of a founding team that created and developed a highly successful new business venture. He consults with Fortune 500 firms as well as several small companies. He facilitates strategy discussion for firms and is an adviser to firms, universities and government organizations.

Full Bio

Martin N. Davidson

Johnson and Higgins Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean and Global Chief Diversity Officer

Martin N. Davidson

Johnson and Higgins Professor of Business Administration, Senior Associate Dean and Global Chief Diversity Officer

Leadership and Organizational Behavior

With focus in leadership & organizational behavior, Martin N. Davidson's thought leadership has changed how many executives approach inclusion and diversity in their organizations. He teaches, conducts research and consults with global leaders to help them use diversity strategically to drive high performance.

Full Bio

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