Movers and Shakers: Maria Coyne, Executive Vice President, Business Banking Segment Group, Key Bank

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

“I wanted to be a banker my whole life,” said Maria Coyne, Executive Vice President, Business Banking Segment Group at Key Bank. Coyne graduated with a degree in finance from Notre Dame in 1982, and besides a three year foray into the non profit sector, has spent her 25 year career in banking. While she has worked in just about every part of the bank, she said, she’s always come back to small business.

“It’s where my heart was,” she said. “Particularly the women’s business sector.”

Among her proudest achievements, Coyne includes the work she’s done with the Key4Women program – Key’s program for female business owners, providing financial solutions, networking opportunities, and education. She explained that, going back to the late ’90s, Key Bank was studying the needs of women business owners. “We saw that they just weren’t applying for loans.”

“We identified it as a need and wanted to make it real.” She said the program has gone a long way in helping understand the economic value in women-owned businesses. “This is not just a “feel good” project,” she said. “These women have sophisticated business needs.”

She continued, “The most thrilling thing for me has been to see these companies grow and expand through the program.”

In 2005, Key Bank has committed to lending $1 billion over the next three years, and accomplished that goal early in 2007. “So we said, ‘Let’s double it.’” That goal, she said, was achieved in 2009. The bank is on track to achieve its next goal of 3 billion by 2012.

On the horizon, Coyne said, is a program for non profit entities similar to Key4Women. “We want to help non profits find financial solutions. We’re very excited about it.” Additionally, Coyne said, so many of the bank’s employees sit on non profit boards that the program is energizing the entire leadership team. “We’re well suited to serve non profits,” she added.

Coyne is particularly excited about the financial education portion of the two programs.

She said, “I think financial education is so important in virtually every aspect of our industry. On the consumer side, particularly in the “unbanked,” there is heightened awareness around people better managing their finances. One of the good things that came out of this bad cycle is that we are building the tools to help people manage their finances better.”

Advice for Professional Women

“One of the things I had to learn was that I had to modulate my passion,” Coyne recalled. “That means being very measured in how you go about expressing opportunities and setting expectations relative to who you want to work with.”

She continued, “Women are often perceived as overemotional in the workplace because we bring all this passion – balance your passion by bringing the facts to back it up.”

Coyne said that she has seen the industry improve for women throughout her career. “There are a lot of women in leadership positions, and there are more role models than when I started 25 years ago.”

But she said, women in the industry could always use more role models, and she tries to serve as one herself. She continued, “I do tell young women all the time that you have to ask for what you want in terms of career development.”

“I think a lot of us make that mistake early on,” she continued. “You have to be clear about the aspirations you have. Don’t be afraid to take control of your career.”

And she added, don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves. “Early on I made a name for myself as a person who could solve problems and fix things – I didn’t mind being thrown into a mess and I think that opened doors for me.”

As women advance to more senior levels in their careers, Coyne continued, “Stay encouraged.”

She continued, “And for women who have achieved senior roles, please look for someone who needs your help and be a mentor.”

“At Key we say, find a mentor, be a mentor. I have a half dozen people I rely on for advice – I would encourage other senior women to make yourselves available. I’m happy to meet younger women for lunch or coffee when they ask.”

She added, “You learn as much from them as they do from you.”

Women at Key

Coyne is a part of Key Bank’s Executive Women’s Network. “It was formed about the same time as Key4Women. I’m not the founder, but I was actively involved in the formation,” she said. Coyne has also served as an executive sponsor for the network.

The Bank also has a number of programs aimed at mid-career women. “We’re trying to get people over that hump,” she explained.

Finally, Coyne credited Key Bank’s new Chairman and CEO Beth E. Mooney as an important step for women at bank. She explained, “She is the first female CEO of a top twenty bank. It’s important to have a champion in your chairman. When she was promoted, she got hundreds of emails from women in the company – and she replied to all of them.”

She added, “It shows that Key Bank is not just talking the talk, but really walking it.”

In Her Personal Time

In her personal time, Coyne enjoys traveling with her husband and two children. “We do love to explore and discover new places and try new things.”

She is also involved in her community. “For the last twelve years, I served on the board of directors for the high school that both my daughter and I attended and graduated from, and for the last four years I’ve served as chairman.”

She added, “And of course, I still have family balance issues. But being involved in the community helps keep you grounded and reminds you what’s important.”