PBN Leaders & Achievers 2023
Virginia Roberts
Webster Bank N.A.
Senior managing director and deputy chief credit officer
VIRGINIA ROBERTS’ ROAD to banking began, oddly enough, in the publishing industry.
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While she finished her MBA program at the University of Notre Dame, Roberts received an offer from the Chicago Tribune to work in its advertising and sales department. It was an offer from the city’s prominent news institution that Roberts could not refuse, she said.
When she moved to Rhode Island, Roberts shifted gears toward banking. A lack of newspaper advertising sales roles locally led the new MBA graduate to apply to banks for their credit training program, and Roberts began working for Industrial National – before it changed its name to Fleet Bank.
That change began her 30-year career in credit and commercial lending, to where Roberts is now senior managing director for Webster Bank N.A., which is based in Stamford, Conn., but has branches in Rhode Island.
“My journey has been buoyed by mentors and advocates who pushed me to the next level,” she said. “Furthermore, I have had the opportunity to work with and for colleagues who have helped me grow in my position and expand my responsibilities.”
While at Fleet, Roberts was promoted to manage a team of 11 people and was named to the bank’s senior credit committee, which reflects one’s credit-approval credentials. Roberts said the benefit at the time of having responsibility for the budget and asset quality represented a tremendous growth opportunity. It was also a recognition that she could be effective both as a line of business leader and as a good steward of the credit culture within Fleet.
Having that dual experience provided Roberts the chance to join Webster Bank 12 years ago as senior credit executive – and subsequently rise through the ranks, she said.
In her current role, Roberts enjoys how broad and diverse her duties are at Webster Bank, combining both strategic and tactical initiatives.
“Every day is different, and the work encourages me to consider all that can be accomplished in a continuous improvement culture,” she said.
