Head of U.S. Small Business Banking & Regional President of Mid-South Metro
TD Bank
Chris Ward is the Head of U.S Small Business Banking and Regional President of the Mid-South Metro for TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank. He is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is responsible for leading TD’s efforts to deliver best-in-class banking products, services and advice to small business customers across the bank’s U.S. footprint. He is also responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership to TD Bank’s local Retail teams throughout a network of 135 stores and banking hubs in Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, North Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; and Greenville, South Carolina. Ward has nearly 35 years of banking experience. Before joining TD Bank, Ward served as the Small Business Credit Executive for Bank of America, where he led a team across underwriting, fulfilment and portfolio management within the bank's national footprint. He has previously served in leadership positions in business banking and retail banking at Citizens Financial Group, BBVA Group/Compass Bank and the former First Union National Bank. Outside of work, he is active in the community. Ward sits on the Consumer Bankers Association Small Business Committee and previously was part of the European Financial & Marketing Association’s Business Banking Council. He is passionate about resources for parents and caregivers and served as executive sponsor of an employee resource group while at Bank of America. He was named Global Employee Resource Group executive sponsor of the year in 2022. Ward attended the Consumer Bankers Association Graduate School of Retail Bank Management at University of Virginia and has a bachelor's degree in finance from Florida Atlantic University.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and as their needs evolve, financial institutions must evolve with them. Entrepreneurs today expect more than products, they expect experiences that help them grow and thrive. For micro and small businesses, the top priorities are simplicity, speed, and self-service. They want to open accounts, send payments, and manage cash flow without friction.
In this keynote, TD Bank’s Chris Ward, head of U.S small business, will share how banks and credit unions can reimagine their approach to small business banking by focusing on the “Four S’s”:
This highly interactive session will engage attendees in reflecting on their own institutions’ strengths and opportunities across the Four S’s, sparking ideas for how the industry can better serve the small business community. Live Q&A will be offered through the Small Business Banking conference app!