Rebekah Stokes, EVP, Chief Financial Officer Featured on ABA Panel

Thomaston Savings Bank’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Rebekah Stokes was recently featured on a panel at the American Bankers Association (ABA) Women Lead Symposium. Becky, alongside a panel of women bankers, discussed the opportunities for women in banking. She shared about her personal experience with certifications, professional development, and strategies to navigate a career in banking.

“Women have made great strides in banking, increasing occupancy in decision-making roles in the c-suite and on bank boards over the last decade. While we are still quite a bit away from occupying 50% of those seats, the attendance of 600+ women at this symposium and the creation of groups like The Girl Banker and ABA’s Women and Allies signals that women are determined to increase their representation in key positions. By collaborating, supporting, encouraging, and advocating for ourselves and others, we will continue to close the gap.”  Rebekah Stokes, EVP, Chief Financial Officer, Thomaston Savings Bank

During the panel, Rebekah discussed her personal experience with self-doubt and “imposter syndrome” when she was approached by the Bank’s CFO at the time, Steve Lewis, to join the Finance team at Thomaston Savings Bank. Despite being qualified for the position, her self-limiting beliefs almost prevented her from applying for the position which launched her career in Finance. She also discussed navigating the challenges of having a career while raising a family or taking care of aging parents. Her advice is to give yourself grace and not only allow others to help you but ask for help when you need it. She shared with the group, “While we may all be capable of doing everything ourselves, we often do it to the detriment of our own self-care. While we can do it all, we don’t have to. The moment we are triggered by ‘having’ to do something is the moment we should realize that it is time to ask for help.”

The ABA believes that supporting women strengthens the industry as a whole; they offer insights, resources and training to further the inclusion of women in banking. Learn more from the ABA at https://www.aba.com/banking-topics/operations/diversity-equity-inclusion/women-in-banking