Union Bank & Trust named Maria P. Tedesco president, effective September 28, 2018. She will lead the commercial banking, business banking, consumer banking and wealth management teams as well as enterprise-wide functions of marketing, digital strategy and customer experience.

Tedesco was most recently chief operating officer for Retail at BMO Harris Bank based in Chicago. She was responsible for retail products, segments, customer experience, indirect auto, consumer lending, small business lending, business banking strategy, channels and risk.

Prior to that, she served as senior executive vice president and managing director of the Retail Bank at Santander Bank, where she was responsible for leading the U.S. retail strategy and business channels, including branch network, online, mobile, investments, mortgage, call centers, ATMs, marketing, product marketing, customer experience and program management office. Before Santander, Tedesco spent 19 years at Citizens Financial Group, ultimately becoming group executive vice president and executive director of Retail Banking and Business Banking for the company.

Tedesco was named one of most powerful women in banking, team award by American Banker in 2012 and 2017. In 2015, American Banker also named her one of the most powerful women to watch.

“While serving together on the Consumer Bankers Association Small Business Committee, I observed first hand that Maria was an impressive thought leader in the banking industry. Maria brings more than 30 years of both small and large bank experience to Union and understands the important role the bank and its teammates play in our communities. I look forward to her leadership and contributions to further develop the Union franchise,” said John C. Asbury, president and CEO of Union Bankshares.