Frank Holding Jr., chairman and CEO of First Citizens BancShares, has led the North Carolina–based bank through decades of steady expansion and strategic acquisitions. Under his leadership, the once-regional institution became a national player, most notably with its transformative 2023 acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank’s assets. Known for a conservative approach to lending and an emphasis on long-term relationships, Holding has preserved the family-run culture while scaling First Citizens into one of the largest banks in the United States, managing hundreds of billions in assets.

Charles R. Schwab is the pioneering founder, longtime CEO, and current Co‑Chairman of The Charles Schwab Corporation, which he started in 1971. Renowned for revolutionizing the discount brokerage industry—offering low-cost, tech-driven trading and eliminating commissions—he built one of the largest global investment firms managing over $10 trillion in client assets and serving more than 32 million accounts. Semi-retiring in 2008, he remains the largest individual shareholder and leads the Schwab Foundation’s education and dyslexia initiatives.