Michael Smith

wAs President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Bankers Association (NYBA), Michael P. Smith has led New York State’s banking industry since 1989. The Association, founded in 1894, represents community, regional and money center commercial banks and thrift institutions with approximately 300,000 employees statewide and more than $9 trillion in assets.  

During Mr. Smith’s tenure, NYBA has charted a progressive course to modernize and streamline the state and federal banking laws in the areas of pricing, geographic and product flexibility, and community involvement.  In this regard, he has been directly involved in successful efforts on rate and fee deregulation, tax reform, interstate banking and branching. In 1998, he chaired a special national Task Force to help reconcile differences between the insurance industry and banking, helping lead the way to final passage of the Gramm Leach Bliley Financial Modernization Act of 1999.

In addition to his NYBA responsibilities, Mr. Smith serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Business Development Corporation. Mr. Smith has chaired the American Bankers Association’s (ABA) State Association Division, representing 50 state organizations, and served on ABA’s Board of Directors and Government Relations Council.  He also serves as Northeast Regional Chairman of Operation HOPE, NYBA’s national financial literacy and economic empowerment partner.   

Prior to joining the New York Bankers Association in 1975, Mr. Smith served on the staff of United States Congressman Stewart B. McKinney of Connecticut for four years.  He earned a B.A. from Cornell University in 1971 and completed The Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program in 1986.

Active in charitable and civic causes, Mr. Smith is Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York and Chairman of its Development Committee.  Mr. Smith has also been awarded the Medal of Honor by The Ellis Island Society.

Summit Video: Michael Smith
Financial Literacy and the Business Case