Melissa Eggleston, executive vice president and chief deposit and operations officer at nbkc bank, has been named Finovate's 2026 Executive of the Year, an award recognizing exceptional leadership and innovation in financial services.

Finovate is a research and events firm focused on innovation in financial and banking technology. Its annual awards recognize outstanding achievements among banks, fintech companies, and industry leaders, with winners selected by a panel of industry experts.

Selected from eight finalists, Eggleston was recognized for achievements reflecting nbkc bank's commitment to innovation. According to Finovate, the judges cited the bank's ease of use for remote customers, its strong industry reputation, and its ability to pursue new opportunities while continuing to deliver value to existing customers.

“This is a tremendous and well-deserved recognition for Melissa and nbkc,” said Michael Bartkoski, president and CEO of nbkc bank. “Melissa embodies our commitment to building strong partnerships with some of the industry's most innovative fintechs and delivering financial solutions to millions of Americans. She is constantly building relationships and looking at ways to provide value to our partners and the customers we serve.”

The recognition extended beyond Eggleston: nbkc bank was also named a finalist for Finovate's Best Banking as a Service Provider award, while Scott Ramon, the bank's chief technology officer, was a finalist for the Innovator of the Year honor. Banking as a Service refers to a model in which chartered banks supply their regulatory licenses and core banking infrastructure to fintech companies, allowing them to offer deposit accounts, payments, and related services without obtaining a bank charter of their own. The two finalist designations place nbkc bank and Ramon in contention for Finovate's remaining honors.

Eggleston joined nbkc bank in 2016 to lead the development of its nationwide digital banking platform for consumers and small businesses. Her responsibilities have since expanded to include oversight of bank operations and the cultivation of strategic fintech partnerships, a mandate that corresponds to the bank-fintech collaboration structure underpinning the Banking as a Service category. The Kansas City Business Journal has previously recognized her as a NextGen Leader and as one of its Women of Influence.

She holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Purdue University Northwest and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Source: Global FinTech Series — nbkc bank's Melissa Eggleston Named Finovate Executive of the Year