U.S. Bank has named Gareth Gaston as executive vice president, Virtual
Banking. In this new role, Gaston will lead the bank’s mobile, Internet
and 24-hour banking division, reporting directly to Kent Stone, vice
chairman for consumer banking and sales support. The move aligns the
bank’s non-branch channels as more customers seek alternative channels
for their banking needs.
Gaston brings 18 years of e-commerce and digital marketing experience to
U.S. Bank. He has worked primarily in the travel and hospitality
industry, with worldwide brands including Hilton, and most recently, the
Wyndham Hotel Group, where he was senior vice president for global
e-commerce.
“Aligning and growing our mobile, Internet, ATM and traditional phone
banking channels will allow us to better serve customers who are moving
their banking to the ‘virtual’ space,” said Stone. “Gareth brings fresh
perspective, having worked outside of the financial sector. He has been
in digital marketing and e-commerce since it began in the mid-90s, and
has a record of success in the travel and hotel industry, capturing
significant market share and growing a customer base in the
non-traditional retail channels.”
“I am inspired by the role and by U.S. Bank’s reputation in the
industry,” Gaston said. “Banking is one of the most trusted
relationships you have in your life. Banks have an opportunity to play
an increasing role in making their customers’ lives fuller and even more
rewarding. The area I’m moving into is a big part of how banks can
innovate and create a very special experience, beyond transactional
interactions, to build meaningful relationships with their clients.”
A native of Scotland, Gaston graduated from The University of the West
of Scotland in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. An army cadet
from the age of 14, he entered the British Territorial Army in 1992
while he was working on his degree, and became a Platoon Commander in
the Scottish Infantry after gaining the Queen’s Commission at Royal
Military Academy Sandhurst in 1995. Following an internship in a hotel
company, Gaston started working in the online space as the Internet was
beginning to emerge.
In the last 14 years, Gaston’s career has grown and he has worked from
locations including Los Angeles, London, New Jersey and Tokyo. Gaston
has recently completed a Global Executive MBA from the TRIUM program, an
alliance of New York University Stern School of Business, London School
of Economics and HEC School of Management in Paris. For his new role
with U.S. Bank, Gaston will be will be relocating his family from New
Jersey to San Francisco, where many of U.S. Bank’s digital banking teams
are based.
U.S. Bank has been recognized nationally for its leadership in many
areas of digital banking, including “photo banking” – using a smartphone
camera to deposit checks, set up bill pay or transfer credit card
balances. U.S. Bank has recently updated its online presence and is
garnering recognition from industry analysts for its proficiency and
ease of use.
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $364 billion in assets as of Dec. 31,
2013, is the parent company of U.S. Bank N.A., the 5th largest
commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 3,081 banking
offices in 25 states and 4,906 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of
banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment
services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S.
Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014