Wendy Cai-Lee

Wendy Cai-Lee is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Piermont Bank, a full-service digital commercial bank that provides an unprecedented banking experience blending the best of banking and technology. As the first Asian American woman to ever launch a commercial bank in the U.S., Wendy has built Piermont Bank as a fully chartered, digital native financial institution recognized for its disciplined growth and commitment to deliver high-touch solutions to fast growing companies.

Wendy has decades of management and business-building experience in commercial and consumer banking, mergers & acquisitions, and cross-border investment advisory services at Fortune 500 financial organizations as well as start-up companies. Prior to building Piermont Bank, she was an Executive Vice President at East West Bank, responsible for its Commercial and Consumer Businesses in the U.S. Earlier in her career, Wendy was a Managing Director at Deloitte LLP, where she managed its U.S./China cross-border M&A business. She started her banking career with JP Morgan Chase and held various management positions at both Chase and Citi.

Wendy is named Digital Banker of the Year in 2022 and an honoree of The Most Powerful Women in Banking to Watch by the American Banker from 2022 to 2025. She is included on Inc’s 2024 Female Founders 250 list. Wendy is a sought-after voice among top-tier business media outlets and a frequent speaker on global industry event stage. She has been featured by Bloomberg, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Inc., Fast Company, Forbes, Bank Directors and other media. She is an advisory member shaping the agenda for Financial Time’s annual Global Banking Summit in 2025.

Beyond her work at Piermont Bank, Wendy served on New York State Department of Financial Services’ Charter Advisory Board and CDFI/MDI Council. Wendy is an Emeritus member of the Board of Friends of UNFPA. She also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board at Douglass College and is a member of the Committee of 100.

Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Rutgers University.