Celebrating 15 Years

Bhanu

Patil

Chief Credit Officer

New York,

New York

Industry

Financial Services

Area of Expertise

Finance

Immediately Qualified to Serve

Finance

Previous Board Experience

Nonprofit

Bhanu has deep industry Board experience, having twice served on the National Board of Women in Public Finance. Currently she also serves as a board trustee at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, NY and on the board of Helene Fuld College of Nursing, NY.

As a Commercial and Corporate Banking, Credit and Risk executive and former Investment banker at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, U.S. Bank and RBC Capital Markets Bhanu provides a wealth of experience across Risk, Compliance and capital and credit markets. She is considered a financial expert and immediately qualified to serve on board audit, risk and compliance committees.

Known as a high impact leader, she has excelled in governing high-performance teams, galvanizing stakeholders in necessary change to drive the business forward, and leading complex transformations.

Having served as a Chief Credit Officer a Flagstar Bank subsidiary, Bhanu is responsible for leading and advancing the credit and underwriting functions, overseeing and managing a growing credit portfolio. In this role, she has played a key role in strengthening the subsidiary’s brand and competitive positioning in the market by modernizing a legacy credit and underwriting function which allowed for millions of dollars in upgraded ratings.

Previously, Bhanu held progressive leadership roles in Corporate Banking Credit Underwriting at U.S. Bank, with a focus on business development, where she strategically grew the healthcare, higher education, housing, airports, and non-profits sectors, and established the U.S. Bank’s first-ever housing credit sector, resulting in billions of dollars in new business. Prior to this, she served as Vice President of Municipal Corporate Banking at RBC Capital Markets, where she played a contributing role in strategically growing the municipal markets portfolio and RBC’s housing credit exposure. Earlier in her career, Bhanu held various roles at Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Bear, Stearns & Co.

Bhanu holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Fordham University and BA in Economics from Bard College. For years, she has been a sought-out annual conference speaker at the National Association of Bond Lawyers and speaker at the National Federation of Municipal Analysts and the Municipal Analysts Group of New York.

Code of Conduct: Governing Data & Emerging Tech

Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.

Your First Board Meeting: A Director’s Playbook

Designed for aspiring and newly appointed directors, this session offers practical guidance on how to step confidently into your first boardroom. Learn what to expect in early meetings, how to contribute with purpose, and how to quickly build credibility and trust among seasoned peers. Gain insight into board dynamics, unspoken protocols, and the critical questions new directors should be ready to ask and answer.

Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism

In this tactical, director-focused session, participants will engage in case-based exercises to dissect real campaigns and pressure scenarios. From activist letters to proxy fights, explore how boards can craft strategic responses that reinforce governance integrity, protect corporate reputation, and align with long-term priorities. Walk away with actionable tactics and frameworks to strengthen board preparedness in the face of growing investor scrutiny.

Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action

This interactive session places directors inside the boardroom during moments of disruption. Through tabletop exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will explore how boards can apply structured frameworks to assess geopolitical risk, anticipate threats, and make decisive decisions under pressure. Designed as a classroom-style session, this breakout provides practical tools to strengthen oversight and build a proactive board response strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

Reputation & Response: How Boards Navigate Shareholder Activism

As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.

Navigating Global Markets: Trade, Tariffs, and Supply Chain Strategy

As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.

Strengthening Oversight: Risk Management and Board Resilience

This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.