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Carol Nelson, President and CEO of Cascade Financial, Named 9th Most Powerful Woman in Banking

Nelson Moves Up from her #21 Ranking Last Year

Carol K. Nelson, president and CEO of Cascade Financial Corporation, was named to the ninth position in the U.S. Banker Magazine 's list of “25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” in its third annual ranking.

"I am honored to be included among this distinguished group of women, and delighted that our work at Cascade Financial has garnered national and industry recognition," Nelson said.

U.S. Banker Magazine Editorial Director Holly Sraeel and her staff considered more than 5,000 senior banking officials who lead a division, group, or subsidiary owned by a bank holding company. Trimming the list to 1,500 women, the staff then considered quantitative and qualitative aspects of power: financial performance; length of time in banking; corporate ethics; management style; personal history; ties to the community and the influence that one wields across the industry. Careful review and analysis of the final candidates gave way to the “25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” list.

Sraeel said that the magnitude of responses and applications received for the recognition in the magazine was astounding.

All bankers on the “Most Powerful” list are invited to attend a black tie recognition event to be held October 20, 2005 at The Palace Hotel in New York . They will each be profiled in the magazine at some length.

“This recognition and the black tie event will open doors to new faces and new opportunities for every woman on the list,” Sraeel said. “The opportunities for career development and advancement among and between these women are tremendous,” she added.