Business Transformation | 05.21.25
When Risk Brings Results: BISA Circle of Excellence Awardee Scott Ford on His Leadership Journey
by: BISA Staff
Annually at the BISA Annual Conference, BISA presents its highest honor — the Circle of Excellence Award — to a leader who exemplifies extraordinary commitment, vision and influence within the financial services industry. Reserved for senior-level executives with at least 20 years of cumulative industry experience, this prestigious award celebrates those whose lasting contributions have shaped both their institutions and the broader BISA community.
This year, BISA proudly recognizes Scott Ford, president of wealth management at U.S. Bank, as one of three 2025 inductees to the Circle of Excellence. In the following Q&A, he reflects on the pivotal moments of his career, the personal significance of this award and his insight into the future of our industry.
Reflecting on your time in the financial services industry, are there any pivotal moments or experiences that significantly shaped your professional journey and leadership style?
When I joined Citi in 1999, it was a pivot. I had spent my entire career on the investment side of the business. An acquaintance of mine had been pushing me to join the bank. My attitude was, “I am an investment person.” My wife Jane said to me “Try it. If you don’t like it, you can always go back to what you were doing.” So, I took a leap of faith. I joined a branch-manager training program. One month in there was a reorganization, and I was assigned a branch. I joined one year after Citi had merged with the Travelers group. Sandi Weill, who was the CEO at the time, had the visionary idea of making branch networks distribution centers. Part of that early change was that branches were able to start selling investments. Citi also invested a lot in leadership and development. I started working with my earliest mentors. Before that I had been an individual contributor — a financial advisor. That’s when my leadership journey began. I would not be where I am today had I not taken the risk to try something new.
The Circle of Excellence Award celebrates long-term commitment to the profession and BISA. What does this recognition mean to you personally?
When I heard I had been honored with this award, I was filled with with gratitude and humility. So many great leaders have been recognized by this organization for the contributions they have made to the industry. This organization is about helping people and furthering this industry. It’s not about one person — it’s about service, which is what my leadership style is all about. My style is to be humble and grateful. This award means a lot to me personally.
What challenges have you faced in driving innovation, and how did you overcome them to achieve success?
People generally don’t like change. When you talk about innovation, people will cling to the things they have done in the past, because they have always done things a certain way. But the only constant in life is change. You have to stay grounded in your “why” and really believe in what you’re doing. That will give you the fuel, the courage you need to keep going despite the headwinds and opposition. Every great leader is a change agent by definition. They use their influence to help people get through change even when they don’t want to.
Can you share any advice for newer industry professionals who want to leave a lasting impact on the industry?
Always stay true to your values. Don’t worry about achieving success quickly. Anything worth achieving in life is more of a marathon than a sprint. There’s no such thing as overnight success. If you’re not progressing as quickly as you want to, just keep showing up and doing your best every day. Continue to invest in your skills, and opportunities will find you. Things may not work out how you thought they would, but it will work out.
Looking ahead, what emerging trends or developments in the financial services industry are you most excited about?
AI — it’s changing our industry and making it more productive. There are already some great use cases; for example, Copilot. You can use it to take notes in meetings and prepare an agenda for client meetings. It’s really helping us become much more productive, reactive, insightful, more relevant and provide advice to clients. In the short term, maybe it’s overhyped, but in the long term, I think it’s underestimated in how it will change this industry.
Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for the opportunity to engage with some really fantastic leaders and professionals in the industry. I certainly feel like I learn a lot more from them than I contribute in many ways. I’m grateful to be a part of BISA. I believe this community will have a positive impact on the industry for years to come.
Stay tuned over the next few months as we introduce other 2025 BISA Circle of Excellence Inductees.
Scott Ford leads all of U.S. Bank’s wealth businesses at U.S. Bank, including Affluent and Emerging Affluent Wealth Management, Private Wealth Management, the Asset Management Group, Wealth Banking Services, and Ascent Private Capital Management of U.S. Bank. He also oversees U.S. Bancorp Investments (USBI). Before joining U.S. Bank Wealth Management in early 2021, Ford worked with JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup. He has a bachelor’s in economics from NYU and an MBA from Temple University.