Brad Bender

Chief Risk Officer 

Brad Bender is the chief risk officer at Truist Financial Corporation, a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. He is a member of the company’s Operating Council.  

As CRO, Bender is responsible for leading the company’s Risk Management Organization, including oversight of credit, market, capital, liquidity, operational, compliance, and technology risk, in addition to Truist’s regulatory relations, ethics and financial crimes functions. He assumed this role in November 2024.   

Bender previously served as interim chief information officer for Truist, overseeing the strategic direction and execution of core technology, data, security, and information-related platforms and services. He assumed this role in April 2024.  

Having joined Truist’s predecessor in 2004, Bender has more than 20 years of extensive banking experience spanning a variety of roles in both the commercial and consumer segments, including credit risk, portfolio risk management, model management, acquisition integrations, technology, and vertically integrated operations for revenue producing businesses.  

In 2023, Bender was named head of Enterprise Operational Services, where he led operational services across Truist for deposits, payments, credit card, capital markets, consumer and wholesale lending, fraud, and care centers across all products. He also led corporate procurement, real estate, and security operations for the company.  

Following the acquisition of Service Finance in 2021, Bender was named head of Home Improvement Lending, leading the integration into Truist with a remit spanning sales, operations, client experience, technology, strategy, risk management, and P&L ownership. In 2022, Bender was named head of Consumer Finance Solutions, overseeing vertically integrated revenue-producing business units that deliver on client needs across Truist’s national platforms; Dealer Retail Services; Premium Finance; Service Finance; Sheffield Financial; and Truist’s student lending units.  

In 2019, Bender was named head of Consumer Credit Risk and Policy Management, where he directed and provided oversight related to credit risk management activities across the corporation’s consumer lending portfolios. His responsibilities included credit lifecycle management and policy ownership across all consumer lending platforms and processes.  

Prior to these roles, Bender served in various risk management leadership roles, including commercial underwriting, portfolio risk management, and senior credit officer. Bender also served in the first line of defense as the Community Bank Senior Model Risk Manager, responsible for model ownership, performance, and execution in business processes, spanning consumer and commercial portfolios.   

A native of North Carolina, Bender earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, focusing on applied economic analysis and global economic policy. Outside of work, Bender actively supports Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Blumenthal Arts.