Clarke Starnes

Vice Chair and Chief Risk Officer

Clarke R. Starnes III is vice chair and chief risk officer for Truist Financial Corporation, a purpose-driven financial services organization committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Starnes oversees the risk management division for Truist, assuming this role in December 2019. Starnes was named chief credit officer in September 2008 and chief risk officer in January 2009. Prior to that, he served in a variety of senior leadership roles including business services manager, regional senior credit officer, regional loan administrator for corporate accounts, and direct retail lending risk manager. He is also a member of Truist’s Operating Council. 

Earlier in his career, Starnes managed the company’s loan officer development program and credit analyst department. He completed the company’s Leadership Development Program in 1982.  

A proponent of financial education and the development of risk management professionals, Starnes currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the ProSight Financial Association. A merger between BAI and the Risk Management Association, ProSight provides financial services industry leaders with resources to advance sound risk management principles.  

He also serves as the director of the Truist Leadership Center at East Carolina University and previously served as a director of the Consumer Bankers Association and the Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Forsyth County in North Carolina.  

Starnes earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is also a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware.