Chester County’s own DNB First is doing what the best banks in America are merely hoping for: attracting top female talent for leadership roles in the bank’s executive ranks.

DNB First just hired former Citibank Senior Vice President Betty Silfa (pictured above) as its commercial lending team’s vice president and relationship manager.

“We’re excited to have an accomplished banker of Betty’s caliber on our team,” said Nabila Sajid, who is herself a senior vice president and assistant chief commercial lending officer at DNB First. “Her superior knowledge of the market will be a tremendous asset as we grow and expand our commercial relationships in greater Philadelphia.”

According to a recent feature in The Wall Street Journal, DNB First is on the same path as other top U.S. banks that are increasingly exploring new avenues “to help them build strong pipelines of female talent.” Large banks like Citi and Chase in New York City are, according to the article, “adding dozens of programs, symposiums and events aimed at specific subsets of high-potential women across age groups.”

That’s because despite equitable entrance rates into the banking and finance industry and a 52 percent majority of entry-level jobs, women make up just 22 percent of executive suite positions and 32 percent of vice president posts, the Journal reported. “The biggest U.S. banks have never had a female chief executive officer, and the number of women getting close to the top spot hasn’t grown much in recent years, either.”

At DNB First, however, there is already an extensive roster of women with senior management responsibilities. In addition to Silfa and Sajid, the bank’s senior operating committee taps the expertise of Human Resources Director Linda Devine and Residential Mortgage and Consumer Lending Director Mary Lisansky, and other top leaders include Senior Trust Officer Cheryl Burkey, Multi-Site Branch Manager Randy Christy, Service Operations Specialist Christine Fox, Small Business Relationship Manager Colleen Kline, Senior Business and Government Banking Manager Laura Melfi and Credit Administration and Compliance Manager Donna Weyandt.

“It’s no secret that, despite considerable obstacles, women are increasingly taking on business roles of greater strategic responsibility and are proving to be inspirational and collaborative leaders,” Chairman and CEO William S. Latoff said.

“Businesses that actively encourage and support the advancement of women managers are not only doing the right thing, they’re doing the smart thing for their customers, shareholders and employees. I’m thrilled that DNB First has so many accomplished women leaders on our team who are making important contributions to our success every day.”

For her role, Silfa brings experience developing and managing relationships with business clients boasting revenues of between $10 million and $50 million, along with prior management positions at Harleysville National Bank, Wachovia Bank and Citizens Bank.

“Betty joins us with extensive experience and deep relationships in our community,” Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Al Melfi said. “I’m very pleased to welcome her to DNB First.”

Read more about the efforts by the nation’s biggest banks to recruit and retain women in The Wall Street Journal here.