Top official at KeyBank never thought about going into the banking industry growing up. He is about to celebrate 40 years with KeyBank
By Stefan Yablonski
Stephen D. Fournier, president of the Central New York Market of KeyBank, has been with the bank for nearly 40 years.
“I was born and raised in Syracuse. Went to high school at West Genesee and I got into college at the University of Dayton,” he said. “I earned a bachelor’s degree in management and finance from the University of Dayton. I played football, lacrosse, basketball at West Genesee in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s.
“I’m also a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware and KeyBank’s Executive Leadership program at the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.”
Fournier started with KeyBank in 1986. “I have been there ever since. I’m in my 39th year,” he said. “I kind of got into this by way of my dad. My dad worked for Marine Midland and eventually HSBC. He liked meeting people. I appreciated the work that he did; he engaged with people and the community.”
“I hadn’t actually thought about going into the banking business growing up. Not really — I always thought I was going to be a teacher. I started college studying special education, but switched to finance and marketing,” Fournier explained.
Earlier this year CenterState CEO announced its board of directors had unanimously elected Fournier as the organization’s new chairman. CenterState CEO was formed in May 2010 through the merger of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Association to consolidate economic development efforts in Central New York.
He said it was an honor and he was eager to step into the chairman role at a time of such growth potential in the region.
Central New York is full of promise, he said, and “I look forward to continuing to drive economic prosperity and development through CenterState CEO’s transformative programming and resources.”
Fournier was a member of the Strategic Partnership Committee that led to the founding of CenterState CEO in 2010 and has served as a member of CenterState CEO’s board of directors for the past 15 years. During that time he has held roles on the board’s executive committee and as past treasurer and served on the finance and sustainability committee, audit and risk committee (past chairman), compensation committee, as well as the CenterState CEO Foundation Board.
He also serves as board chairman of Golisano Children’s Hospital advisory board and is on the boards of United Way of Central New York and Central New York Community Foundation. He has previously served on the boards of numerous local nonprofits.
A Key milestone
In 2025, KeyBank is celebrating a milestone — its bicentennial.
“I think we are really excited with what’s going on in the area right now with all the growth in Central New York. We are celebrating our 200th anniversary of KeyBank and its predecessor bank. We are very excited about that,” he said.
According to the bank’s historical website, launched for this bicentennial celebration, the Commercial Bank of Albany was founded on April 12, 1825, coinciding with the opening of the Erie Canal. In 1979, the bank rebranded as KeyBank Inc.
“The bicentennial is not only a celebration, but a moment of reflection on the values that have guided us for two centuries and the relationships that have made our work meaningful,” he said.
“With the economic growth here we feel like Central New York is on the verge of one of the most significant growths in many years. We feel the bank can certainly be a part of that,” he added.
Tips to be successful
Real success goes beyond just the workplace. It is rooted in active community stewardship, according to Fournier.
You’ve got to give back — is something that he learned from his father, he added.
“I would strongly encourage people to get involved with their community. It’s more than just going to work,” he said. “You get a sense of fulfillment within your own life. It provides an intersection between your personal and your business life. To really be successful I think you have got to be flexible. You never know what’s going happen.”
It’s not about having a bunch of individuals, he explained. You need to be collaborative.
You have to have the right people on the team and they must have the desire to learn, the desire to grow.
You have to understand what your clients’ growth and aspirations are — where their growth opportunities are, he added.
He doesn’t foresee A.I. replacing workers, such as bank tellers.
“I don’t think that is where we are right now at all,” he said. “We are trying to understand it and its applications. We want to be better informed about it. In the banking industry, it is helping us be more efficient. We can pass that onto our clients to help them.”
Fournier has three adult children.
“They are in their 20s. I have two boys and a girl,” he said. “My daughter lives out in California. The two boys are here in Central New York. We go back and forth to visit my daughter in California. That’s all we have plans for right now.”
He said he is a golfer and a skier.
“We like to spend time as a family unit. We vacation; different places around the world — the Caribbean or wherever,” he added. “Anything to do with my family isn’t considered a hobby. I consider it something that we enjoy.
“You have got to have a good work-life balance that gives you purpose and peace of mind. Absolutely for sure. If you don’t have a good balance, it will eventually catch up to you and impact your performance, your happiness.”
“Best advice? That’s a good question. There has been a lot,” he said. “When you give back to your community, it will give back to you more. The way I think about things, you get involved with an organization, your community and you find some of value to do. Some people call it giving back. But I think they are giving back to me as much as I am giving to them.”
Key operates in 15 states, boasting a network of around 1,000 branches. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is among the largest bank-based financial services companies in the nation, with assets totaling approximately $187 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024.
Lifelines
Name: Stephen D. Fournier
Position: President of the Central New York Market of KeyBank; Regional retail leader, leading the retail team in the entire Upstate New York region.
Birthplace: Syracuse
Residence: Skaneateles
Education: University of Dayton, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, Executive Leadership Program, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western, Reserve University
Community Involvement: CenterState CEO, board of directors chairman; United Way, board member; Golisano Children’s Hospital, advisory council chairman
Personal/family: Married with three children
Hobbies: Golf, hiking and reading
