23 who laughed at the recession

CEO since 2000: James Rohr

Although it's often referred to as a regional player, PNC, with 2,500 branches in 15 states, is the country's fifth-largest bank.

That's thanks largely to the 2008 acquisition of National City Bank of Cleveland which helped PNC's revenues increase 99% last year, to $19.2 billion, and earnings leap 177%, to $2.4 billion.

PNC chief James Rohr anticipates "tremendous" cross-selling potential once NatCity has been fully integrated.

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