Jingyi Blank was still in college when she was recruited to Wall Street by Deutsche Bank. At the time, investment banks were prioritizing hiring top talent from quantitative disciplines like mathematical economic analysis and computer science – her areas of study.
That was in the mid-2000s, and Jingyi’s banking career launched focusing on jumbo leveraged buyouts (LBOs) and merger and acquisition transactions for prominent private equity firms.
“During my time there, we had the privilege of advising and financing most of the largest LBOs in the U.S. and globally,” she recalls.
Since then, Jingyi’s journey has been diverse, from complex private equity transactions to global financial fraud cases, and now – banking in Florida.
She brings deep expertise in banking, finance, and strategic client management to her role, where she focuses on strengthening INB’s strategic capabilities and elevating the caliber of service to clients in the Florida region.
“I am excited about building INB into the most respected and high-profile bank in Tampa Bay. We have all the right ingredients,” she says.
Across Oceans to Opportunity
Jingyi was born in the bustling port city of Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. In the 1980s, her father moved to the U.S. to pursue his engineering studies.
“Following the Tiananmen Square incident, President Bush’s executive orders and the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 allowed our family to obtain permanent residency and eventually citizenship,” she recalls. “I consider myself truly blessed and spent most of my childhood in picturesque Northern Virginia.”
Jingyi went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economic analysis and a master’s in computer information systems from Rice University, complemented by an executive MBA at Columbia University, sponsored by Deutsche Bank.
Her professional path has spanned investment banking and capital markets, middle market banking, homeland security, and executive leadership. She is FINRA Series 7 and 63 licensed and has previously held a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance, underscoring the trust and integrity she brings to every role.
“I was a partner at a global private investigations firm in Hong Kong, working closely with the former head of the American CIA in China for over six years. I led large-scale financial fraud, intellectual property theft, international M&A, and global supply chain investigation projects,” she shares. To this day, she continues to read avidly on these topics, with a particular interest in rare books on economics, finance, or fraud.
Charting New Courses
Outside of her career, Jingyi treasures her role as a mother to Theodore (7), Elena (5), and Richard (6 months). She and her husband Andrew, who she calls her best friend, have been together for more than 20 years, since their college years. Family time is filled with outdoor activities, gardening, cooking, singing, playing the piano, and sailing.
“My husband and I love taking our family and friends on sailing trips to beautiful, remote places,” she says. “We sail our racing boat with the J/70 class and are looking forward to competing in the North American J/70 championships in December.”
Deeply rooted in her community, Jingyi is a founding member of Women in Business of Tampa Bay, a roundtable of C-level women executives. She is also highly involved with the Economic Club of Tampa, Christ the King Catholic Church, her daughter’s school St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, and the Junior League.
Ultimately, what brought Jingyi to INB was not only the opportunity to make an impact but also the culture she found here.
“What drew me to INB was its remarkable culture. The team here is not only highly experienced but also true team players – a rare combination,” she says.