In 2002, Ms. Patterson was named CEO of New Haven Savings Bank (NHSB), a 166-year old mutual savings bank. In 2004 she converted NHSB to a public company, changed its name to NewAlliance Bank, and simultaneously acquired Savings Bank of Manchester and Tolland Bank. The $1 billion IPO and two simultaneous acquisitions amounted to the largest merger-conversion in U.S. banking history. Today, NewAlliance Bank is the 3rd largest independent bank in Connecticut and the 6th largest bank in New England , with $6.6 billion in assets and 71 branches.

Ms. Patterson has over twenty years of commercial and thrift banking experience with New Haven Savings Bank, Dime Bancorp, Chemical Bank/Chase Manhattan and Corestates Financial Corporation of Pennsylvania. She has extensive experience in the areas of retail and business lending, retail banking, wealth management, marketing and mergers and acquisitions.

In 2006 Ms. patterson was named as one of the "Top 10 CEOs" in the banking industry by U.S. Banker magazine. In 2003 and 2004, Ms. Patterson was recognized as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking, according to U.S. Banker Magazine, and was ranked #2 in 2004.

Ms. Patterson serves on the boards of the Consumer Bankers Association, America’s Community Bankers, The March of Dimes, Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven.