Kathy Underwood, president and CEO of Ledyard National Bank, will be presented with the Sandra J. Pattie Distinguished Leadership Award at Banking New England’s annual New England Women in Banking Conference next month.

The award, presented to female role models who have made an exceptional mark on the region’s banking industry, will be presented Oct. 16 at an awards luncheon in Newport, R.I. Underwood, who has led Hanover-based Ledyard since 2005, currently serves on the board of directors of the Independent Community Bankers of America where she also serves as chair of the education committee. She also is board member of ICBA Securities and the ICBA Certification Board.

Underwood, said Margaret Rightmire, Ledyard National Bank’s board chair, “is a dedicated community banker who has worked tirelessly for her industry, promoting trusted, relationship-based banking, hands-on personal service and invaluable financial expertise. Her leadership has propelled Ledyard to the top of its community banking class, guiding the organization to be more relevant as the environment and landscape in which we operate changes. Her leadership has also helped enable Ledyard to meet the needs of our clients, employees, shareholders and the communities we operate in.”