First Independence Bank Chairman and CEO Kenneth Kelly Elected as New ABA Chair

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -

The American Bankers Association today announced the election of Kenneth Kelly as its chair for the 2025-2026 association year at ABA's annual convention held in Charlotte, N.C.. Kelly is chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank in Detroit, Michigan, one of the nation's largest minority depository institutions.

"Kenneth brings a powerful combination of decisive leadership, strong vision and problem-solving skills to the role of ABA Chair," said Rob Nichols, ABA president and CEO. "He understands the unique challenges facing smaller institutions thanks to his leadership of First Independence, while also recognizing the critical role that banks of all sizes play in our economy. He has been a strong advocate for our industry as an ABA board member, and we are thrilled to have Kenneth lead our association during this pivotal time."

Since Kelly assumed leadership at First Independence Bank in 2017, the institution has expanded its footprint beyond Detroit, opening branches in the Twin Cities through a collaborative, multi-bank initiative. The bank has grown its assets from approximately $250 million to over $600 million in recent years, while continuing to serve as a vital financial resource for underserved communities.

Kelly, an engineer by training, has also played a key role in shaping national banking policy. He has represented the banking industry on multiple federal advisory groups, and as chair of ABA's Deposit Insurance Task Force, he led efforts to develop consensus recommendations for modernizing the deposit insurance system. Those recommendations were approved unanimously by the ABA Board in July, and Kelly presented the recommendations in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee in September.

"I'm honored to serve as ABA chair and to represent the diverse voices and perspective of America's banks," said Kelly. "This is a time of transformation in our industry, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure every bank in the country has the chance to compete, succeed and thrive as they meet the needs of their customers and communities."

Kelly currently serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Advisory Board, and the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion (ComE-IN). He previously served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC), the FDIC Chairman's Advisory Committee on Community Banking and the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. He is a past chair of the National Bankers Association and in October 2019, he testified on behalf of NBA before a House Financial Services subcommittee on challenges facing minority depository institutions.

Prior to entering the financial sector, Kelly served in numerous leadership roles for Southern Company. During his nearly 30-year career with the energy corporation, he negotiated the company's $500 million investment in its first solar facility located in the state of California. Kelly also led acquisitions of solar projects totaling $3.4 billion in partnership value, producing $146 million in first-year net income.

Kelly grew up in Eufaula, Alabama, received an electrical engineering degree from Auburn University and completed the executive MBA program at the University of Alabama and has strong ties to both universities. He previously served as chair of the Auburn University Engineering Alumni Council, which assists the dean of the college on research and development, fundraising, and academic achievement. In 2019, the dedication of Auburn's Brown Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center included the naming of the Kenneth Kelly Engineering Academic Excellence Program Reception Area. In April 2021, he served as Auburn University's Commencement Speaker.

Kelly is the author of Prepared Before I Let Go, and owner of MyLegacyItems.com, a web-based application to manage your last will, healthcare directive and power of attorney.

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About the American Bankers Association

The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation's $25 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ approximately 2.1 million people, safeguard $19.7 trillion in deposits and extend $13.1 trillion in loans.