Kenneth Kelly
Director, Term: 2026
About
Kenneth Kelly serves as chairman and CEO of First Independence Corp and First Independence Bank (https://www.firstindependence.com/), a minority depository institution based in Detroit, Michigan. He is a respected leader in the banking community. In eight years of his leadership the corporation has tripled in enterprise value. In October 2025, he was elected chairman of American Bankers Association, where he has served as a board member for the last five year representing the voice of the nation’s $25 trillion in assets in the banking industry. In March 2023, he was selected as a board member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, with assets totaling ~$70 billion, to fill an unexpired term that ended December 2023. In March of 2022, he was selected by the chairman of the FDIC to serve a three-year term on the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion (ComE-IN). He served as chairman of the National Bankers Association 2018-2020, representing minority banks in the US. From 2018-2020, Kelly served on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Seventh District Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC). Kelly also served 2018-2021 as a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman’s Advisory Committee on Community Banking, which is charged with providing advice and recommendations to the FDIC on community banking policy and regulatory matters. In October 2019, he testified as an expert witness before the U.S. Congressional House Financial Services subcommittee, and in September 2025 before the Senate Banking Committee. He is a Certified Director of the National Association Corporate Directors.
Kelly served as the chairperson of the Auburn University Engineering Alumni Council. In this role, he worked with a successful group of alumni, including many CEOs, to assist the dean of the college with research and development, fundraising, and academic achievement, where he was the first African American to hold this position. In 2019, the dedication of the new Brown Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center included the naming of the Kenneth Kelly Engineering Academic Excellence Program Reception Area. Kelly was Auburn University’s Commencement Speaker on April 30, 2021.
Prior to banking, Kelly enjoyed a 27-year career as an electric utility business leader in numerous roles within Southern Company. His last role entailed negotiating acquisitions of large renewable solar projects valued at $3.4 billion in partnership value. In 2018, Kelly was inducted as the 137th Distinguished Auburn Engineer. In February 2020, he was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. 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. The FDIC approved First Independence Bank to open a branch in Minneapolis as the only black-owned bank in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul after the death of George Floyd. He is a Crain’s magazine Most Notable Leader in Diversity, and in 2022, 2023, and 2024 he was selected one of Detroit Business Magazine’s Top 500 Corporate Leaders. In January 2023, he was featured on the Chavis Chronicle &endash; A PBS National Program focused on relevant leaders. In June 2024, EY named Kelly an Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner for Michigan and Northwest Ohio. The Michigan Bankers Association selected Kelly as the Banker of the Year in 2024.
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.
