Orv Kimbrough

Orvin Kimbrough is a man who has more than beaten the odds. A member of YPO, he serves as the Chairman and CEO of Midwest BankCentre, where he helps to empower people, enable businesses and energize neighborhoods through the strength of the Bank’s financial services. Midwest BankCentre is St. Louis’ second largest privately owned local bank, with over USD2 billion in assets and USD1.5 billion in loans.

After being born to a single mother in East St. Louis, Illinois, USA, Kimbrough grew up in an abusive household and then foster care. He is a product of the St. Louis public schools, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in social work and an MBA from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a master of theology degree from the Aquinas Institute of Theology.

Kimbrough spent nearly 20 years in leadership roles in prominent nonprofit agencies, most recently as the president and CEO of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. During his tenure as CEO, the United Way of St. Louis grew to the nation’s largest affiliate, raising nearly USD80 million annually.

Kimbrough is unlike any other bank CEO in the nation. From humble beginnings, he became an inspiring leader who has boosted the life trajectory of tens of thousands of people through his work in the nonprofit sector, while becoming the first and only African American to lead one of the 100+ mainstream banks in the St. Louis region.

Kimbrough writes and manages a blog that encourages conversation and collaboration.