Kevin Cohee
Kevin Cohee | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 20, 1957 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, executive |
| Known for | Chairman and CEO of OneUnited Bank |
Kevin Cohee (/ˈkoʊhiːˈ/; born October 20, 1957) is an American entrepreneur and billionaire executive. Since 1996, he has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of One United Bank, recognized as the largest Black-owned financial institution and the pioneering Black-owned online bank in the United States.
Early life
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Cohee was raised by African-American parents. Following the death of his mother when he was six years old, his upbringing was overseen by his uncle, Richard Carr, a pediatric dentist based in Boston.
Education
Cohee obtained a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and earned both an MBA and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he also distinguished himself as a four-year football letterman.
Salomon Brothers
Cohee launched his professional journey in investment banking at Salomon Smith Barney after completing his MBA and JD in 1985.
Military Professional Services
In 1989, together with Terri Williams, Cohee purchased Military Professional Services, Inc. (MPS), a company specializing in offering Visa and MasterCard credit cards to members of the military. Under his leadership, MPS expanded to manage a portfolio valued at $40 million with more than 20,000 clients. He subsequently sold the company to First Chicago Corp in 1991.
OneUnited Bank
Cohee gained majority ownership of Boston Bank of Commerce in 1995, which was among the four banks that merged to create OneUnited Bank. He assumed the roles of chairman and CEO the following year. The bank maintains branches in Miami and Los Angeles.
BankBlack X
On October 7, 2019, Cohee and Chief Operating Officer Terri Williams initiated BankBlack X, a nationwide campaign designed to address the racial wealth disparity. This initiative emphasizes enhancing financial education within the Black community as a fundamental strategy for fostering economic empowerment.