Kevin Cohee is the owner, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of OneUnited Bank. OneUnited Bank is America’s largest Black owned bank and the leading Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). OneUnited Bank is also an FDIC-insured commercial bank backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. The Bank is the eleven-time recipient of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Bank Enterprise Award for Community Development.
OneUnited Bank is nationally recognized for its use of state-of-the-art technology to create unique financial products that serve the needs of low-to-moderate-income communities and historically underserved populations. The Bank was named to Inc.’s 2024 Best in Business list, which recognizes companies that have achieved significant milestones and industry-defining accomplishments.
Mr. Cohee created and spearheaded the Bank Black movement, resulting in individuals, large corporations, and government entities transferring billions of dollars into Black owned banks and CDFIs to ignite economic prosperity in low-to-moderate income communities.
OneUnited Bank was established by unifying several community banks nationwide: Founders National Bank and Family Savings Bank in Los Angeles, People National Bank in Miami, and Boston Bank of Commerce. Respectively, these banks have tenaciously served many neglected urban communities in America. By unifying these banks, OneUnited Bank has built the foundation to solve the longstanding problem of access to capital in inner city communities.
A successful business executive and entrepreneur for over 30 years, Mr. Cohee founded a consulting firm in 1979 specializing in the acquisition of radio and television stations by minorities. After obtaining his JD/MBA in 1985, Mr. Cohee became an investment banker at Salomon Brothers, Inc.
By 1988, through a leveraged buyout, Mr. Cohee acquired Military Professional Services, Inc. (MPS), a predecessor to USAA, which marketed Visa and MasterCard credit cards to military personnel. Mr. Cohee successfully turned MPS into a profitable company with a $40 million portfolio and 20,000 customers. By 1993, Mr. Cohee sold MPS’s assets, achieving significant financial gain from the transaction.
Mr. Cohee is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. He holds a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Harvard Law School. He also has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin, where he was a 4-year letterman in football. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and has received numerous awards for his business and community achievements and contributions.
