Orvin Kimbrough believes that a successful leader should always be constantly evolving. “Part of the evolution is tied to the people who I surround myself with,” he said.
As a second-year Titan 100, Kimbrough said his greatest leadership reinforcement for the past year as chairman and CEO of Midwest BankCentre is tied to people. “Coach up, coach over or coach out and into a role that best fits passion and skillset,” said Kiimbrough.
Midwest BankCentre has been St. Louis’ premier community bank since 1906. The firm banks its values by investing capital profitably in the whole community and reinvesting customers’ local deposits locally.
“I am proud of our executive team and colleagues throughout the bank who continue to sharpen each other’s operational discipline and inspire each other to higher levels of performance,” said Kimbrough. “They understand that our strategy has proven resilient in the short term and will position the bank for longer-term stakeholder success.”
The success has led to recognition and accolades with multiple awards from Small Business Monthly Magazine and honor as a Community Commitment Award by the American Bankers Association. Under Kimbrough’s leadership, Midwest BankCentre was named a Top Workplace in St. Louis by the Post Dispatch.
Kimbrough is in several business networks where he said the membership challenges him to higher levels of thinking and performance. He has been a member or involved with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Missouri Bankers Association Board of Directors, United Way Worldwide Board of Trustees and UMSL’s Chancellors Council.
His leadership style relies heavily on strategic thinking, versatility and team empowerment, said Kimbrough. “We continue to foster an environment that creates an internal platform for our leaders and a broader community platform,” he said. “Our diversity and culture initiatives are really about positioning our people to be their most impactful.”
Kimbrough also embraces change as a leader. “My attempts to stretch beyond my comfort and to the edge of my competence were fueled by a trust built on faith,” he said. “I have cultivated the muscle memory of what it takes to achieve consistently over time, and now, even if I hit rock bottom again, I am not intimidated by failure.”
Since he was named a Titan 100 in 2023, Kimbrough said the recognition has been beneficial personally and professionally. “The most important aspect of the titan recognition is the platform on which we get to continue telling the story of Midwest BankCentre’s efforts to democratize access to capital.”
For the second year in a row, Kimbrough has been named a titan.
