First Independence Bank taps Caroline Chambers to lead new community investment foundation

A bank with a long history of serving communities too often locked out of mainstream financial opportunity is preparing to widen that work through a new foundation, and it is placing that effort in the hands of a leader whose career has centered philanthropy, inclusion, and community partnership.

First Independence Bank announced the appointment of Caroline Chambers as Director of Community Investments, a new leadership role that puts her at the center of building the bank’s charitable foundation. That foundation, expected to officially launch later this year, is being designed to support community growth and long-term stability while staying aligned with First Independence Bank’s longstanding mission to promote financial wellness in economically distressed communities.

Access to capital, trusted financial tools, and community-based support still shapes whether neighborhoods are able to stabilize, grow, and keep wealth circulating close to home. First Independence Bank says Chambers will help guide that work by leading the foundation’s development and strategic direction, while also building partnerships with funders and nonprofit service providers.

Those partnerships are expected to focus on expanding access to capital, financial products, services, and education. Those are resources that can make the difference for families trying to build security, small organizations trying to reach more people, and communities working to create stronger economic footing for the long term.

“We are pleased to welcome Caroline Chambers to our team,” said Dimitrius Hutcherson, President of First Independence Bank. “She brings extensive experience in foundation management and a proven record of building impactful community partnerships, gained through many years of leadership in financial services across multiple industries.”

Chambers brings more than two decades of experience across philanthropy, culture, inclusion, and corporate social responsibility. Her background includes leading charitable giving strategies and community outreach efforts at major institutions, work that has often sat at the intersection of corporate resources and community need.

Before joining First Independence Bank, Chambers served as President of the Comerica Charitable Foundation, where she directed strategy and managed a multi-million-dollar annual giving portfolio across key markets. Her work there placed her in a position to shape where resources flowed and how institutions could respond to community priorities through grantmaking and partnership.

She also served as National Director of Diversity Initiatives at Comerica, where she led efforts focused on strengthening company culture and expanding business and community partnership outreach. Most recently, Chambers served as Senior Director of Culture & Inclusion at Graham Media Group.

For First Independence Bank, her appointment signals more than a staffing announcement. It points to a broader effort to formalize and deepen the bank’s community investment strategy through a nonprofit structure built to create sustainable opportunities for communities and organizations that need them most.

“Through the creation of a nonprofit foundation, First Independence Bank is committed to enabling community-focused investments and partnerships that create sustainable opportunities and resources for communities and organizations in need,” said Kenneth Kelly, chairman and CEO of First Independence Bank. “And we have full faith in Caroline’s broad-based experience to help this foundation flourish and positively impact communities aligned with our core mission.”

That future foundation could become a meaningful vehicle for translating mission into measurable support. Financial education, resource access, and stronger nonprofit partnerships often carry real consequences for communities navigating disinvestment, limited lending access, and generations of economic instability. First Independence Bank’s move suggests a desire to build something with enough structure to respond to those challenges beyond traditional banking services alone.

Chambers now steps into that responsibility at a moment when financial institutions are being watched closely for how they show up in communities that need more than promises. What gets built next, who gets reached, and how deeply those partnerships take root will matter.

First Independence Bank said the official launch of the foundation will be announced later this year.