Kent Curtis is President and CEO of First Southwest Bank in Durango, Colorado. First Southwest is a community bank that serves rural Colorado and focuses on building valuable connections, fostering community growth, and strengthening social and economic diversity. In his role as CEO since 2012, Mr. Curtis has led the bank through the Great Recession and its application for designation as a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) in November 2014.

He also serves as President of First Southwest Community Fund, a 501(c)3, and is co-founder of HelloBello, an web based software for rural-based lenders to easily access creative and in-depth financing solutions. HelloBello facilitates access to credit and financial services for underserved communities.

Mr. Curtis is the incoming Chairman of the Community Development Bankers Association (two year term starting in November 2021) and a board member of the Colorado Bankers Association. He is a graduate of Fort Lewis College (Durango, Colorado) and the University of Wisconsin's Graduate School of Banking.