Kiva’s Co-Founder Is Joining This Leo DiCaprio-Backed Bank

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

By Rey Mashayekhi

If there’s one place a world-changing idealist traditionally wouldn’t have been caught dead, it’s a bank.

But clearly, times have changed. A wave of tech-centric “neo-banks” have popped up in recent years, usually promising a smoother customer experience marked by lower fees and branch-less, online-oriented services. And some have sought to go even further—differentiating themselves from the competition via a focus on on socially and environmentally conscious values, investments and product offerings.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that Jessica Jackley, the co-founder of microfinance startup Kiva and a bit of a rock star in the sustainable investing world, has looked to a neo-bank with a conscientious bend for her next move. Jackley has joined Marina del Rey, Calif.-based Aspiration as the company’s new chief impact officer, Fortune has learned.

Photo courtesy of Ed Schipul.

Source: Fortune (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Finance, Investing
Tags
financial inclusion, impact investing, microfinance, startups