The Aspen Institute

Corey Carlisle is the Head of Public Policy and Social Impact for Varo Bank, the pioneering consumer techbank that obtained a national bank charter in 2020. With a focus on serving underserved communities and addressing diverse consumer needs, Varo aims to redefine the traditional financial system. In his role, Mr. Carlisle oversees the bank’s public policy and ESG functions, ensuring alignment with the bank’s mission of making a positive impact and promoting financial inclusion by advocating for innovative banking solutions that drive financial well-being. Apart from his role at Varo, Mr. Carlisle holds several prominent positions within the finance and community development sectors. He serves as the chairperson of the board of directors for the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. Additionally, he is a member of the Milken Institute’s FinTech Advisory Council, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition’s Innovation Council, as well as VantageScore’s ESG Advisory Board. Prior to joining Varo, Corey held senior positions at the American Bankers Association and led their 501(c)(3)subsidiary, the ABA Foundation. Corey Carlisle embarked on his career working on Capitol Hill for former U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) before transitioning to various roles in large banks and a nonprofit community development financial institution. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Corey holds certifications as an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC ®) from the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education and in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University.