Rich Martinez joined Young Americans in 1999 and has held several roles including VP/Audit, VP/Young Americans Bank, and Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. He was named President and CEO in November 2007. Martinez is responsible for the oversight of Young Americans Bank and the nonprofit programs of Young Americans Center for Financial Education.

Young Americans Center for Financial Education is home to Young Americans Bank, the world’s only bank specifically designed for young people. Young Americans also conducts hands-on lessons in free enterprise, global economics, and entrepreneurship. To date over 900,000 youth have benefited from the programs Young Americans offers.

He began his banking career in Colorado in 1990 as an intern at the Norwest Bank of Fort Collins (now Wells Fargo bank) while pursuing a finance degree from Colorado State University. During his two-year internship, he worked in all aspects of commercial bank operations. Upon graduation from college in 1992, Martinez accepted a position at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch as a bank examiner. He also holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Regis University. His degree emphasis was in computer information systems.

Martinez serves on the Colorado State Banking Board, reappointing Governor Polis in 2019. He also serves on the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Board of Directors, the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center Board of Directors, and the Colorado Student Leaders Institute Advisory Board. Martinez is a past board member of the State of Colorado Board of Community Colleges and Occupational Education, CollegeInvest, Colorado Nonprofit Association, and University of Denver – Latino Leadership Institute.