KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 8, 2026--
Federal Reserve Financial Services (FRFS) today announced the selection of Kim Robbins as its new Chief Payments Executive (CPE), effective Nov. 16, 2026. Robbins succeeds Mark Gould, who is retiring after more than three decades of service with the Federal Reserve System. In this role, Robbins will oversee a Federal Reserve portfolio of financial services that includes retail, wholesale, securities, and instant payment offerings across the United States.
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Robbins currently serves as the first vice president and chief operating officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, where she oversees operations, risk, finance, people and culture, information technology and Treasury services. She brings more than a decade of payments leadership, including experience guiding both FRFS and the FedNow ® Service, along with a 30-year career spanning payments, technology and retail.
“Kim brings a rare combination of deep payments expertise, strategic leadership, and a practical understanding of what it takes to modernize complex systems,” said Tom Barkin, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and chair of the Fed’s Payments Committee. “Her proven ability to navigate complex, systemwide priorities makes her the right leader to guide FRFS forward, and her experience and leadership will be instrumental in strengthening the nation’s payments infrastructure and advancing the Fed’s long-term vision for the future of payments.”
Robbins noted that she is enthusiastic about the opportunity ahead and eager to build on the momentum FRFS has established.
“It’s an honor to step into this role at such a transformative time for the payments industry,” she said. “My career has been rooted in operational excellence and partnership, from leading development of FRFS’s 10-year strategic vision to scaling the FedNow Service. I'm focused on strengthening collaboration, upholding a customer-first mindset, and driving our business forward through strategic modernization to help evolve the services that financial institutions, businesses and consumers rely on every day.”
Robbins’ prior FRFS leadership includes serving as chief of enterprise services and as executive vice president, where she oversaw enterprise strategy, finance, risk, data, compliance and legal operations. Before that, as chief administrative officer and senior vice president for the FedNow Service, she led enterprise administrative functions supporting the program’s rapid scale-up across multiple Federal Reserve Banks, strengthening the governance, risk, compliance and legal structures required to launch and operate a nationwide instant payment service. Earlier in her career, Robbins spent seven years in global retail at GAP Inc. and Payless ShoeSource, managing multimillion-dollar business lines.
About Federal Reserve Financial Services
FRFS provides payment services and seeks to foster the stability, integrity and efficiency of the nation’s monetary, financial and payment systems. It offers a comprehensive suite of payment and information services to financial institutions. Visit FRBservices.org® for additional information.
Federal Reserve Financial Services selects Kim Robbins as its new Chief Payments Executive, effective Nov. 16, 2026.
Kenneth Walker III had moments of uncertainty after the Super Bowl MVP helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Lombardi Trophy in February.
Facing free agency for the first time, Walker wasn’t sure about his future. The Kansas City Chiefs are happy he joined them.
Walker has already run for 537 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Chiefs start 4-0. He’s on pace to rush for 2,282 yards, which would set an NFL record for most yards in a season.
"It was a lot during the offseason, not knowing where you’ll end up at and how everything will work out, but I got two great agents and talking over everything with my pops was a help as well,” Walker said on the AP’s “Football Unfiltered” podcast. “Ended up here and it’s been a blessing.”
Walker’s presence has added a new dimension to Kansas City’s offense, taking pressure off Patrick Mahomes and giving the unit more balance to prevent defenses from focusing on taking away the pass.
The Chiefs haven’t had a running back gain 1,000 yards in a season since Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018. Walker is aware of it and could reach that total by midseason.
"I knew the season could be special the way we worked in OTAs and training camp, the work we put in to get to this point,” Walker said. “And, I pray we continue to be successful throughout the season.”
Mahomes lobbied hard for the Chiefs to get Walker in free agency. While he was recovering from ACL surgery, he reportedly texted GM Brett Veach several times about Walker during the NFL playoffs.
Walker had 312 yards rushing and four TDs in three playoff games, including 135 yards on 27 carries in Seattle’s 29-13 win over New England in the Super Bowl.
"We’re able to just talk off the field about anything. It’s not always about football,” Walker said of his relationship with Mahomes. “So first off, with me, that means a lot when everything is not just about football. But on the field, even just throwing me the ball or relying on me for anything, the confidence that he has in me, it means a lots to me.”
Walker said what surprised him most about the culture in Kansas City was the team’s tough work ethic.
"Going through training camp, it was a grind, those hot days and early mornings, late nights,” he said. “It was just a grind going through that, but even throughout the week, the practices that we have, it’s a grind. But it makes it much easier to go into the game and play at our best.”
Bruce Arians brought Todd Bowles with him to Tampa Bay to be the team’s defensive coordinator in 2019 and wanted him to be his successor as head coach.
Bowles replaced Arians when he abruptly retired in 2022 and led the Buccaneers to three straight NFC South titles, winning one playoff game. But the Bucs are 2-11 since a 6-2 start last season and Bowles is on the hot seat.
The problem in Tampa Bay isn’t a lack of talent.
“Well, the talent’s not the issue,” Arians said on the AP’s “Football Unfiltered” podcast. “(General manager) Jason Licht puts a heck of a roster together, and they’re tied at the hip. The one thing we always have, our GM and head coach have always been tied at the hip. We’re in this together. … And those teams that have those separate categories of personnel and coaching, that usually don’t work. You gotta be in that together. We picked them all together. We never picked a player the coaches didn’t like. That part of it, I don’t think can ever be used as an excuse. It’s the players on the field making the plays, and that crucial catch, that dumb penalty, too many of those right now.”
Watch “Football Unfiltered with Rob Maaddi” here or listen here
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker (9) runs as Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Taron Johnson (3) defends during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker (9) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker (9) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
