Kathy Chartier
President/CEO, Members CU (Cos Cob, CT)
Kathy Chartier became the first-time full employee of Members Credit Union (Members), formerly Greenwich CT Teachers Federal Credit Union, when she took the position of manager in 1987. The credit union had operated part time since 1935 and under her leadership has grown from a $7,000,000 teachers credit union to a full service $43,000,000 CDFI, serving not only teachers but the underserved in Fairfield County, one of the wealthiest communities in the US. Members has become a LID, Juntos Avanzamos, CDFI credit union with programs, services and financial education to serve their membership. They are helping their Latino, immigrant and low/modest income population, both documented and Tax ID, to improve their financial position in life. In the last two years they have implemented new loan refinancing programs that have saved their members over $6.5M in interest that they would have paid. They have become a model credit union transformation success story and Kathy is often asked by other credit unions to guide them how to reach out to the immigrant and ITIN community. Kathy’s credit union involvement extends well beyond Members. She has been involved in the Credit Union League of CT in many capacities including serving on the league board for 20+ years, 7 as chairman. She currently serves on the board of CT’s credit union foundation, Credit Unions Building Financial Independence and was instrumental in beginning Connecticut’s award-winning financial reality fairs that have reached more than 36,000 high school students in the state. Kathy was recently inducted into America’s Credit Union Museum Herstory exhibit, which celebrates outstanding women in the credit union movement.
Kathy’s career has been built around her passion for service and helping others improve their lives, starting with her credit union members.