President & CEO, Stephen J. White, announces plans to retire
Monday, June 2, 2025
WESTERLY, RI [6/2/25] –
After 25 years of service to Westerly Community Credit Union members throughout Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut, Stephen J. White has announced his plans to retire from his position as Westerly Community Credit Union’s President & CEO by January 2026.
The WCCU Board of Directors has chosen a worthy successor who will be announced in the coming months. White will plan to work with his successor and the Board during the transition.
"After 25 incredible years with Westerly Community Credit Union, I am filled with gratitude and pride as I step into retirement,” stated White. “It has been an honor to work with a dedicated board of directors and serve alongside such dedicated colleagues and to witness the positive impact we've made in the lives of our members. Together, we have built an organization rooted in trust, integrity, and unwavering support for our members, our team, and the communities we serve.”
White continued, “As I embark on this new chapter, I carry with me the cherished memories and the profound lessons learned. Thank you for the journey, and here's to the continued success and growth of our beloved Credit Union."
Steve has over 45 years of experience in the Credit Union industry, spending the last 25 years as President & CEO of Westerly Community Credit Union. Prior to joining WCCU, he was the Chief Operating Officer at The People’s Credit Union in Middletown RI.
Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. He is a graduate of Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Management School, the Credit Union Executives Society’s (CUES) Executive Operations Institute, and completed the CUES’ CEO Institute earning him the designation of Certified Chief Executive.
Professionally, Steve is a past member of the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES). He is a former past Chairman of the Credit Union Association of Rhode Island (now a part of the Cooperative Credit Union Association) and currently is on the Board of Directors of the Cooperative Credit Union Association. In 2020, Steve was the recipient of the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s CEO of the Year Award.
During Steve’s tenure as President & CEO, assets grew from $84M to $495M. The credit union grew from two branch offices in Westerly to five throughout southern Rhode Island. He added a contact center, as well as an Operations Center in Wakefield. This expansion secured a strong Westerly Community Credit Union presence in Rhode Island, as well as Eastern CT.
Under Steve’s leadership, Westerly Community Credit Union has truly lived up to its mantra #WCCUCares- about you, your financial needs, and our community. Steve led us to create several innovative products to help our members financially succeed, such as #Goals Savings Acct, Flex Equity, eChecking, Cash Back Checking, and more. Free Credit Report Reviews with WCCU staff were started to help find ways members could consolidate debt and save money.
He championed providing financial literacy for all our members by sponsoring financial literacy programs in local schools, high schools, and URI, as well as providing online financial literacy free to all via our website, westerlyccu.com. Steve also championed WCCU branch staff to become Certified Financial Counselors to help those members with complicated financial issues.
During Steve’s tenure, WCCU has received many awards recognizing its service to the community, most recently:
Stefanski continued, ‘The Board of Directors wish Steve and Grace a long and healthy retirement.’
Westerly Community Credit Union operates branch locations in Westerly, Richmond, Wakefield, and Coventry. Membership is available to individuals who reside or work in Rhode Island, New London County, CT, and Windham County, CT.
To explore membership opportunities or learn more about Westerly Community Credit Union, please visit our website at www.westerlyccu.com.
About Westerly Community Credit Union:
The WCCU mantra, #WCCUCares, emphasizes their focus on caring about their members, their members’ financial success, and their community. Established in 1948, Westerly Community Credit Union is a local, full–service financial institution that currently serves over 23,000 members with lending and deposit products through convenient locations in Westerly, Richmond, Wakefield, Coventry, and online at www.westerlyccu.com. Recent WCCU awards: Westerly Sun’s 2024 Community Choice for Best Credit Union and Best Financial Planning Services; Southern RI 2024 Community Choice Awards for Best Credit Union; Southern RI 2023 Chamber Choice Awards “Spreadin’ the Love Giving Back Award”, as well as PBN’s Best Places to Work (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and PBN’s Fastest Growing Companies (2024).
After 25 years of service to Westerly Community Credit Union members throughout Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut, Stephen J. White has announced his plans to retire from his position as Westerly Community Credit Union’s President & CEO by January 2026.
The WCCU Board of Directors has chosen a worthy successor who will be announced in the coming months. White will plan to work with his successor and the Board during the transition.
"After 25 incredible years with Westerly Community Credit Union, I am filled with gratitude and pride as I step into retirement,” stated White. “It has been an honor to work with a dedicated board of directors and serve alongside such dedicated colleagues and to witness the positive impact we've made in the lives of our members. Together, we have built an organization rooted in trust, integrity, and unwavering support for our members, our team, and the communities we serve.”
White continued, “As I embark on this new chapter, I carry with me the cherished memories and the profound lessons learned. Thank you for the journey, and here's to the continued success and growth of our beloved Credit Union."
Steve has over 45 years of experience in the Credit Union industry, spending the last 25 years as President & CEO of Westerly Community Credit Union. Prior to joining WCCU, he was the Chief Operating Officer at The People’s Credit Union in Middletown RI.
Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. He is a graduate of Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Management School, the Credit Union Executives Society’s (CUES) Executive Operations Institute, and completed the CUES’ CEO Institute earning him the designation of Certified Chief Executive.
Professionally, Steve is a past member of the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES). He is a former past Chairman of the Credit Union Association of Rhode Island (now a part of the Cooperative Credit Union Association) and currently is on the Board of Directors of the Cooperative Credit Union Association. In 2020, Steve was the recipient of the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s CEO of the Year Award.
During Steve’s tenure as President & CEO, assets grew from $84M to $495M. The credit union grew from two branch offices in Westerly to five throughout southern Rhode Island. He added a contact center, as well as an Operations Center in Wakefield. This expansion secured a strong Westerly Community Credit Union presence in Rhode Island, as well as Eastern CT.
Under Steve’s leadership, Westerly Community Credit Union has truly lived up to its mantra #WCCUCares- about you, your financial needs, and our community. Steve led us to create several innovative products to help our members financially succeed, such as #Goals Savings Acct, Flex Equity, eChecking, Cash Back Checking, and more. Free Credit Report Reviews with WCCU staff were started to help find ways members could consolidate debt and save money.
He championed providing financial literacy for all our members by sponsoring financial literacy programs in local schools, high schools, and URI, as well as providing online financial literacy free to all via our website, westerlyccu.com. Steve also championed WCCU branch staff to become Certified Financial Counselors to help those members with complicated financial issues.
During Steve’s tenure, WCCU has received many awards recognizing its service to the community, most recently:
- Best Places to Work- 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025- Providence Business News.
- Best Credit Union & Best Financial Advisor- 2023-2024- Westerly Sun Community Choice Award.
- Best Credit Union- 2023- Southern RI Newspapers Community Choice Awards.
- Best Financial Institution & Best Financial Advisor- 2022- Rhode Island Media Group Reader’s Choice Award.
- Best Credit Union, Best Mortgage Company, & Best Financial Advisor- 2021-2022- Sun Media Group’s Reader’s Choice Award.
- Best Bank- 2017-2018-2019- Sun Media Group Reader’s Choice Awards.
- Spreadin’ the Love Giving Back award- 2018-2019-2023- Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Chamber Choice Awards.
- Community Hero Award- 2021- Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Chamber Choice Awards.
- Excellence in Social Responsibility Award- 2018- Cooperative Credit Union Association.
- Stephen White- Citizen of the Year Award- 2025- Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce.
- Stephen White- CEO of the Year- 2020- Cooperative Credit Union Association.
- Past member & Treasurer of the Ocean Community YMCA Board as well as past member of the Finance Committee,
- Board President of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center,
- Past Moderator and District Clerk of the Dunn’s Corners Fire District,
- President of the Westerly Education Endowment Fund, and
- Past mentor for the Chariho High School, INCubator Program.
Stefanski continued, ‘The Board of Directors wish Steve and Grace a long and healthy retirement.’
Westerly Community Credit Union operates branch locations in Westerly, Richmond, Wakefield, and Coventry. Membership is available to individuals who reside or work in Rhode Island, New London County, CT, and Windham County, CT.
To explore membership opportunities or learn more about Westerly Community Credit Union, please visit our website at www.westerlyccu.com.
About Westerly Community Credit Union:
The WCCU mantra, #WCCUCares, emphasizes their focus on caring about their members, their members’ financial success, and their community. Established in 1948, Westerly Community Credit Union is a local, full–service financial institution that currently serves over 23,000 members with lending and deposit products through convenient locations in Westerly, Richmond, Wakefield, Coventry, and online at www.westerlyccu.com. Recent WCCU awards: Westerly Sun’s 2024 Community Choice for Best Credit Union and Best Financial Planning Services; Southern RI 2024 Community Choice Awards for Best Credit Union; Southern RI 2023 Chamber Choice Awards “Spreadin’ the Love Giving Back Award”, as well as PBN’s Best Places to Work (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and PBN’s Fastest Growing Companies (2024).