WCCU’s Stephen White named “CEO of the Year” award by the Cooperative Credit Union Association
Thursday, October 29, 2020
The Westerly Community Credit Union is proud to announce that Stephen J. White, WCCU President & CEO, has been chosen as the 2020 Awards of Excellence ‘CEO of the Year’ by the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) during its recent Virtual Annual Meeting & Convention.
The 2020 Awards of Excellence- CEO of the Year Award is given annually to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) whose superior leadership achieved growth, inspired and motivated their team to excellence, and engaged the community as their credit union’s chief ambassador. A winner is chosen from nominations given and judged upon by Credit Union peers with the Cooperative Credit Union Association.
White’s accomplishments during his career at Westerly Community Credit Union include financial successes, but also success in deepening its continued focus on helping the community. Financially, during Steve’s tenure, the Credit Union has increased asset size from $84M to $365M. His vision helped increase the number of branches from 2 in Westerly to 4 branches, now easily serving the areas of Washington County RI and New London County CT. The Credit Union built a state-of-the-art Operations Center in Wakefield, assuring future growth opportunities. And in 2019, WCCU achieved two financial milestones: eclipsing $300 million in assets and originating over $100 million in loans and lines of credit for the first time in its history.
White was applauded for his community outreach and credit union initiatives, setting the #WCCUCares tone and leading by example through his service on many local boards and committees. A few of the associations he serves on include: Finance Committee for the Ocean Community YMCA, Board President for the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, Vice President for the Westerly Education Endowment Fund, as well as formerly serving as District Clerk for the Dunn’s Corner Fire District, Association Board Treasurer for the Ocean Community YMCA, and mentor for the Chariho INCubator Program.
Under Steve’s leadership in recent years, WCCU has received many awards recognizing it service to the community. Some of these are:
“I thank the CCUA for this honor. I’ve been in the financial industry since I was 18 and am still as passionate today for everything credit unions stand for- People Helping People,” stated Steve White, President & CEO of Westerly Community Credit Union. “I will continue to build on WCCU’s strengths in regard to helping our members financially succeed, showing our communities that #WCCUCares, and keeping Westerly Community Credit Union well capitalized and financially strong for many years to come.”
The Staff and Board of Directors of the Westerly Community Credit Union would like to congratulate Steve on receiving this well-deserved award!
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 19,800 members with lending and deposit products through their convenient locations in Wakefield, Richmond, Westerly, as well as online via www.westerlyccu.com. Recent WCCU awards: Westerly Sun’s Readers’ Choice Best Bank Award (2017-18-19 and top 3 in 2020); Southern RI Chamber Choice- Best Employer (2018) and “Spreadin’ the Love” (2019 & 2020) community service awards; as well as PBN Best Places to Work (2018-19).
About Cooperative Credit Union Association:
The Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) is a regional trade organization serving as the voice for credit unions located in the States of Delaware, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Along with its legislative and regulatory initiatives and vigilance, advocacy at the CCUA also extends to consumers. Through the Better Values-Better Banking initiative, CCUA educates and builds awareness about credit unions; what they are, the value they offer, and the contributions they make to the communities they serve.
In Rhode Island, there are 19 credit unions who hold combined assets of $7 billion and a collective membership base of more than 436,000 consumers. Annually credit unions in Rhode Island provide their members with $37 million in direct financial benefits and have raised more than $1.2 million for Special Olympics Rhode Island. For more information, visit www.ccua.org.
The 2020 Awards of Excellence- CEO of the Year Award is given annually to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) whose superior leadership achieved growth, inspired and motivated their team to excellence, and engaged the community as their credit union’s chief ambassador. A winner is chosen from nominations given and judged upon by Credit Union peers with the Cooperative Credit Union Association.
White’s accomplishments during his career at Westerly Community Credit Union include financial successes, but also success in deepening its continued focus on helping the community. Financially, during Steve’s tenure, the Credit Union has increased asset size from $84M to $365M. His vision helped increase the number of branches from 2 in Westerly to 4 branches, now easily serving the areas of Washington County RI and New London County CT. The Credit Union built a state-of-the-art Operations Center in Wakefield, assuring future growth opportunities. And in 2019, WCCU achieved two financial milestones: eclipsing $300 million in assets and originating over $100 million in loans and lines of credit for the first time in its history.
White was applauded for his community outreach and credit union initiatives, setting the #WCCUCares tone and leading by example through his service on many local boards and committees. A few of the associations he serves on include: Finance Committee for the Ocean Community YMCA, Board President for the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, Vice President for the Westerly Education Endowment Fund, as well as formerly serving as District Clerk for the Dunn’s Corner Fire District, Association Board Treasurer for the Ocean Community YMCA, and mentor for the Chariho INCubator Program.
Under Steve’s leadership in recent years, WCCU has received many awards recognizing it service to the community. Some of these are:
- Five Star Superior Rating- 2019-20- Bauer Financial Inc.
- Spreadin’ the Love Award for giving back to the community- 2019 & 2020- Southern RI Chamber of Commerce Chamber Choice Awards
- Best Bank Award- 2017-18-19 and top 3 in 2020- Westerly Sun’s Readers’ Choice
- Best Places to Work Award- 2018, 2019- Providence Business News
- Excellence in Social Responsibility Award- 2018- Cooperative Credit Union Association
- Best Employer Award- 2018- Southern RI Chamber of Commerce Chamber Choice Awards
“I thank the CCUA for this honor. I’ve been in the financial industry since I was 18 and am still as passionate today for everything credit unions stand for- People Helping People,” stated Steve White, President & CEO of Westerly Community Credit Union. “I will continue to build on WCCU’s strengths in regard to helping our members financially succeed, showing our communities that #WCCUCares, and keeping Westerly Community Credit Union well capitalized and financially strong for many years to come.”
The Staff and Board of Directors of the Westerly Community Credit Union would like to congratulate Steve on receiving this well-deserved award!
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 19,800 members with lending and deposit products through their convenient locations in Wakefield, Richmond, Westerly, as well as online via www.westerlyccu.com. Recent WCCU awards: Westerly Sun’s Readers’ Choice Best Bank Award (2017-18-19 and top 3 in 2020); Southern RI Chamber Choice- Best Employer (2018) and “Spreadin’ the Love” (2019 & 2020) community service awards; as well as PBN Best Places to Work (2018-19).
About Cooperative Credit Union Association:
The Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) is a regional trade organization serving as the voice for credit unions located in the States of Delaware, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Along with its legislative and regulatory initiatives and vigilance, advocacy at the CCUA also extends to consumers. Through the Better Values-Better Banking initiative, CCUA educates and builds awareness about credit unions; what they are, the value they offer, and the contributions they make to the communities they serve.
In Rhode Island, there are 19 credit unions who hold combined assets of $7 billion and a collective membership base of more than 436,000 consumers. Annually credit unions in Rhode Island provide their members with $37 million in direct financial benefits and have raised more than $1.2 million for Special Olympics Rhode Island. For more information, visit www.ccua.org.