Putting people first

When asked if there really is a difference when comparing credit unions to other financial institutions, Gary A. Grinnell, president, and CEO of Corning Credit Union (CCU) and newly elected chair of the NAFCU Board of Directors, often points to his own early-career experience.

“While I was in college, I had three summer internships at a local community bank, then was offered a full-time position when I graduated,” said Grinnell. He worked there for three to four years, starting on the teller line, and moving into other operational and lending departments as he learned the business.

“I always felt that something was missing from a cultural and personal perspective, so when I heard about an opening at a local credit union, Corning Credit Union, I applied and secured a position,” said Grinnell. “That was 25 years ago, and I quickly knew that I had found a home.”

A collaborative, cooperative business model that focuses on members and the credit union team is the difference, explained Grinnell. “There is no competition between stockholder and customer interests, which places employees in a challenging position,” he said. “Because we focus on members, we don’t conduct business transactionally, we build relationships.” This ability to look at long-term success from an operational and strategic level allows credit unions to innovate, grow and meet competitive challenges in a way that benefits members, employees, and the organization, he said.

 

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