RALEIGH, N.C., May 02, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jim Blaine, the long-time CEO at State Employees’ Credit Union, has announced his retirement, effective upon selection of his replacement by the SECU Board of Directors. Mr. Blaine, 66, has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Credit Union since 1979. He is a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and a graduate of UNC-CH and Duke University.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d682119-57e5-4a5e-a8bf-16902cac3aac.
SECU Board of Directors Chair Cynthia Jolly recognized Mr. Blaine’s extraordinary leadership through a period of unparalleled growth in the organization. During his tenure SECU grew from $300 million in assets to $33 billion in assets and from 8 branches to 256. With over 2 million members and 5,800 employees in North Carolina, SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States.
SECU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative serving North Carolina state and public school employees and their families. The Credit Union was founded in 1937 and now has local branches in all 100 North Carolina counties. SECU provides its members with low-cost loans and consumer financial services, as well as investment/brokerage, insurance, tax, and trust advisory services. Additionally, SECU members, through the SECU Foundation, have contributed over $100 million to a range of worthy causes throughout the State, including the “People Helping People” public school and community college scholarships, SECU Family Houses at three North Carolina hospitals, the SECU Cancer Center in Asheville, local hospices, affordable workplace housing, and numerous projects in conjunction with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, the North Carolina Food Bank, NC GreenPower, and Habitat for Humanity. SECU has been nationally recognized as a leader in advocacy for consumer financial protection.
Ms. Jolly confirmed that the SECU Board has a well-established succession plan and stated that the search should be completed no later than the first quarter of 2017. The SECU Board of Directors is working with the firm of Matthews, Young – Management Consulting of Hillsborough, North Carolina to assist with the selection process.