FARMERS BRANCH, Texas–One of the best-known and most widely travelled credit union executives has announced retirement plans. Richard “Dick” Ensweiler, president of the Cornerstone Credit Union League, said he plans to retire effective April 30, 2017. The Cornerstone League said it has retained the Credit Union Resources to execute a nationwide search.
Ensweiler was named president of the then Texas Credit League in 1995 and then oversaw the merger of that league with leagues in Arkansas and Oklahoma to form the Cornerstone league in 2013.
Prior to joining the Texas league, Ensweiler served as senior vice president of corporate relations at CUNA Mutual Group in Madison, Wis., and has served as president of the Minnesota Credit Union Network and the Illinois Credit Union League and Affiliates.
During his career he has served on the boards of CUNA, including has chair, U.S. Central, and the American Association of Credit Union Leagues, and continues to serve on numerous credit union related committees and boards including the boards of the Credit Union Museum and Credit Union House as well as a trustee for his alma mater, Lakeland College.
Ensweiler holds designations as a Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE), Certified Association Executive (CAE), and Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE).
During his career Ensweiler has been honored by the World Council of Credit Unions with the WOCCU Ambassador Award in 2008 and Distinguished Service Award in 2015, the Network of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals (NLCUP) with the Leadership & Vision Award in 2010, the National Credit Union Foundation as a 2010 recipient of the Herb Wegner Individual Achievement Award, and as an inductee of the Illinois Credit Union League Hall of Fame in 2007.
“I have been blessed and honored to serve credit unions in many capacities over the span of more than five decades dating back to my first credit union job working as a management trainee at State Central Credit Union in Milwaukee and then as treasurer/manager of the Harley Davidson Credit Union, also in Milwaukee,” says Ensweiler. “This has been a wonderful ride, and I am so proud of what credit unions and Cornerstone have accomplished for the more than 100-million credit union members within our cooperative financial services system. I know that it will be well served by the next generation of leaders who are already making their mark on this fabulous movement.
“This is a system that was established under seven cooperative principles, and those principles continue to serve as a guidepost for how credit unions serve their members today. They emphasize respect, dignity, and best-in-class service that far exceed other financial institutions and sectors,” added Ensweiler in a released statement. “These principles are critically important in the environment in which we find ourselves today. I am convinced now more than ever that credit unions are simply the best option for most consumers, and that our system provides credit unions with the advocacy, tools, resources, and solutions that will continue to ensure their success and growth.”
Kenny Harrington, president/CEO of MemberSource Credit Union in Houston and chair of the Cornerstone league said in a statement, “Today, Cornerstone is the largest regional credit union trade association in the country and has been established as one of the most respected and effective organizations advocating on behalf of credit unions. Much of that success and recognition is a result of Dick’s leadership. We are grateful to him and the Cornerstone staff for their service to our industry and how Cornerstone has been successfully positioned to be a leader in the credit union movement well into the future.”