CHADDS FORD, Penn.–John Unangst, CEO of the $1-billion Franklin Mint FCU here for more than 40 years, has died.
Well-known to many within credit unions, Unangst overaw growth from less than $1-million in assets to a 37-branch credit union with approximately 85,000 members. In 1986, Unangst and FMFCU formed State Financial Network, LLC to offer mortgage services to other credit unions. More recently, in 2013 Franklin Mint formed another CUSO, Credit Union Network for Financial Literacy, through which it offered The Berenstain Bears Financial Literacy Program to credit unions.
“The board of directors, management team, and employees are extremely saddened by this unexpected news,” said Patrick Killian, FMFCU chairman of the board, in a statement. “His exemplary leadership, unwavering dedication to FMFCU and the credit union movement, and community contributions were a lifelong inspiration to others.”
Unangst was named CEO of the Year by the NAFCU in 2017 and had earlier received a Veterans of Influence Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal in 2015. At the time of his death Unangst was serving on the Riddle HealthCare Foundation Board of Directors, Brandywine Advisory Board at Penn State University, and CCRES Board of Directors.
The Delco Times noted Unangst was the “architect of a push to honor local students for their academic prowess, partnering with the Daily Times for the annual All-Delco Hi-Q team, honoring the best of the local competitors in the nation’s oldest academic quiz competition. It was that push that resulted in the annual Partners in Education Dinner that drew more than 500 people to the Drexelbrook. Unangst was able to convince Jeopardy icon Alex Trebek to be the guest speaker at one of the very first dinners.”
Unangst was a graduate of Penn State University, a decorated Captain in the U.S. Army, and resident of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
A video featuring Unangst and the credit union on its 40th anniversary can be found here.