MECHANICSBURG, Penn.–Jim McCormack, the long-time leader of the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association before retiring, has died. Mr. McCormack was 69.
McCormack spent 32 years with PCUA, 21 as its president and CEO, retiring at yearend 2013.
During his tenure with PCUA, McCormack received state and national recognition for his visionary leadership helping credit unions to thrive and survive for more than 40 years, according to the CrossState Credit Union Association, the organization that was created by the merger of the Pennsylvania CU Association and the New Jersey Credit Union League.
Started by ‘Accident’
The CSCUA said McCormack started his credit union career by accident when he was going to college and working as clerk in a supermarket in Kingston, Penn. At that time, he needed a loan for a used car which he got at Amalgamated Food Employees Credit Union Local 72. That small credit union gave him the loan and asked him to serve on the supervisory committee since he was majoring in Accounting, the association reported. That initial volunteer assignment eventually led to the role of part-time manager at the credit union.
After spending several years with the credit union, McCormack joined CUNA Mutual for seven years,
After a couple of years at the credit union, McCormack was hired by CUNA Mutual where he worked for seven years, first as a field representative in the Pittsburgh region then transferring to the home office in Madison, where he worked on the earliest development of asset liability management.
Career Highlights
McCormack joined the PCUA in 1981 as VP of finance and administration and became president in 1992.
“McCormack’s career was highlighted when in 2014 he won the most prestigious national credit union recognition, the Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Credit Union Foundation,” the CSCUA said.
McCormack was recognized with several other national awards including the Gene Farley Award presented to outstanding state credit union association presidents.
According to the CrossState CU Association, other highlights of McCormack’s career included:
- Establishing the PA Credit Union Foundation
- Establishing Shared Service Centers throughout Pennsylvania
- Helping create the Judge/Bradley Leadership School in conjunction with Penn State University
- Helping establish a state credit card processing program in the mid-1980s that allowed Pennsylvania credit unions to offer credit and debit cards to their members.
A ‘Selfless Leader’
“Jim McCormack was a selfless leader, not only in Pennsylvania but throughout the country. His work with former Congressman Paul Kanjorski to ensure credit union access for American consumers enabled the credit union movement to grow to what it has become today,” said current CrossState Credit Union Association (PA and NJ) President and CEO Patrick Conway. “On behalf of the entire team at CrossState, I offer all of our condolences to the McCormack family and to all the people whose lives
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