OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.–Mike Kloiber, president and CEO of the $5.6-billion Tinker FCU is retiring at the end of August. The credit union has named President and COO Dave Willis as Kloiber’s successor.
Kloiber has led Tinker Federal for 25 years after first joining the credit union in 1988.
The CU noted that under Kloiber’s leadership as CEO, TFCU’s assets have grown five-fold and membership has grown to 420,000 from 155,000 420,000; the number of branches has grown to 32 from 11, and TFCU has also grown its technology offerings.
3 ‘Dramatic Events’
“But, three dramatic events stand out among all others,” the credit union said in announcing the retirement. “When the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed in 1995, Tinker offered space in its corporate offices as a temporary home for the Federal Employees Credit Union as it faced a huge recovery effort. Kloiber was called upon to lead a team of executives and support staff who came together over the next six weeks to work with the FECU survivors and ensure the credit union would not only survive but also eventually thrive.
“Years later, the 2013 tornado destroyed TFCU’s Moore branch, and Kloiber was called upon once again to lead a credit union back from the ashes. The only thing left standing was part of one wall and the safe deposit box vault where employees and members had ridden out the storm,” the statement continued. “Less than a year later TFCU’s new branch opened its doors as the first destroyed business in town to reopen.
“And, of course, 2020 brought the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many businesses, TFCU was faced with a challenge unlike any it had ever seen. Policies, procedures, and work processes all had to be adapted daily to maintain member service.”
Really Been Like ‘Family’
But none of those are what Kloiber wants to be remembered for most, the credit union said.
“I want to be remembered as the kind of leader who could relate to employees, members and our volunteers,” Kloiber stated. “We really have been like a family. I’ve spent more time with a lot of our employees than I do anyone else, and I’ve worked with many of them through my entire TFCU career. I tried to be a leader who employees of all levels would feel is approachable.”
In addition to leading TFCU, Kloiber has been a community and industry leader as well, having served on numerous boards of directors for chambers of commerce, non-profits, and credit union trade associations, Kloiber added.