MANCHESTER, N.H.–Bruce Leighton, president and CEO of Members First Credit Union, has announced plans to retire in September.
Leighton has held the post for the past 10 years. The $257-million credit union said it has launched a search for a successor. Leighton joined Members First in 2012 as CFO and was named president and CEO in 2013.
“One of his first major accomplishments was divesting the credit union of its Franklin, New Hampshire branch in 2014,” the credit union said. “Two years later, he oversaw Members First’s expansion into Bedford and the building of the branch there. For decades, membership to the credit union was offered to people living in the Manchester area, but in 2019, Leighton led the efforts to expand Members First’s charter to serve all of New Hampshire. Membership is now open to anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in the Granite State.”
Cutting the Ribbon
The credit union further noted that in 2021, Leighton cut the ceremonious ribbon to open the new main office located at 7 Salmon Street in Manchester.
“The construction of this building was especially gratifying because Leighton had committed to continuing the build during the pandemic,” MFCU said. “Rigorous safety precautions were taken, and the project was a much-needed boon to the local economy during the shutdown.”
In addition to his leadership at Members First, Leighton has served as chairman of the board for the NH Jump$tart Coalition and on the board of directors of TriCorp in Westbrook, Maine.
A ‘Pleasure and an Honor’
“It has been my pleasure and honor to serve as president and CEO of Members First Credit Union for the past 10 years,” said Leighton. “The focus of the team has been serving the membership and the community. I believe the stronger and safer the community, the better for our members who live, work and play here. We recognize that the problems of a community cannot be solved by any one entity or organization, but each of us can do our part. I am very proud that Members First Credit Union was the only credit union in the country to donate 100% of the dividend we received from the NCUA Share Insurance Fund to causes that deeply impact Greater Manchester: homelessness, drug misuse, and youth at risk.”