WASHINGTON—Less than ten days into his tenure as president and CEO of America’s Credit Unions, Scott Simpson said he’s still settling into both his new home and his new role—but already hearing clearly what credit unions expect from the national trade association.
“I’m still moving—I don’t even have laundry detergent yet,” Simpson joked during a Monday media call. “That’s kind of the state of my time in Washington as I’m trying to spin up a household and get engaged with all of the great machinery in America’s Credit Unions.”
Simpson, who previously led the California’s Credit Unions, Nevada’s Credit Unions, and Utah’s Credit Unions and joined ACU following Jim Nussle’s departure, said his first week included travel out West, meetings with congressional offices, and extensive conversations with member credit unions of all sizes.
Listening To Members
Simpson emphasized that credit unions are not a monolith—and that what they want from America’s Credit Unions varies by size and stage of growth.
“Protection of their business model is always paramount,” he said. “That’s why advocacy is always front and center. But small credit unions have a different set of worries—they don’t have the bandwidth to manage all of the hats that they have to wear. They’re looking for tools and guidance to help them manage.”
Mid-sized institutions, he added, are focused on talent development and operational challenges that come with scaling. For larger credit unions, regulatory thresholds—such as crossing $10 billion in assets—can bring abrupt new costs.
“You can instantly lose $30 million of net income just by crossing one threshold,” Simpson noted.
Advocacy And Leadership Search
Asked about the vacancy left by former Chief Advocacy Officer Carrie Hunt, who departed several months ago, Simpson said filling that position is one of his top early priorities.
“There are folks who are understandably concerned about that vacancy,” he acknowledged. “We do have a process—we’re working with a firm that’s well connected in the credit union ecosystem to identify the best candidates we can.”
That search, CUToday.info has learned, includes both internal and external prospects. Simpson emphasized that ACU remains fully engaged in Washington despite the transition.
“My entire career has been in the advocacy world,” he said. “I have a good observation of our team and capabilities right now. The machinery continues to move here, and we’re committed to world-class advocacy for our members.”