By Ray Birch
PLANO, Texas—Dick Ensweiler is well known for his long career in credit unions, especially for his passion for the business. What may be less well known is that passion can also be inherited.
Credit unions have become the family business for the former head of the Texas CU League and then the Cornerstone Credit Union League is just the vision of what can be accomplished by serving members, according to Ensweiler, whose two sons have followed him into the industry.
“Credit unions have captured my sons’ imaginations, as they did mine,” Ensweiler said. Ensweiler’s comments are appearing here as part of a series in CUToday.info on the family connections within credit unions.
What’s also similar with this family is how all three Ensweilers got started in CUs—summer jobs.
“I needed a summer job in 1959. I responded to an ad in the local paper and got a summer job as a teller at a credit union in Milwaukee—State Central CU,” Ensweiler recalled.
The CEO of the credit union liked Ensweiler so much he promised him a full-time job after Ensweiler completed his duty in the military, which he was preparing to do.
“And they kept their promise,” he said.
The Ensweilers (L-R), Dick, Jeff and Mike
A Thorough Training
SCCU then provided Ensweiler with thorough training on a diverse range of credit union duties covering numerous operational areas, which eventually landed him a job in 1965 as treasurer/manager of the former Harley-Davidson Credit Union in Milwaukee.
“From there I became a league rep, and then working for leagues and managing leagues almost the rest of my career, except for a 10-year hiatus when I was a senior VP at CUNA Mutual,” explained Ensweiler.
His sons, Mike and Jeff, ages 54 and 48 respectively, followed a similar path.
“In their last year of high school they both needed summer jobs, and I thought they would like to see what this credit union business is about,” Ensweiler said. “I got them a job working summers at a local credit union and they got hooked on the business. They have stayed in it either directly or working for credit unions after they graduated from college. Now both of them are selling to credit unions.”
Two Sons in the Business
Mike it is a principle at ALM First and is in the sales and marketing area for the company.
“It's a company that he's been with 14 years,” said Ensweiler. “They've grown to be a very large, prosperous organization. He absolutely loves what he does.”
Ensweiler’s other son, Jeff, started his career working in a local credit union in Texas.
“He has been selling to credit unions ever since,” Ensweiler said.
Jeff is currently SVP of business development for Newground, which designs and builds credit union branches and other commercial buildings.
“He's in charge of all the sales of all the products that they have in that space,” Ensweiler said.
Following the Passion
The former CUNA chairman is convinced his sons followed their father’s passion for credit unions, which was apparent as the boys grew up.
“They saw their dad's love for the movement. They saw somewhere where they could make a difference,” he said. “They saw that credit unions do so much good for people. They wanted to either be part of it as employees or, if not, somehow supporting credit unions. They have landed into business areas in which each of them enjoys working. They appreciate the opportunities they have had, and they both have been very successful.”
53 Years of Difference Making
Ensweiler emphasized he has “loved every day of my 53 years in credit unions. I never remember a day I didn't want to get up and go to work. I think my sons saw that, and that I was able to make a difference. I first made a difference to members working in a credit union, and then working with credit unions, whether it be with CUNA Mutual, or for most of my life running state leagues. They saw that I could generate that kind of joy doing what I do but there must be something there.”
L-R, Mike, Jeff, Dick Ensweiler
Talking about his time at credit union leagues, Ensweiler said he always appreciated the difference a strong league makes in in assisting credit unions and helping them with the legislation, for example.
“When credit unions were smaller they really needed those services and a central resource. They trusted the leagues and we made sure that we were organizations that understood them and would provide only the best possible service,” he said. “They appreciated it. And my appreciation was their success. My little part of that is being one of those guys who ran a league that was very helpful to our credit union members.”
Never Tempted
Asked if he ever had the notion to be in the banking business as a banker, Ensweiler said he never even got close making that kind of decision.
“I was never tempted by it,” he said. “I had been talked to about it by people and I just didn't see the value. I could not see a way to make a difference like I could within credit unions. The not-for-profit motive really stuck with me and the idea that all the money generated would go back to the to the people—everyday people. That just that was something that captured my heart and it never left.
“It’s been a lot of fun, doing this together, being part of credit unions, with my sons,” continued Ensweiler. “There's been an amazing number of overlaps and stories and we feed each other and have great conversations.”