SAN DIEGO— California Coast Credit Union said President and CEO Todd Lane has been named a finalist for the 2026 CEO of the Year Award by the San Diego Business Journal, with the $3-billion credit union pointing to growth, branch expansion and community investments under his leadership.
Cal Coast said Lane is being recognized in the publication’s Business Nonprofit category, citing the credit union’s more than 200,000 members in Southern California, as well as initiatives including the Cal Coast Cares Foundation, a student financial center at San Diego State University and two recent branch openings in Kearny Mesa and Logan Heights.
In a statement, Lane said the recognition reflects “the consistency of our approach – focused on strong governance, responsible growth, and meaningful community impact,” adding that Cal Coast remains focused on serving members “in a way that builds trust over time.”
Cal Coast also highlighted that under Lane’s tenure, the Cal Coast Cares Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to local teachers and scholarships to college-bound students, including support for current and former foster youth.
The recognition comes as Cal Coast remains embroiled in a high-profile merger dispute with San Diego County Credit Union, a legal and governance fight that CUToday.info has reported on extensively in recent coverage. As CUToday has noted, the dispute has centered on the proposed combination and related allegations over the merger process.