NCUA Board Member Visits Hoosier Hills Credit Union

(BEDFORD) – Todd Harper, one of three members of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board of Directors, visited Hoosier Hills Credit Union’s Bedford, Indiana headquarters on Friday, November 15. NCUA is the independent federal agency that regulates and insures deposits at federally insured credit unions.

National Credit Union Administration Board member Todd Harper (middle, front row, with striped tie) poses for a photo with Hoosier Hills Credit Union President and CEO (tan jacket, left of Harper) and members of the Credit Union’s Senior Management Team during his recent visit to Hoosier Hills’ headquarters and Service Center in Bedford, IN. Harper and Indiana Credit Union League (ICUL) President John McKenzie (back row, far left) spent time at HHCU as part of Harper’s series of credit union visits across the country to gain insight and get input from credit unions’ leaders and staff. It was the first time that a NCUA Board Member has visited Hoosier Hills Credit Union, and McNichols shared with Harper an outline of HHCU’s economic impact in the communities it serves. Also, senior managers discussed the diversity of HHCU’s deposit and loan portfolios as well as how HHCU saves members money each day.

Harper joined the NCUA Board in April 2019. Prior to joining the NCUA Board, he served as director of the agency’s Office of Public and Congressional Affairs and chief policy advisor to former Chairman Debbie Matz and Rick Metsger. He is the first member of the NCUA staff to become an NCUA Board Member. He also previously served the U.S. House of
Representatives as staff director for the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises and as legislative director and senior legislative assistant to former Rep. Paul Kanjorski.

To gain more in-depth information about credit unions, Harper is visiting CUs across the country and particularly in his home state of Indiana. A native of northwest Indiana, he holds an undergraduate degree in business analysis from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, as well as a graduate degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

National Credit Union Administration Board member Todd Harper (middle, facing camera) speaks with (left-right) Hoosier Hills Credit Union Vice President, Bedford Operations, Ruth Ann Elkins; Vice President, Call Center Operations Lori Mollet; Chief Marketing Officer Nan Morrow (back to camera); and Chief Strategy Officer Russ Wilkie (back to camera) during a recent visit to the HHCU Bedford Service Center. Also looking on at right is Indiana Credit Union League President John McKenzie. Harper is the first NCUA Board Member to visit HHCU. He is visiting credit unions across the country.

“We were so pleased to be able to share information about our growth and success with Todd Harper,” said George McNichols, HHCU President and CEO. “We have never had a current NCUA Board Member visit us, so it was an honor to host him at our office here in Bedford.”

McNichols shared with Harper an outline of the economic impact of HHCU in the communities served by the Credit Union, noting an annual impact of approximately $202 million to the small rural communities served in southern Indiana. Senior managers discussed data about the counties and communities served, and the diversity of HHCU’s deposit and loan portfolios. They also provided specific information about how HHCU saves members money each day, how the Credit Union supports members’ personal financial and business growth needs, the types of events and organizations HHCU supports in each community and financial education resources that the Credit Union makes available to its members and prospective members.

Harper shared his outlook that financial institution regulators need to operate with FIRE, which
is an acronym indicating that regulators need to be:
• Fair and forward-looking;
• Innovative, inclusive and independent;
• Risk-focused and ready to act expeditiously when necessary; and
• Engaged appropriately with all stakeholders to develop effective and efficient regulation.

The group discussed Harper’s overall primary concerns with financial institutions, which include safety and soundness, cybersecurity, financial inclusion, and consumer protection.

“Getting into the field and speaking with credit unions directly helps me to write better rules and regulations to protect credit unions and their members. My conversation with George McNichols and the rest of the HHCU team allowed me to get better insights about the importance of
commercial lending and supporting the community,” commented Harper about his visit.