KERRVILLE, Texas—Sandy Lumbley will retire as CEO of Kerr County FCU on Dec. 31 after a 26-year tenure that oversaw growth from a single branch and $7 million in deposits to a four-location operation with $160 million in assets.
The credit union has named a successor.
Lumbley started at the credit union in May 1999 as a bookkeeper and was promoted to CEO in early 2000. Before joining the credit union, she worked at Lum’s Barbecue in Junction with her husband’s family, a third-generation family business. Lumbley also owned and operated a collection company during that time, according to the Daily Times.
A ‘Passion’
“It is a passion to help people, and that’s how it starts and that’s how it ends,” Lumbley told the Daily Times. “I honestly pray every day, almost 99% of the time, for God to send me someone to help.”
The Missouri native came to Junction for a visit, met her husband, Rick, and never left, the report said. The couple has three grown sons and five grandchildren—four in Junction and one in San Antonio.
Understand People Helping People
“I do not have a college degree in banking, nor have I ever studied banking, but I understand people helping people,” Lumbley told the Daily Times. “And I think the understanding of that, along with the other things, made us just take off and grow.”
The credit union focused on serving members overlooked by traditional lenders, particularly through small-dollar loans, according to the report.
“The specifics of most of the lenders—and I don’t want to sound negative in this—they won’t do small-dollar loans,” Lumbley was quoted as saying. “Small-dollar loans, getting people out of payday loans, getting people out of overdraft … ordinary people getting helped is what is important… To get people from poverty into a savings account is the biggest reward ever.”
Three-Year Succession Plan
A three-year succession plan has resulted in Angela Hill being named to the CEO role effective Oct. 1, with Lumbley transitioning to a consultant role. Hill has worked at the credit union for 30 years, starting as a drive-thru teller shortly after high school.
