WASHINGTON–Jim Nussle has announced his intention to retire as CEO of America’s Credit Unions.

Nussle has not provided a retirement date, saying he prefers to give the board the “full flexibility to conduct a search” over the next several months “on a timeline of their choosing.”

“Serving credit unions is a deep personal privilege. After a long career in advocacy from both sides of the policymaking table, leading CUNA and the honor of helping to create and lead America’s Credit Unions, it is soon time for me to pursue new interests in retirement,” Nussle said in a statement. My full and ongoing focus will be on our intensive credit union advocacy efforts to protect our credit union model. Credit unions are the financial first responders in every community around the world, providing important access to financial services to enhance the financial wellbeing of our consumer members and advancing communities across the county, including many that banks have forgotten.”

America’s Credit Unions said it has selected Karen Harbin, president and CEO of Commonwealth Credit Union in Kentucky and ACU’s vice chair, to lead the search.

“The America’s Credit Unions board of directors appreciates Jim’s leadership the flexible succession timeline, and the ability to conduct a thorough national search,” ACU Chairman Pat Pierce, president and CEO of City and County Credit Union, said in a statement. “I believe strong candidates will emerge for consideration for this vital leadership role.”

Ten Years in the Post

Nussle was named to the post in 2014 after previously serving as an eight-term Republican congressman from Iowa and former director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President George W. Bush from 2007-09. He was leading his own consultancy called The Nussle Group prior to be named as head of the trade group that was then known as the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). 

Nussle was serving in the House in 1998 at a momentous time in credit union history, when the Credit Union Membership Access Act (HR 1151) was passed by a landslide vote of 411-9 (Nussle did not sign on as a co-sponsor but he did vote in favor). The bill would later be signed by President Bill Clinton.

A Focus on Washington

Nussle succeeded Bill Cheney, who left CUNA to take over as CEO of SchoolsFirst Credit Union in California. He is the second former member of Congress to lead the trade group after former Florida congressman Dan Mica (who was in the Oval Office when Clinton signed the bill into law).

During his tenure Nussle has led a strong focus on Washington and away from the group’s Madison, Wis. roots (where it has vacated its long-held space on the CUNA Mutual campus to new offices on the city’s west side) as well as to new office space in Washington. 

Nussle has often referred to what he has called the importance of “360 Advocacy.” 

He also oversaw the merger with the former National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU), which became effective Jan. 1, 2024, when America’s Credit Unions was officially formed. 

Those interested in more information on the position are being directed to contact Korn Ferry at [email protected].