SPRINGFIELD, Ill.– Heartland Credit Union has selected Aaron Rios to serve as its new CEO, succeeding Tom Lex, who served the credit union for 45 years.
The search was handled by DDJ Myers.
Rios brings more than 23 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry to the CEO position, having served in key executive roles at Citigroup, Global Bank, Midland States Bank, QCR Holdings, and most recently as COO at Merrick Bank, where he helped lead their operations transformation, the credit union said.
“Throughout his career, Rios has overseen operations across branch banking, risk and regulatory relations, back-office efficiency, financial management, digital transformation, and people development,” the $555-million Heartland CU said in a statement. “His deep understanding of the client journey, from front-line experience to executive leadership, has helped organizations drive growth, strengthen culture, and enhance community impact.”
‘Grateful for Opportunity’
“I want to thank Jane Kiel and the entire board of Directors for their trust and confidence. My family and I are excited to make Springfield our new home, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the talented team at Heartland Credit Union,” Rios said in a statement. “I look forward to building relationships with our employees, serving our members, and becoming an active part of the community.”
Outside Activities
Outside of work, Rios enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children. Their son plays golf at Upper Iowa University, their eldest daughter plays softball at the University of Illinois Chicago, and their youngest daughter is a freshman at Eastern Illinois University and a member of the softball team. In his spare time, Aaron enjoys golf, coaching basketball, and supporting local youth sports.
