MADISON, Wis.– Joe Liethen has joined UW Credit Union as its new executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective today. In this executive leadership role, Liethen will oversee all financial operations for the Wisconsin-based $6.5 billion financial institution.
Liethen joins UW Credit Union with an extensive financial services background, most recently serving as the CFO at Marine Credit Union. Before that, he held multiple leadership positions at Kohl’s Department Stores, spanning finance, loss prevention and store operations.
“Welcoming Joe to our organization during this vital period of growth is a testament to his expertise,” said Paul Kundert, president and CEO of UW Credit Union. “Throughout his career, Joe has demonstrated strong business judgment, a thoughtful, member-focused approach and a collaborative leadership style that aligns with our mission and long-term strategic direction.”
As CFO, Liethen will serve as a member of the executive leadership team, helping support the credit union’s continued emphasis on member value, financial strength and growth.
“I’m honored to join UW Credit Union at a time when the organization is both financially strong and thoughtfully positioned for the future,” Liethen said. “UW Credit Union has a clear mission, a strong values-based culture and a long track record of disciplined growth. I’m excited to work alongside the leadership team to continue building a resilient financial foundation that supports members, employees and the communities we serve.”
Liethen succeeds Brad McClain, who announced in 2025 his plans to retire from the CFO position after an impressive 23-year tenure with the credit union. Since 2003, McClain has steadily grown the organization’s financial strength, helping guide the organization through the Great Recession, a prolonged period of near-zero interest rates, pandemic-driven market disruptions and more recent interest-rate increases. McClain will continue with UW Credit Union in a new role overseeing the organization’s real estate development projects.
Liethen is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned an accounting degree. He is also a licensed certified public accountant in the state of Wisconsin. Liethen serves on the Member Advisory Committee for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and is an industry leader on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Planning Committee for credit unions.
