ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) is recognizing the retirement of Janet Powell, Oregon’s chief of regulation and supervision for credit unions, following more than 30 years of service to the state and national credit union system.
Powell will retire at the end of June after a career that began with Oregon’s credit union regulatory program in 1992 and culminated in leading the state’s credit union division.
NASCUS said Powell helped shape Oregon’s state-chartered credit union system by working with credit unions, lawmakers, trade associations and regulators to modernize the state’s credit union charter while maintaining a focus on safety and soundness.
According to NASCUS, Oregon state-chartered credit unions experienced no failures during either the Great Recession or the COVID-19 pandemic while Powell served in leadership.
Initiatives That Received Support
NASCUS also credited Powell with supporting regulatory and legislative initiatives that:
- Expanded community field-of-membership opportunities.
- Preserved commercial lending flexibility for state-chartered credit unions.
- Helped enact legislation allowing public funds to be deposited in credit unions.
- Established examination frameworks for emerging industries.
- Promoted regulatory approaches balancing innovation with consumer protection.
NASCUS Regulator Board Chair Katie Averill, who also serves as superintendent of the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services’ Division of Credit Unions, said Powell made lasting contributions both professionally and personally.
‘An Honor’
“It has been an honor to work alongside Janet on the board of directors,” Averill said in a statement released by NASCUS. “Beyond her years of dedicated service and professional expertise, I am personally grateful for her friendship and the mentorship she has provided me over the years. I wish her the very best in her retirement.”
Jeff Dahlstrom, former chair of the NASCUS Credit Union Advisory Council and president of Southeast Financial Credit Union in Tennessee, said Powell’s influence extended well beyond her regulatory work.
“Janet’s kindness and wisdom have left a lasting impact on all of us, and you have been a highly respected colleague and a very good friend,” Dahlstrom said in a statement. “With her transition to retirement, we hope she will find the same fulfillment in your personal adventures as she did in her work. We wish you joy, health, and happiness in this next exciting new chapter.”
Pierre Jay Winner
NASCUS noted that Powell received the organization’s Pierre Jay Award in 2025, its highest honor, recognizing her contributions to state regulation, credit union innovation and consumer protection.
“Janet’s career reflects the very best of the state system,” NASCUS President and CEO Brian Knight said in a statement. “For more than three decades, she has been a trusted regulator, mentor, and partner to credit unions across Oregon and beyond. Her leadership, integrity, and commitment to collaboration have strengthened not just Oregon’s credit union system but the broader system nationwide. We congratulate Janet on an extraordinary career and thank her for her many contributions to our industry.”
