COLCHESTER, Vt.–One of the longest-tenured leaders in credit unions has announced retirement plans.
Joseph Bergeron, CEO of the Association of Vermont Credit Unions, said he plans to retire later this year after 47 years in the post. The association has named a successor.
Bergeron was named to the job at the age of 25, and AVCU said his tenure has been eight years longer than all prior leaders of the organization combined at the Vermont association, which began with Roy Bergenren in 1947 upon his retirement as founder and first president of the CUNA.
“When he came on the scene in his first post-college career position, Vermont had 72 credit unions (out of) 22,000 nationwide,” the Association of Vermont CUs said in announcing the retirement. “Yet, those 72, all isolated in membership from each other, could never have dreamed of claiming almost 67% of Vermonters as members like their 16 successors do today.”
Career Accomplishments
According to the association, during his tenure Bergeron:
- Moved the Vermont Credit Union League’s headquarters from its first-owned property, a small Montpelier brick building, to a 7,500 square foot office building on Shelburne Road in South Burlington, now home to an EastRise Credit Union branch.
- Led Credit Union Service Center, which operated in VCUL’s headquarters . . . serving members of credit unions throughout the state, as only the second “shared branch” model in the nation.
- Started a shared ATM program for credit unions, where the league served as the “switch” between participating credit unions and the bank ATM networks with which it negotiated access for credit union members to use ATMs.
- Helped oversee an indirect lending program for Vermont credit unions, “which evolved into the (Credit Union Direct Lending) program we know today, helping hundreds of Vermonters annually secure new-to-them autos with credit union financing.”
- Passed credit union statutes in a multi-legislative session modernization bill that battled strong banking opposition.
- Established an international partnership with credit unions of Peru
During his time as AVCU’s president, the association noted Bergeron also served on the CUNA board, the NCBA-CLUSA board, and either chaired or served on multiple CUNA and AACUL committees, and currently serves on the board of TriCorp Federal Credit Union.
‘Honor & Privilege’
“I consider my 47 years as an extraordinary honor and privilege,” Bergeron said in a statement. “My tenure has allowed me to not only witness, but be part of, an incredible journey and evolution of credit unions in the Green Mountains, the northeast, and across the entire country. I’m so lucky to have witnessed firsthand the evolution of credit unions struggling to be an alternative financial provider to the popular, highly regarded, and technologically competitive primary financial service providers that four decades of evolution and advocacy have brought about.
“Credit unions of the past 47 years have a lot to be proud of, and I consider myself fortunate to have been a part of it,” he continued. “I’ll surely miss being a daily part of the yet-to-be-known milestones of the future, but rest easy knowing the talent and dedication that our Association of Vermont Credit Union team brings.”
Successor Named
The association’s board has named Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Carrie Allen to succeed Bergeron as the 7th leader of the organization. She will become the first female resident in its 78-year history. Her era begins on January 1st, 2026.
“Although only employed by the Association since mid-2025, Carrie brings an additional 15 years of credit union leadership to her role, including 11 years of volunteer service on the Association’s board of directors,” the association said.
“The impact of Joe Bergeron on the Vermont credit union industry will forever be woven into our history and felt far into our future. I am so grateful for the time I have been able to spend learning from such a passionate advocate and credit union champion like Joe,” Allen said in a statement. “I am honored to serve Vermont credit unions and look forward to working together to grow the good work and impact of credit unions. The staff of the association, and I, will miss Joe, but we wish him and his family grand adventures in their next era.”
