Gary Grinnell, president/CEO of the $1.1 billion Corning Credit Union in Corning, N.Y., was named director on the NAFCU board of directors for Region 1, the trade organization said in a prepared statement Monday.
He replaced Gary Easterling, president/CEO of the $1.9 billion United Federal Credit Union in St. Joseph, Mich., who decided to step down.
"Our credit union is in the midst of merger discussions with Lake Michigan Credit Union," Easterling told CU Times. "With everything going on here in my world, my focus needs to be here to help the credit union through this transition. The NAFCU board and its constituency would be better served with my replacement."
The merger of United into the $3.9 billion Lake Michigan in Grand Rapids, Mich., publicly announced in October was expected to be completed by the end of this year pending approvals from state and federal regulators.
"Mergers we've been involved with in the past have never happened in a timely fashion," he said. "You just have to adjust to get all of the approvals."
Easterling said he intends to retire when the merger is completed next year.
The proposed consolidation will make Lake Michigan CU the largest cooperative in the Great Lakes state and one of the top 20 credit unions by assets and members in the nation.
"The NAFCU board appreciates Gary Easterling's willingness to serve and we wish him the best," Ed Templeton, NAFCU chair and president/CEO of the $713 million SRP Federal Credit Union in North Augusta, Ga., said in a prepared statement.
Grinnell joined Corning in 1997. He served in various positions in member service and lending with increasing responsibility until he became president/CEO in 2007.
"As NAFCU looks ahead to a tremendous year of activity, we welcome Gary Grinnell," Templeton said. "His insight, experience and dedication to the credit union industry will serve us well."
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