In Memoriam: Former CUNA President/CEO Ralph Swoboda

Swoboda worked in several roles inside the credit union industry for four decades.

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Former CUNA President/CEO Ralph Swoboda died on Monday, according to a statement from CUNA.

Swoboda served as president/CEO of the credit union trade organization from February 1986 to December 1994. According to CUNA, before Swoboda led the organization, he served as the organization’s general counsel from 1974 to 1987.

“Ralph spent more than four decades working for financial cooperatives across the globe in dozens of countries, a true ambassador who represented the best of what credit unions can do,” CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle said. “He was a strong champion for credit unions, particularly in the legal arena, and helped shape the movement into what it is today.”

Ralph Swoboda

According to Swoboda’s LinkedIn page, after his time at CUNA, he continued his work in the credit union industry with organizations such as the Association of British Credit Unions, CUNA Mutual Group, Ralph Swoboda Consulting, Ltd. and CUFA Lending Analytics in Dublin, Ireland.

During his time at CUNA Mutual Group, he served as the head of international operations where he directed operations in 30 countries from China to the Caribbean. He also founded and later served as board chair of CUNA Mortgage Corporation, according to CUNA.