Arizona’s Hughes Federal Credit Union CEO Plans Retirement

Robert J. Swick, president/CEO of Hughes Federal Credit Union in Tucson, Ariz., said he plans to retire on April 28 after 37 years of service.

He joined Hughes in 1986 as a finance manager and was promoted over the years to the positions of vice president of finance and data processing, and EVP. In 1999, Swick was named president and general manager.

During his CEO tenure, Hughes increased its assets from $224 million in 1999 to its current assets of $1.8 billion, while loans grew from $122 million to $1.7 billion, and membership expanded from 28,945 to nearly 180,000, NCUA Call Reports showed.

Hughes is currently ranked as the fourth largest financial cooperative in Arizona, according to DepositAccounts.com. The credit union’s 271 employees operate seven locations throughout Tucson.

“Swick made a career on the unwavering promise of ‘people helping people,’” Hughes Board Chair Juan Gonzalez said. “Our members, employees and community have all benefitted from Robert’s vision and leadership, and it has been a privilege to work with him. All of us at Hughes are incredibly grateful for his many impressive contributions.”

Swick said that one of his proudest career accomplishments was obtaining a low-income, underserved community charter in 2001, allowing the credit union to make a positive difference in the financial lives of many more Tucsonans.

“It has been an honor to serve as a Hughes leader for more than 37 years alongside many remarkable leaders, volunteers and employees,” Swick said. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together by remaining committed to our members’ financial wellness and community’s vitality through scholarship and financial literacy programs.”

The board is in the process of selecting Swick’s successor and expects to fill the position in late April.