53-Year Coastal CU Board Member Retires
Bill Smith announces his retirement after decades of volunteer service.
After more than five decades of volunteering on the Raleigh, N.C.-based Coastal Credit Union’s board, Bill Smith announced his retirement on Monday.
According to the $4.7 billion Coastal Credit Union, Smith served on the board since 1970. During his 53 years, he served in various positions such as secretary/treasurer and served terms as vice chair and chair.
“Bill’s commitment and contributions to Coastal Credit Union over the past 53 years have been invaluable,” Board Chair Joan Nelson said. “He has played an integral role in the credit union’s growth and success, and his passion for credit unions and their members is second to none. On behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Bill for his years of dedicated service, and wish him a happy and fulfilling retirement.”
Smith was the board member, in 1974, who convinced other members to hire Coastal’s first CEO, Larry Wilson, according to the credit union.
His decades-long dedication to credit unions allowed Smith to be very active in CUNA’s Governmental Affairs Conference and NAFCU’s lobbying efforts. Smith also served on committees at NAFCU and the North Carolina Credit Union League, as well as becoming chairman of the League of IBM Credit Unions.
According to Coastal, the board appointed Supervisory Committee Chair A.J. Ramsey to fill Smith’s vacancy until the next annual meeting.