Longtime ICUL Advocacy Leader Keith Sias To Retire
By CU Today Staff —
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—Keith Sias, senior vice president of federal advocacy for the Illinois Credit Union League, will retire at the end of 2026, concluding more than 33 years with the organization.
Sias joined ICUL on March 1, 1993, as its first in-house advocacy professional based in Springfield, a move the league said established a consistent credit union presence in the state capital. During his career, Sias has worked as both a state lobbyist and an advocate on federal credit union issues, including helping shape federal advocacy priorities through the American Association of Credit Union Leagues’ Advocacy Committee.
Sias’ peers named him the 2015 Speaker of the Illinois 3rd House, and in 2025 he received AACUL’s Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award for excellence in credit union advocacy. ICUL said Sias has spent his career educating credit unions and policymakers and advancing legislative initiatives affecting the movement.
“Keith’s career is woven into the story of advocacy at ICUL. For more than three decades, he has helped build a strong, trusted voice for Illinois credit unions, serving the movement with integrity, expertise and conviction. Keith’s relationships, mentorship, and influence will benefit Illinois credit unions for years to come, and we are profoundly grateful for his service,” said Libby Calderone, ICUL president and CEO.
Scott Simpson, America’s Credit Unions president/CEO, stated: “For more than 33 years, Keith has been a powerful force for positive change in the credit union movement, both in Illinois and nationally. He has exemplified what it means to be a strong leader and to possess steadfast commitment to the core values of cooperative finance. Keith will leave a legacy that benefits Illinois, its credit unions, and consumers for years to come. I congratulate Keith on his retirement and wish him the very best on his next adventure.”
Originally reported by CU Today.