WSECU Taps Former USALLIANCE CEO Harry Zhu As Next CEO
By CU Today Staff —
OLYMPIA, Wash.— WSECU has selected former USALLIANCE Federal Credit Union CEO Harry Zhu as its next president and CEO, bringing in an executive with extensive experience in lending, finance and digital transformation to lead Washington’s fourth-largest credit union.
Zhu will take over Sept. 21, succeeding Gary Swindler, who is retiring after 37 years with the $5.1-billion institution. The appointment followed a nationwide search by WSECU’s board.
Zhu most recently led the $3-billion-plus USALLIANCE Financial in Rye, N.Y., where he had been CEO since October 2023.
Before USALLIANCE, Zhu spent 13 years as a senior executive at the $20-billion Alliant Credit Union, serving at various times as chief retail lending officer, CFO and chief risk officer. WSECU said Zhu helped lead transformation efforts as Alliant grew from $7 billion to $18 billion in assets and more than doubled its membership.
“What drew me to this opportunity was the credit union's uncompromising focus on members' needs, its appetite for innovation, reputation as a community partner and the exceptional employees who bring their best to serving members every day,” Zhu said.
Zhu inherits a WSECU that serves more than 315,000 members through 25 branches and is approaching its 70th anniversary in 2027. Swindler started at WSECU as a loan officer in 1989 and became CEO in 2019, overseeing further expansion of its digital services and branch network. Board Chair Vikki Smith said Zhu's “depth of executive experience, people-focused leadership and success in helping institutions evolve in a fast-changing landscape” made him the right choice to succeed Swindler. Zhu and Swindler will work together during the transition, the CU said.
Originally reported by CU Today.