Member Spotlight: Dan Babcock

CUNA Councils
December 8, 2006

Dan Babcock was born and raised in Maine. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years before retiring in December 1999. Today he is senior vice president of lending for Otero Federal Credit Union in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

“My organization has been gracious enough to allow me to celebrate my tenth anniversary with them in January 2007,” says Dan. “Living in New Mexico for the last 19 years means that in two more years I will have lived here longer than anywhere else. Being ex-military, that really does mean a lot.”

Dan and his wife have raised four very sucessful children and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.

Biggest challenge

Growing loans smartly. To chase interest rates for growth’s sake is a very big mistake many organizations are making.

Best advice

Be careful what you wish for, it may just happen!

Greatest benefit of Council membership

Getting information on products and services, without having to go through all the motions, really saves time and other resources. It’s also the ease with which everyone shares their organization’s ups and downs. I believe it's because we really do want to help, even if it means helping someone not do the wrong thing (sharing a failure or mistake).

Best part of my job

Coming to my office every day. Some days I cannot get here fast enough to see what the numbers are.

Hardest part of my job

Keeping the loan yield at an acceptable level—too much and the member suffers; too little and the organization suffers. Neither scenario is good.

Success story

Being told by a new staff member that she could not believe everyone did not want to work at OFCU because everyone treated her so GREAT—her words, not mine!

Hobbies and interests

Golfing for relaxation and sport, sitting on my deck after work and just looking at the mountains.

People would me most surprised to learn that I . . .

Have six grandchildren, with another coming soon.

Recent book

Anything by Francine Rivers.

Life goal not yet accomplished

To make it to 100, and still know my name and those of all my children!

Something that always makes me laugh

Looking at the pictures of my grandchildren I have all over my office.

If I had an extra hour in the day I would . . .

Just sit and evaluate everything sitting on top of my desk. What is the picture and what can I do that I have not already done?