Member Spotlight: Sherry Garner

CUNA Councils
July 31, 2009 | COMMENTS

Sherry Garner is CEO/treasurer/manager for HD York Federal Credit Union in York, Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. She worked part-time while her children were growing up and “discovered a love for accounting while selling Tupperware in the 1980s,” she recalls. Sherry graduated with a business degree in 1997 and joined York Federal in 2001.

“I enjoy being a member of the York Chapter of Credit Unions Board of Directors and am proud of being a certified credit union financial counselor,” she says. “I also have a passion for small credit union survival!”

Biggest challenge

Keeping our identity. Being a < $4 million credit union in an area where we are surrounded by community chartered credit unions is very challenging. We have to cater to our niche and stay one step ahead of everyone else.

Best advice

Be authentic!

Greatest Council benefit

I am especially appreciative of the scholarships available to small credit unions. We could not afford CUNA schools without them. I also enjoy the list serve feature; I learn a lot from reading other credit unions questions and solutions. I often start research on any topic by checking the list serve first.

Best part of my job

I enjoy the financial counseling part of my job the most. Helping members help themselves is very satisfying.

Hardest part of my job

Compliance. Every day there seems to be changes and updates to compliance issues. Keeping up with these changes to policies and procedures takes up a majority of my time. I laugh when I hear CEOs talk of their compliance departments. At my credit union, I am the department.

Success story

I work at a credit union where our single employment group members are employees at large motorcycle manufacturer. When I started here at HD York eight years ago, they were charging 12% for a motorcycle loan and only loaned 80% LV. Needless to say, there were only 2 motorcycles on the books! It was a hard sell, getting the board to change their lending concepts, but once they decided to focus on our core product (the motorcycle) and offer rates that beat our competitors we saw membership growth and our loan portfolio is much stronger. We now have over 100 motorcycle loans and only once had to repossess a motorcycle!

Biggest job misconception

Some people think I work at a BANK and others think I just approve loans.

Hobbies and interests

I love to read, travel and spend time with my husband and family. I absolutely love going to Disney World.

Recent book

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point. I recommend all three of these books.

Life goal not yet accomplished

My husband and I want to travel to all 50 states. We have 19 to go!

Something that always makes me laugh

At work it's when that member says, "Oh, those are not my bills on my credit report." It gets me every time!

Favorite quote

"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart" (Anne Frank).

If I could spend a day with anyone it would be . . .

Hilary Clinton. I think she is a very strong and intelligent woman. The world could use more like her.

How I would explain the credit union difference to a potential new member

I would explain the member ownership concept and the operations of a credit union. I would also show where profits go in a credit union versus a bank and, especially in today's world, I would stress the safety and security as well as the NCUSIF insurance on their funds. I would invite them to visit my credit union for one day and then spend one day in a bank and experience the differences first hand!