The latest from Caroline Willard

May 2, 2024 - by Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League

We don’t have to be parents to change a child’s life

Back in 2001, when I got my first credit union job, one of the first things that contrasted that institution from the now-defunct thrift at which I’d worked in ...

Feb 9, 2024 - by Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League

Modernizing field of membership laws: A gateway to financial inclusion and economic growth

In August 1998: Google hadn’t been founded yet. The Kosovo War was underway. The Credit Union Membership Access Act of 1998 (CUMAA or HR 1151) was signed into law. ...

Nov 14, 2023 - by Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League

The perils of misinformation: Protecting consumers in the age of misguided lobbying

In an era where information flows freely and quickly, misinformation has become a pervasive issue that affects relevance, reputation, and ultimately, the bottom line. Credit unions are woefully accustomed to ...

Aug 8, 2023 - by Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League

Building a stronger state and federal advocacy machine

Having recently led a team through the combination of two successful organizations, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about mergers over the last two years. Now eight months ...

May 25, 2023 - by Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League

A decline in customer confidence should catalyze credit unions’ marketing efforts

Do you hear that? It’s the sound of buzzwords flying by, alarming American consumers with phrases like “too big to fail” and “crisis.” Or is it the sound of ...

Feb 6, 2023 - by Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League

Cooperation among cooperatives: How the sixth cooperative principle sets credit unions apart

Not long ago, my friend Mike Mercer, former CEO of the Georgia Credit Union League, suggested to me that those of us within the credit union movement need a refresher ...

Nov 8, 2022 - by Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League

Relevance, scalability, and the future of credit union league infrastructure

By now you’ve heard the news that Cornerstone League and Heartland Credit Union Association will merge by the end of this year. I want to unpack some thoughts on ...

Aug 9, 2022 - by Caroline Willard, Cornerstone League

The Credit Card Competition Act pours salt on a wounded economy

It was the Senate bill heard round the credit union movement. On Thursday, July 28, Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced legislation that would create new mandates ...

Caroline Willard

President & CEO
Cornerstone League

Web: https://www.cornerstoneleague.coop

Caroline Willard is president and CEO of Cornerstone League, one of the largest and most influential trade associations in the United States. She took the helm of the association – which represents credit unions in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas – and its subsidiaries, Cornerstone Resources and Cornerstone Foundation in April 2017. As president and CEO of Cornerstone, she is responsible for growing both the for-profit and not-for-profit sides of the association and strengthening its value proposition through relevant services and support at the state level and in Washington, D.C.

Willard serves as vice chair on the Credit Union National Association board and serves on the Credit Unions for Kids and Plexcity boards of directors. She is also the chair of CUNA’s Advocacy committee for 2023.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Willard worked for CO-OP Financial Services (now Co-op Solutions) as executive vice president, markets and strategy. During her tenure, she also handled mergers and acquisitions, relationship management, marketing, product development, and strategic planning. Willard has worked at financial institutions, as well: Downey Savings in Newport Beach, Calif., and American First Credit Union in La Habra, Calif.

Willard earned a Bachelor of Arts at California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Business Administration at Pepperdine University.