James McHale has joined LAFCU as chief financial officer.
McHale has more than 20 years of executive experience with small-to-large credit unions. Positions he has held include CFO, COO, CEO and chief risk officer.
“James is a credit union advocate through and through with a passion to provide fair and competitive financial service options to all consumers,” said Patrick Spyke, LAFCU CEO. “He has a proven record of leadership that has resulted in financial growth, enhanced member service and advancing use of technology. We’re fortunate for the depth and breadth of experience he brings to LAFCU and its service to members.”
As CFO, McHale leads LAFCU’s finance and accounting functions, and serves as a financial and strategic business advisor to the CEO and broader leadership team.
“I was lucky that my first day was the annual LAFCU all-staff in-service event, conducted virtually this year,” McHale said. “It was amazing, and it put into focus many of the reasons I chose LAFCU. There was tremendous energy and enthusiasm displayed by the entire staff, and valuable insight was provided into becoming a stronger employee and better citizen. All of this supports LAFCU’s steadfast commitment to its members and the communities it serves across Michigan.”
For much of McHale’s career he worked for credit unions in California and recently Indiana. For two years he headed up the analytics team at a technology company that develops lending, risk management and analytics software for financial institutions.
McHale holds the designation of CUNA Credit Union Enterprise Risk Management Expert. He earned bachelor’s degrees in accounting and financial management at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and has completed several credit union-specific courses focusing on lending and risk management, as well as the intensive management course sponsored by Western CUNA Management School at Pomona College, Claremont, California.
James McHale