ARLINGTON, VA (June 25, 2026) |
The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) recognizes and celebrates the remarkable career of Janet Powell, Chief of Regulation and Supervision—Credit Unions for Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation, as she retires at the end of June 2026 following more than three decades of service to the credit union system.
Over the course of her career, Powell helped shape one of the nation’s strongest state credit union systems. Since joining Oregon’s regulatory program in 1992 and later leading the state’s credit union division, she has worked collaboratively with credit unions, lawmakers, trade associations, and fellow regulators to modernize Oregon’s credit union charter while maintaining a strong commitment to safety and soundness., Oregon state-chartered credit unions successfully navigated both the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the state experienced no credit union failures.
Powell’s positive impact extended far beyond Oregon. Throughout her career, she championed regulatory approaches that balanced innovation with consumer protection, including efforts to enhance community field-of-membership opportunities, preserve state credit union commercial lending flexibility, implement legislation permitting public funds deposits in credit unions, and establish practical examination frameworks for emerging industries. Her collaborative leadership style earned the respect of regulators and credit union leaders nationwide.
"It has been an honor to work alongside Janet on the board of directors. Beyond her years of dedicated service and professional expertise, I am personally grateful for her friendship and the mentorship she has provided me over the years. I wish her the very best in her retirement," commented Katie Averill, NASCUS Regulator Board Chair and Superintendent, Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services, Division of Credit Unions
"Janet's kindness and wisdom have left a lasting impact on all of us, and you have been a highly respected colleague and a very good friend. With her transition to retirement, we hope she will find the same fulfillment in your personal adventures as she did in her work. We wish you joy, health, and happiness in this next exciting new chapter," commented Jeff Dahlstrom, former NASCUS Credit Union Advisory Council Chair and President of Southeast Financial Credit Union, in Tennessee.
In 2025, Powell was the recipient of the NASCUS Pierre Jay Award, NASCUS’s highest honor, in recognition of her lasting contributions to state regulation, credit union innovation, and consumer protection.
"Janet's career reflects the very best of the state system," said Brian Knight, President and CEO of NASCUS. "For more than three decades, she has been a trusted regulator, mentor, and partner to credit unions across Oregon and beyond. Her leadership, integrity, and commitment to collaboration have strengthened not just Oregon’s credit union system but the broader system nationwide. We congratulate Janet on an extraordinary career and thank her for her many contributions to our industry."
As Powell concludes her public service career, she leaves behind a legacy defined by professionalism, humbleness, and an unwavering commitment to helping credit unions better serve their members and communities. Her impact will be felt for years to come through the institutions she helped strengthen, the regulatory leaders she mentored, and the industry she helped advance.
