State’s Top Credit Union Professional Award presented to Bill Bowker
HARRISBURG, PA (May 20, 2019) — The Pennsylvania Credit Union Association has awarded Bill Bowker, CEO of Glatco Credit Union, with the William W. Pratt Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2019 Credit Union Professional of the Year. The award was presented on May 17 at the Association’s 85th Connect Convention at Hershey Lodge in Hershey.
Bill Bowker, CEO of Glatco Credit Union, has spent the better part of his career and his life working for and with credit unions for more than 43 years. Beyond demonstrating strong leadership at his credit union, Bowker has worked to ensure the future of the movement through his involvement with the regulatory review committee, the Chapter Youth Ambassador (now Credit Union Ambassador) Contest Committee, and continued support of advocacy efforts. In fact, Bowker was part of the first grassroots walk on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Since then, he has played an active role in legislative days, which place credit union professionals in front of their state lawmakers to share the most important legislative items needed to keep credit unions going.
Bowker’s dedication goes beyond the reach of the political realm, however. He has a passion for financial literacy, establishing an in-school branch at Spring Grove School District and has continued to run programs and teach students at the school about financial education. He also cares about the future of the movement.
“Bill is a staunch supporter of youth in the credit union industry,” former First Capital FCU CEO Dennis Flickinger said. “He has ensured the Chapter’s continuation of the Credit Union Ambassador Contest and provided several candidates from his credit union over the years.”
The Professional of the Year Award is presented in memory of William W. Pratt, who for more than three decades worked on behalf of credit unions. When Pratt began working at the Association in 1942, there were 550 credit unions in Pennsylvania – when he retired in 1965, there were nearly 1,300 credit unions in the Commonwealth.
Credit unions are financial cooperatives that provide affordable financial services to help their owner/members.
Bill Bowker
About Pennsylvania Credit Union Association
Credit unions are financial cooperatives that provide affordable financial services to help their owner/members. The Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Credit Union Association is a trade association that provides legislative, promotional, educational, and operational support for credit unions in Pennsylvania. There are 363 credit unions headquartered in Pennsylvania with assets in excess of $50 billion and 4.2 million members. For additional information about credit unions or to find a credit union near you, visit www.ibelong.org.
