Press

STCU adds two VP-Directors as part of realignment

SPOKANE, WA (May 7, 2024) — As part of an organizational adjustment designed to position STCU to best serve members during continued growth, Nate Wehunt joins the credit union as its first VP-Director of Digital and Consumer Products. Josh Hurley has been promoted to Assistant VP-Director of Continuous Improvement.

Wehunt recently returned to the Spokane area after time in California and Illinois, where he led digital banking and e-commerce teams for City National Bank and Harris Bank, respectively. He brings a wealth of experience in the digital banking and product development spaces, and is a small business owner, as well. A Northwest native, Nate attended Spokane Falls Community College, Eastern Washington University, and the University of Washington.

Josh Hurley has been with STCU since 2018, serving as the credit union’s Continuous Improvement Manager. His expanded AVP-Director role will build on STCU’s process improvements, and help it achieve strategic objectives, with special attention paid to cohesive planning across the organization.

Both positions represent key pieces of a recent organizational realignment implemented earlier this year. As it approaches 1,000 employees and 300,000 members, STCU has sought to address gaps in its structure that occurred as a result of its significant growth. The changes better position STCU for continued geographic reach, while providing more employees with greater opportunities for internal advancement.

As a result, multiple departments have been consolidated to allow for improved coordination and streamlined decision making. Others have been shifted to proven leaders with expanded responsibilities:

Chief Risk Officer Brian Scott oversees a centralized commercial, consumer, and real estate loan underwriting and servicing team.
Chief Marketing Officer Marty Dickinson’s responsibilities now include oversight of the commercial banking department, along with marketing, community relations, and facilities.
Brian Read, formerly Chief Retail Officer, is now Chief Growth Officer, and oversees real estate origination in addition to the branch network, business banking, and investment services.
Chief Development Officer Patricia Baughman’s expanded duties include oversight of consumer and business product development and digital product offerings.

“This realignment gives us a chance to further develop our great teams and better support our growth strategy, making us lighter on our feet,” according to President and CEO Ezra Eckhardt.” “Most importantly, it will improve the member experience by empowering our employees.”

About STCU

Founded by educators in 1934, STCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $5.7 billion in assets. It serves over 275,000 members at 38 branches in Eastern Washington, North Idaho, the Tri-Cities, and north-central Washington, and online at stcu.org.