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Unitus Community Credit Union Welcomes Greg Spear as Chief Financial Officer
Thirty-year industry veteran joins one of Oregon’s strongest financial institutions
PORTLAND, OR (June 21, 2013) Unitus Community Credit Union, a Portland-based credit union with more than 80,000 members, has hired Greg Spear to serve as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As CFO, Spear will provide strategic leadership over Unitus’ financial operations—including investments, risk management, long-term financial planning and accounting practices—and interact with regulatory bodies, the financial community and external auditors.
Spear brings to Unitus three decades of related banking experience, including 16 years as a CFO for financial institutions in the Pacific Northwest. Most recently, he served as CFO at Pacific Valley Bank in California, which hired him during the economic downturn to strengthen its financial position. Spear successfully worked alongside a team to restore the bank’s safety and soundness in a highly volatile regulatory environment. Spear has also held CFO positions at institutions with more than $1 billion in assets.
“At Unitus, we look for the highest qualified leaders, both in terms of their professional credentials and their commitment to making a difference in the communities we serve,” said Unitus President and CEO Patricia Smith. “Greg is a tremendous addition to the leadership of Unitus in both respects and will serve our members with skill and integrity.”
A long-time member of the Rotary Club, Spear serves on several nonprofit boards and actively supports local family-based charities, including a local food bank, domestic violence prevention programs and education centers for at-risk youth. In 2008, he served as director of the board and helped form PovertyBridge, a Portland-based nonprofit that helps transition local residents out of poverty.
“Unitus has a well-deserved reputation as one of Oregon’s strongest and most community-minded financial institutions,” said Spear. “It’s a privilege to be a part of the Unitus team, and I look forward to serving our members and strengthening our communities.”
Spear is a Certified Public Accountant with degrees from the University of La Verne and California State University Chico. He lives in Portland with his wife Judy, with whom he enjoys hiking, skiing and traveling.
About Unitus Community Credit Union
Unitus Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution serving people living or working in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Benton, Columbia, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Linn and Lane counties in Oregon and the state of Washington. Additional information about Unitus is available at www.unitusccu.com or by calling (800) 452-0900.