Kathy Chartier: 2026 Herb Wegner Memorial Award Winner

“Kathy didn’t just build a financial institution-she built a community catalyst.” – Vanessa Kuduk, VP of Lending, Members Credit Union

Fairfield County, Connecticut, is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and, as a result, its residents reckon with some of the highest levels of income inequality. Kathy Chartier, President/CEO of Members Credit Union, headquartered in Stamford, chose to face that dichotomy head-on.

While the teachers Members Credit Union (originally called Greenwich CT Teachers FCU) served were earning a living wage, Kathy recognized that the people supporting the schools – including bus drivers, staff, and nutrition workers, many of whom were immigrants – struggled to make ends meet. In response, she and her team worked to expand the credit union’s charter and launch a plan to address the needs of the diverse and underserved communities in her area.

Members Credit Union boldly redefined its mission, expanding its charter to serve all of Fairfield County – not for profit, but to transform into a community-focused cooperative that serves everyone, especially those of modest means, offering access, dignity, and empowerment.

“Her leadership created programs not to generate profit, but to unlock potential,” says Vanessa Kuduk, VP of Lending.

Under Kathy’s leadership, Members Credit Union instituted an organization-wide mandate that all employees, no matter their roles, would become certified financial counselors, transforming the credit union into a trusted partner for financial relationships and education for their community. That bold initiative ensured that the Members Credit Union team would not simply be order-takers but would become life-changers.

In the words of Lynn Sabatino, VP of Members Credit Union, “Kathy always asks the most important question: How can we reach and serve those who need us most?”

Well before Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion became industry buzzwords, Kathy focused on how Members Credit Union could connect with more people and improve more lives. They hired bilingual staff, enhanced their Spanish-language services both online and in-branch, and were the first credit union in Connecticut to receive the Juntos Avanzamos designation. Through those efforts, families found a new pathway to save, borrow, and build financial stability.

“Kathy has always taken people helping people and service to the underserved to amazing lengths, proving over and over that serving the underserved is a good business practice,” says Hank Hubbard, President/CEO Emeritus of One Detroit CU.

She is also a role model for intellectual curiosity and professional development. A long-time advocate for credit union development education, Kathy graduated from the Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) program in 1994, earned her I-CUDE certification, and has worked closely with credit unions around the world. She is a lifelong learner and servant leader, having mentored the first CaribDE class in the Caribbean—with many more to follow—and the inaugural African Development Education Program in Kenya. In addition, she serves on the board of the American Friends of Kenya, helping coordinate the delivery of educational materials, medical supplies, and other vital resources to communities in need. Kathy has also traveled to Latin America, visiting Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU).

Kathy Chartier is someone who sees the glorious humanity and infinite possibilities in everyone she meets. Because of that, she strives to create a better, more inclusive world. Throughout her career, she has leveraged the power and passion of the credit union movement to create social equity and financial well-being for all. Her vision, leadership, and impact make her an outstanding choice for the 2026 Herb Wegner Memorial Awards.

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