RALEIGH – State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) announced July 27 that its Board of Directors has named Michael J. Lord to succeed Jim Blaine as President and CEO.

Lord has been an employee of SECU for 41 years and has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Credit Union since 1986. His experience includes serving members as a loan officer in Raleigh and Fayetteville and as a branch manager in Elizabeth City. He will assume his new responsibilities as of Sept. 1.

In making the announcement, SECU Board of Directors Chair Cynthia Jolly acknowledged Lord’s experience, leadership and participation in providing services to members over many years of dramatic growth, stating, “Mike has been involved at a senior leadership level over many years of change and rapid growth at SECU. The Board is excited to have him as our next CEO. His experience combines the knowledge of where we have been with where we want to be in the future in meeting our members’ financial needs.”

Lord has provided leadership for SECU’s financial services during a period of dynamic changes in the financial landscape. He currently serves as an officer of the SECU affiliated companies, which include a broker/dealer, a registered representative holding company, a property management company and a life insurance company. Current SECU President and CEO Jim Blaine noted, “Mike is a strong leader with institutional experience and future vision, and we are fortunate to have him lead SECU during this next phase in our organization.”

“I am honored that the Board has selected me to continue the important work of serving our members,” said Lord. “We will continue helping members improve their lives by serving as the trusted provider of financial services at fair and reasonable rates and terms.”

Lord is a graduate of N.C. State University and a Certified Public Accountant. His community service activities have included participation in Community Workforce Solutions, Raleigh Host Lions Club, United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the Jaycees. He has served on many credit union related committees and boards. He and his wife, Jo Conroy, have lived in Raleigh N.C. since 1982.

SECU currently serves over 2 million members, and has 5,800 employees and 3,000 Advisory Board and Member Loan Review Committee volunteers. With $33 billion in assets, SECU operates 257 branch offices that provide services to members in all 100 counties of North Carolina, a network of 1,100 ATMs, mobile services, 24/7/365 member services via an automated voice response system, member service support centers and an interactive website (www.ncsecu.org). SECU is the second largest credit union in the United States.

SECU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative founded in 1937 that serves North Carolina state and public school employees and their families. SECU provides members with low-cost loans and consumer financial services, as well as investment/brokerage, insurance, tax and trust advisory services.

SECU members, through the SECU Foundation, have contributed over $100 million to a wide range of worthy projects throughout the State, including the “People Helping People” public school and community college scholarships, SECU Family Houses at three North Carolina hospitals, the SECU Cancer Center in Asheville, local hospices, affordable workplace housing, and numerous projects in conjunction with the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, the North Carolina Food Bank, N.C. GreenPower and Habitat for Humanity.

SECU is nationally recognized as a leader in advocacy for consumer financial protection and education.