For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Vince Heald, Beck Ellman Heald –[email protected]; 858.717.1000
Alyssa Enwright, Beck Ellman Heald –[email protected]; 619.259.7712
Debra Schwartz Named by the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU’s) and Junior Achievement of San Diego as Board Chair
SAN DIEGO, CA – The Boards of Directors at the National Association of FederallyInsured Credit Unions (NAFCU) and Junior Achievement (JA) of San Diego County have named Debra Schwartz, President and CEO of Mission Federal Credit Union since 2008, as Board Chair.
NAFCU is the only national organization that focuses exclusively on federal issues affecting credit unions, representing its members before the federal government and the public. Junior Achievement has 106 local JA areas across the nation, and together form the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices.
“I am sincerely and deeply honored to accept the position of Board Chair of NAFCU,” said Schwartz. “The organization provides a powerful, meaningful voice for our credit unions. As NAFCU members, we can better represent the interests of our memberships at the national level while enjoying access to a network of credit union leaders who share our passion for notfor-profit financial cooperatives and the difference we make in our members’ lives.”
Prior to assuming the role of Board Chair, Schwartz served on the NAFCU Executive Committee as Board Treasurer and has been a Director-at-Large since 2012. During that time, she has been a NAFCU Services Corporation Board Member and has supported NAFCU initiatives in meetings with the Federal Reserve, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and numerous members of Congress. She has excellent relationships with regulators from the local to national levels. Schwartz chaired NAFCU’s Investment, Awards and Memberships Committees and served on its Regulatory Committee and Region V Advisory Committee.
Junior Achievement of San Diego has a unique partnership with Mission Fed Credit Union. It started with Mission Fed’s prominent shop in the McGrath Family JA BizTown. The Shop has employed nearly 11,000 “10-year-old bankers” since the shop opened 10 years ago. Thanks to Mission Fed’s support, the organization also launched the “big brother” of JA BizTown. The Mission Fed JA Finance Park officially opened its doors in 2014.
“We are extremely excited and humbled to elect Debra Schwartz as our incoming Board Chair for 2020-2021,” said Sidd Vivek, CEO of Junior Achievement. “JA continues to empower thousands of K-12 students, many in under resourced communities, each year through experiential programs and simulations and Debra’s advocacy through Mission Fed and leadership at JA have been a big reason why.”
“When you think about Mission Fed JA Finance Park, envision the future. A future where teens learn about money in practical ways that are meaningful to them. A future where young people enter adulthood with confidence, prepared to develop a budget, buy a car, purchase a home, and save for education and retirement,” said Schwartz. “A future where people are able to achieve their own definition of success because they possess the financial literacy skills to help them realize their dreams. This is the future that Mission Fed JA Finance Park will help create—now, and for generations to come.”
Schwartz emphasized that community has always been part of Mission Fed’s DNA. “It’s one of our Strategic Pillars. As a credit union solely serving the San Diego community, the majority of our members and employees live and work in our community. We grow and become stronger as our community grows and becomes stronger.”
Schwartz has more than 35 years of experience at financial institutions of all sizes. She was named President and CEO of Mission Fed Credit Union in 2008; prior to that, she served as Executive Vice President and Interim CEO in 2008. She has been with Mission Fed since 2007.
Schwartz holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
About Mission Federal Credit Union
Mission Fed Credit Union is San Diego’s largest member-owned, not-for-profit, full-service financial institution exclusively serving San Diego County. Mission Fed has over $4.5 billion in assets, over 258,000 customers, 32 convenient branches, and 30,000 CO-OP ATMs nationwide.
Mission Fed enhances the lives of its customers through financial education and financial services such as Checking, Savings, Loans, Credit Cards and Insurance. In addition, Mission Fed puts money back into the communities of San Diego and helps hundreds of non-profits. Banking at Mission Fed means doing good for San Diego. Federally insured by NCUA and an Equal Housing Lender.
