Washington’s only Forbes Best-In-State Credit Union six years in a row!
It’s that time of year when we invite members of our cooperative to consider serving as volunteer leaders on the Board of Directors or Supervisory Committee.
Each year, one‑third of WSECU’s volunteer leadership is elected by the membership. These leaders contribute their expertise, experience, and time to guide and oversee the credit union. This year, three Board positions and two Supervisory Committee seats are up for election. All roles carry three‑year terms.
We are seeking members who are experienced critical and strategic thinkers with a strong ability to look ahead and focus on the future. We value individuals who are independent in thought, yet skilled at building consensus within a diverse group. Successful volunteer leaders are comfortable reading financial statements, understanding the dynamics of large organizations and analyzing market, organizational and regulatory changes.
Credit unions are unique among financial institutions in how we help members prosper, provide fair and equitable banking services and support the financial well‑being of individuals and communities. Founded in 1957 by public service employees seeking a better way to bank, elected WSECU volunteer leaders remain community‑minded, member‑centric, and committed to good governance, integrity, diversity and exceptional service.
If you would like to be considered as a candidate for the Board of Directors or Supervisory Committee, and believe you have the right mix of experience, skills and attributes, please click the apply now button to submit your application by September 30, 2026. Candidates should be able to commit 10–15 hours per month in service to the credit union.
Doug Mah
Nominating Committee Chair
Volunteer Eligibility
- Candidate must be at least 18 years of age.
- Be a WSECU member at the time of application.
- Understand they are subject to a membership verification, a credit check, a background check, a bondability check and must not have been convicted of a felony or a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust, nor have been determined to be guilty of a fraudulent act by a legally constituted body.
- Candidates will attest they:
- do not have a direct professional reporting relationship with a Board Member or Supervisory Committee member.
- are not employed by WSECU or any of its subsidiaries or have been an employee of the Credit Union within the past two election periods.
- have no relations to any current employee.
- are not currently an employee, officer, or director of another financial institution.
Board Member Job Description
This describes the governance role and responsibilities of an individual member of the Board of Directors (Board) of Washington State Employees Credit Union (Credit Union).
Purpose
The Board is charged with making decisions as fiduciaries in the best interest of the Credit Union and its members and can only act through the majority consensus of its individual Board members. The Credit Union’s Board members are expected to uphold the highest duty under the law, that of a fiduciary, and to always act in the best interests of the Credit Union. Through individual adherence to the role and responsibilities outlined below, Board members help to foster a well-governed Credit Union and a highly effective Board.
Authority
The Board of our state-chartered Credit Union derives its authority from the laws, rules and regulations pertaining to credit unions and financial institutions promulgated by our state and are adopted by majority vote of the Board pursuant to the Credit Union’s Bylaws.
Role & Responsibilities of Board Members
Board members must effectively carry out their vital leadership, legal and stewardship responsibilities and act in the best interests of the Credit Union’s members. As such, Board members are responsible for providing effective governance and leadership to the Credit Union. Board members play a vital role — often in constructive partnership with Senior Management — in crafting the Credit Union’s strategic direction. They do so based on their shared understanding of the Credit Union’s purpose and goals, as well as their vision as to how to best serve the evolving needs of the Credit Union’s members. The Board must also provide ongoing oversight to ensure the Credit Union’s financial soundness and sustainability and that the finances are handled properly; approve and monitor the annual budget; ensure compliance with applicable regulations and laws; establish and monitor risk management and develop financial policies and practices.
A general overview of the Credit Union’s governing concepts is broadly stated below. They shall not prohibit the Board’s oversight of the Credit Union’s overall business operations as may be warranted.
The Board will:
- Govern and lead the Credit Union to actively advance its vital mission.
- Focus appropriate efforts and discussion on fiduciary, strategic and generative levels of governance.
- Actively support and hold accountable the CEO and staff.
- Hold itself accountable to the highest level of integrity.
- Actively lead and manage its own governance structure, culture and efforts.
- Encourage genuinely diverse ideas, perspectives and opinions.
- Speak as one voice once a decision has been made by the Board.
- Constructively partner with each other, the CEO and staff.
- Diligently and constructively advance the Credit Union’s relationships with its members, key stakeholders and all that the Credit Union serves.
- Energetically help craft, foster and support the WSECU vision, mission and strategic goals, objectives and metrics of success.
- Actively support rigorous oversight, the Credit Union’s sustainability and operational effectiveness.
- Establish criteria of success and evaluate the Credit Union’s overall performance and results on an ongoing basis.
Supervisory Committee Job Description
Authority
The Supervisory Committee monitors risk and controls regarding the financial operation of the Credit Union to ensure Credit Union practices safeguard WSECU member assets. The Supervisory Committee arranges and provides oversight for the annual financial audit and has the authority to engage independent counsel or other professional services as necessary to perform their duties. The Supervisory Committee has unrestricted access to records and provides oversight of the internal audit function for the Credit Union.
Responsibilities
The Supervisory Committee’s primary function is to ensure ongoing reviews and audits to verify that Credit Union records are maintained properly, honestly and accurately; and ensure that members’ assets are safeguarded and used according to the purposes of the Credit Union.
The WSECU Supervisory Committee will:
- Understand and support the WSECU vision, mission, strategic goals and strategic objectives.
- Oversee the integrity of the financial reporting process.
- Know the laws and regulations that affect the Credit Union and its policies.
- Actively support and hold accountable the internal audit staff.
- Hold itself accountable to the highest levels of integrity.
- Be objective and exercise independent judgement.
- Constructively partner with each other, the WSECU Board, CEO and staff.
Duties of the WSECU Supervisory Committee
- Keep informed as to the financial condition of the Credit Union.
- Be aware of any significant changes in accounting principles, practices, standards or policies.
- Make sure a complete and thorough audit of the Credit Union’s records and operations, including a verification of member loan and share accounts, is conducted at least once a year.
- Engage the services of auditors as needed to perform audits. Direct and oversee all work by auditors.
- Present a full report of the findings of the annual audits and any special findings to the Board of Directors.
- Prepare and make available an annual report to be presented at the annual meeting.
- Verify that adequate internal controls are established and effectively maintained to safeguard Credit Union assets.
- Review the effectiveness of the systems for monitoring compliance with laws and regulations, and processes by which instances of non-compliance are addressed.
- Oversee internal audit functions.
- Carry out all duties as required by law, regulation and the Credit Union’s Bylaws.
- Perform other activities as requested by the Board of Directors.
- Perform or arrange for additional audits as requested by the Board or management or as deemed necessary by the Supervisory Committee and provide any related findings and recommendations to management and the Board as deemed appropriate.