Member Spotlight: Jeremy Hinton

CUNA Councils
May 19, 2008 | COMMENTS

Jeremy Hinton is senior manager of financial services for CORE Credit Union in Statesboro, Georgia. Born in Oregon, Jeremy was raised in north Georgia and currently lives in coastal Georgia.

He admits that, although his career path may seem unorthodox, the theme that has persisted through all his previous jobs has been service to others.

“I started with eight years in retail and retail management, followed by almost four years in the financial services industry,” says Jeremy. “I started with outside sales and moved on to non-qualified retirement plan administration for banks, credit unions, and corporate clients.”

After earning an MBA, he taught at the College of Business Administration at Georgia Southern University before joining CORE Credit Union, where he has been for the past three years. He and his wife have been married for over 12 years, have a daughter they adopted from Novokuznetsk, Russia, and are expecting another child—this weekend!

“The double bonus is that Sunday is my birthday, so I will most likely have the best birthday present ever, and maybe share a birthday with my daughter,” says Jeremy.

Biggest challenge

Growing the credit union slowly, in order to maintain our safety and soundness.

Best advice

To the average person on the street, your credit union's asset size does not matter. People like to do business where they feel welcomed and appreciated. We can all do that.

Greatest benefit of Council membership

Daily access to the combined brain power of the best credit union financial professionals in the nation.

Best part of my job

The people with whom I work, and an industry that exists to serve others.

Hardest part of my job

Putting a tie on in the morning.

Success story

Our leadership team tries to put itself in the members' shoes before making a decision. This can be difficult at times, as we live and breathe the credit union, but that is another way our board members prove to be invaluable. If we can approach all strategic decision-making this way, the credit union's emphasis will be member-centric.

Biggest misconception people have about my job

That I am the transaction police.

Hobbies and interests

Spending time with my family, teaching Sunday school, anything that goes fast, and home remodeling projects.

Life goal not yet accomplished

Going to Heaven—but honestly, I'm not in a big hurry. I'd like to grow old first.

Favorite quote

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do” (Eleanor Roosevelt).

If I could spend a day with anyone . . .

I would like to take Warren Buffet to lunch at Sonic. I'd have a chili cheese dog and ask him how he got to do what he does. He comes across as the type of guy that would appreciate that.

How would you explain/show the credit union difference to a potential new member?

Credit unions offer the same services that any other financial institution offers: checking accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, etc. The only difference is that by choosing to conduct your business with a credit union, you become one of the owners of the credit union. As an owner, that means you have an equal voice in how the credit union is run—regardless of how much money you have on deposit at the credit union, and the profits of the credit union are generated for your benefit. Does your bank offer you that?