The path Amy Hysell took to the financial services C-suite wasn’t a straight line.
“I was going to school to be a corporate attorney and had to work to put myself through college and I ended up landing a job at a small credit union in Indiana,” says the president and CEO of Arizona Financial Credit Union. “Within three months, I changed my major. I fell in love with the industry — where we can do the right things for the right reasons. It’s a not-for-profit financial cooperative model, so our profits go back to our members. We don’t have shareholders; we just get to serve our members and that’s why my whole career has been in credit unions.”
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DEEPER DIVE: Most Influential Women: Amy Hysell, Arizona Financial Credit Union
Az Business talked with Hysell, one of Az Business magazine’s most Influential Women of 2023, about her industry, what makes it so special and what we can expect moving forward.
Az Business: What professional accomplishment gives you the most pride?
Amy Hysell: I am very proud of Arizona Financial’s recent acquisitions of two community banks. Our teams successfully integrated the banks’ customers and employees into our organization with care. In addition, we expanded our service portfolio to include residential lending, business banking solutions and an expanded branch network. With these experiences, we have developed processes and expertise that position Arizona Financial as a premier partner for future acquisition opportunities.
AB: What accounts or services do credit unions offer that might surprise some people?
AH:When considering a credit union, most consumers might think of us for basic banking services like auto loans and checking accounts. And while we excel in those areas, Arizona Financial also offers a full suite of business accounts and services and commercial loans. In fact, Arizona Financial has been recognized as an SBA Preferred Lending Partner and the state’s No. 1 SBA Lender by Ranking Arizona.
AB: What challenges or opportunities do you see over the next few years for Arizona credit unions?
AH: Increased compliance and regulation expenses place added pressures on smaller credit unions and community banks. For some, it may not be sustainable. It’s likely we will continue to see increased merger and acquisition activity in the industry. Based on our two recent acquisitions, I believe Arizona Financial is well positioned as a premier partner for institutions seeking a proven leader in successfully navigating these integrations.
