Harbin: Advocacy needs your voice, passion, expertise

Addressing the Governmental Affairs Conference Tuesday for the first time as chair of America’s Credit Unions board, Karen Harbin said being an advocate is one of her most important responsibilities. Harbin, who is also president/CEO of Commonwealth Credit Union, called on the entire credit union movement to “add your voice, your passion, and your expertise to our unified efforts,” and to “keep the humanity of what we do” at the center of every policy discussion.

“Part of keeping that humanity front and center is telling stories. No impact is too small to share. The moments when you help a member through a crisis, guide a family toward stability, or open the door to opportunity, those stories move people, they turn passion into policy, they help lawmakers understand the difference credit unions make every day,” she said. “When we tell these stories boldly and consistently, we strengthen our collective voice and deepen our influence.”

Harbin—who led the committee that ultimately selected Scott Simpson as America’s Credit Unions president/CEO—praised Simpson’s “genuine, intentional, and strategic” leadership and authenticity, and said the board and America’s Credit Unions share his vision of where the credit union movement can go in the future.

She also thanked previous board chair Patrick Pierce for his leadership over the past year, and her fellow board members for their guidance and devotion to advancing the credit union mission.

Reiterating the commitment to ensure America’s Credit Unions is an organization that is “modern, responsive, and positioned for long-term success,” Harbin said every decision will be evaluated through the lens that advocacy is job one.

“We are here to serve you, to represent you, to ensure your needs and your voices shape the strategy of this association,” she said. “Our success depends on the strength we bring when we move forward together.”