Chicago - BCU President and CEO, Mike Valentine, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement by the National Credit Union Foundation. This honor recognizes Mike's exceptional contributions to the credit union movement, his visionary leadership, and his unwavering commitment to improving financial well-being for all. 
Mike has been a transformative leader in the credit union industry for over 40 years. His grassroots efforts to foster a shared purpose of financial well-being have significantly impacted the lives of countless individuals. Under his leadership, BCU has grown from a single-sponsor credit union with Baxter Healthcare to a leading financial well-being provider for America's best workplaces and the communities it serves, including Target, UnitedHealth Group, GEICO, Cardinal Health, Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific, HCA Healthcare, CDW, and many more. BCU serves communities throughout northern Illinois and southeast Wisconsin, residents of the island of Puerto Rico, and subscribers of BCU’s wholly-owned Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), Life. Money. You.®.
Mike's dedication to the credit union values of "people helping people" are evident in every relationship he fosters. He has been instrumental in developing executive leaders who elevate the overall industry, creating a ripple effect that spans throughout the credit union movement. His commitment to financial wellness is exemplified by the creation of Life. Money. You., which provides free financial coaching, tools, and resources to members and the community. Mike is proud to support and elevate the needs of credit unions and their members as evidenced by his commitment to The National Credit Union Foundation to enlist BCU as a founding member of their Financial Well-being For All initiative.
Mike's leadership and dedication have earned him prior recognition in the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders and the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES) Hall of Fame. His ability to create strong partnerships and lead with compassion has set a standard for collaboration and innovation.
The Herb Wegner Memorial Award, the credit union movement’s highest national honor, is a testament to Mike’s profound impact on the industry and his dedication to improving the financial lives of everyone around him.
Hear what colleagues, friends, family, and industry leaders have to say about Mike’s accomplishments: Watch Video
About BCU: BCU is a not-for-profit, member-owned Credit Union that is fiercely dedicated to Empowering People to Discover Financial Freedom. At just over $6B in assets, BCU is driven by its commitment to providing a fast, easy, secure banking experience and extraordinary service for close to 360,000 members. The BCU field of membership includes employees and families of large employers that are focused on the financial well-being of their workforce; those who live or work in northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and the island of Puerto Rico; and subscribers of BCU’s wholly-owned Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), Life. Money. You.® within communities and Fortune 100 workplaces throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. All BCU members enjoy lifetime access to financial services and well-being programming that inspire confidence through the brand promise “Here Today For Your Tomorrow.”
To learn more about how we can help you realize your financial dreams, visit BCU.org.
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