Average CEO Compensation at Large State Chartered CUs Was $1.16 Million for 2017

The average total compensation for CEOs at large state chartered credit unions with at least $1 billion in assets was $1.16 million for 2017. This is the fourth consecutive year were the average compensation topped $1 million.

The median total compensation for 2017 was almost $803 thousand.

Total compensation includes base salary, bonus and incentives, other reportable income, retirement and deferred compensation, and nontaxable benefits.

Compensation information was obtained from Form 990s filed by 154 state chartered credit unions with at least $1 billion in assets.

At the time this blog post was being written, Form 990s for 2017 were not available for the following credit unions -- Collins Community Credit Union (IA), CFCU Community Credit Union (NY), Melrose Credit Union (NY), Municipal Credit Union (NY), Public Service Employees Credit Union (CO), and Rogue Credit Union (OR).

Mean and median base compensation was $512,148 and $489,783, respectively. The CEO with the highest base salary was Crystal Long of GECU (El Paso, TX) at $1,680,474.

Mean and median incentives and bonuses were $212,134 and $116,416, respectively. Most large CU CEOs received some sort of incentive or bonus compensation.

The data on base compensation and incentives and bonuses excludes information from Lake Michigan Credit Union (MI), because Lake Michigan CU combined base compensation with bonuses and incentives.

Fifty-eight credit union CEOs earned total compensation of $1 million or more in 2017.

The highest paid CEO was R. Heldebrant of Star One Credit Union (CA) with total compensation of $12,465,866 for 2017.

Update

The Form 990s are now available for Canvas CU, CFCU Community CU, Collins Community CU, and Rogue CU. This information has not been incorporated into the statistical analysis of CEO compensation.

Darryl Marksberry of Canvas CU (CO) had total compensation of $771,721 with base pay of $500,941 and bonus and incentive compensation of $225,000.

Lisa Whitaker of CFCU Community CU (NY) had total compensation of $1,283,914. Base compensation was $498,687 and incentive and bonus compensation was $173,918.

Stephanie Rupert of Collins Community CU (IA) had total compensation of $476,183 with a base pay of $308,653 and incentive and bonus pay of $112,499.

Eugene Pelham of Rogue CU (OR) had total compensation of $940,376. Base pay was $472,885. Bonus and incentive pay was $117,248.

The following table lists the 10 highest paid large state chartered credit union CEOs in 2017.

Below is the list of CEO compensation at state chartered credit unions with at least $1 billion in assets (click on images to enlarge).