Danielle Gallagher is the CEO of Eagle One FCU in Claymont, DE. She has been involved with credit unions since college and worked her way up to be named CEO in 2020. Danielle and Mark take a deep dive into her journey, what's new at the credit union, and look at a crystal ball for the future of small credit unions.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Introduction
• (02:02) Danielle Gallagher’s professional background, leading her to Eagle One FCU
• (05:40) A snapshot of services Eagle One Credit Union provides
• (10:47) Danielle Gallagher’s experience of taking on the role of a long-tenured CEO
• (14:25) Discussion of being a CDFI (Certified Development Financial Institution)
• (20:05) Working with QSOs and what’s working well at Eagle One
• (23:29) Danielle Gallagher advises credit unions regarding succession planning

• Danielle Gallagher's career at Eagle One Federal Credit Union began during college breaks, influenced by her mother's role there. She progressed from a member service representative to gaining experience in marketing and finance and eventually becoming CEO. Her grandfather also worked for the credit union under its former name, highlighting a family connection to the institution.
• Eagle One is a small but "mighty" credit union with about $85 million in assets and four branches. It serves around 9,000 members and particularly values its relationships with USPS and Philadelphia Gas Works employees. Despite its size, Eagle One offers a wide range of services and prioritizes member service. The staff wears multiple hats due to its smaller team size.
• Danielle emphasized the importance of succession planning, noting that Eagle One's smooth transition was due to months of preparation. She contrasts this with the trend of credit unions merging due to a lack of future leadership. Eagle One is a certified development financial institution that helps serve underbanked communities.

Mark Ritter - Website

Mark Ritter - LinkedIn

Danielle Gallagher - LinkedIn