2025 is proving to be a busy year for Spokane Teachers Credit Union, complete with a change in leadership, the integration of a recently acquired Oregon bank, and a milestone moment for its foundation.

In July, STCU named Lindsey Myhre as its president and CEO, making her the sixth president of the 91-year-old credit union and the first woman to hold that title at the Liberty Lake-based organization.

Myhre succeeded Ezra Eckhardt, with whom STCU parted ways earlier this year.

Myhre has been with STCU for 25 years, previously serving as chief financial officer and executive vice president, which included the role of chief human resources officer.

“Lindsey has been an architect, candidly, of our culture and our strategy,” says Marty Dickinson, chief community officer at the credit union.

In addition to the leadership transition, STCU integrated 10 Community Bank branches into its network in May, completing the acquisition of the Joseph, Oregon-based bank that was announced about a year ago.

The acquisition brought STCU’s branch total up to 49 and added 14,000 new members, a press release states. STCU now serves over 300,000 members in Washington, North Idaho, eastern Oregon, and online.

Having served under multiple CEOs during her 2 1/2 decades at STCU, Myhre has witnessed a variety of approaches to leadership.

She says her approach is to be intentional about focusing on strategy, employees, advocacy, and the community STCU serves.

“Being a headquartered company in Spokane (County), there aren’t many of us left, so I think it’s really important for us to stay very engaged in the community,” Myhre says.

Dickinson says Myhre’s approach as a former CFO isn’t that of a typical finance executive, in that she understands there is financial value in investing in things like community, sponsorships, and marketing.

“That’s not always the case with some CFOs, who are very bottom line driven,” Dickinson says.

Investments into the community are not a new concept at STCU.

With recent donations of $20,000 each to CHAS Health Foundation and NEW Health, the credit union’s Here for Good Foundation, which was launched in 2023, has surpassed $1 million in donations.

Myhre expects STCU to continue to grow, both organically and through future branch acquisitions, such as in rural markets that larger banks opt to pull out of.

“I think we’re at a very sweet spot that we still have those resources to be able to really focus on what those rural communities need and be able to give them time and attention,” she says.

STCU is expected to open its 50th branch later this year.

“When I started there, we had six branches,” Myhre says.

She also plans to find a replacement for her previous role, but likely not until next year.

“I’m probably looking at posting our CFO role in the next six to 12 months,” Myhre says.